Policies and Procedures
Important Note: All information on this page was current as of
January 1, 2000. The information is subject to change. If
policies change, we will provide timely notice to parents.
Chain of Concern
When you have a concern, question, or comment, you should consider your
child's teachers as your first resource. They are usually able
to answer questions, not only about classroom procedure, but also more
general questions about child development.
- If you have a question or concern which
your child's teachers cannot address, or if you feel more comfortable
talking to someone else, please feel free to ask the Director, Di
Fontenot.
- If you have a concern which you feel
has not been answered by your child's teacher or the Director, you
may contact Tom Reber, the Assistant Vice President for Student
Affairs, Center leadership reports to his office. His phone number is 845-4728,
or you may write to him at TAMU Mail Stop 1256.
- If your concern has not been addressed in a satisfactory manner,
you may contact the Children's Center Advisory Committee. This
committee is made up of parents, students, faculty, staff members,
and a member of the Texas A&M Vice President for Student Affairs
office.
- Finally, if you feel your child has been discriminated against
because of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age,
political belief, or disability, you may write to Director: Civil
Rights Department, 701 West 51st Street, MC E 609, Austin, Texas,
78751.
Every effort is made by Center staff to prevent the spread of disease. Even
with precautions, children entering care are likely to experience an
increase in mild illnesses. The frequency and severity of these
will vary from child to child. However, an average child under
the age of five has six to twelve mild illnesses per year.
When a child is ill, they need a special level of attention and care,
and we are not able to provide that care for one child, because we must
also consider the rest of the children. Also, when ill children
are at the Center, they are potentially spreading germs to other children
and to Center staff. In addition, an ill child is vulnerable to
catching a second illness while their immune system is overworked.
If your child is so ill that they need special care, and they are not
able to participate normally in Center activities, they should remain
at home. If they become ill at school, you will be called upon
to take your child home. In the event that your child becomes ill
and we cannot locate a parent, we will contact the person(s) you designated
on your emergency care form, and ask them to pick up your child. The
Center staff are the final judges of the severity of illness.
The following conditions are causes for exclusion from the Center:
- Fever over 100 degrees. Children should stay at
home at least 24 hours after a normal temperature is achieved WITHOUT
the help of fever-reducing medications. For example, if your child
goes home on Monday with a fever, they may come back to the Center
on Wednesday, if their temperature was normal on Tuesday. The 24-hour
waiting period allows your child's immune system to regain strength.
- Fever
over 99 degrees with a stiff neck or back. Children may return only
with a doctor's written permission.
- Diarrhea (watery, bad-smelling
stools more than once in succession). Children may return when normal
function returns.
- Vomiting (two or more episodes in the last 24 hours).
Children may return when they can retain a light meal.
- Persistent
hacking or congested cough with sore throat (very red or blistered
throat). Children may return with doctor's written permission.
- Green
nasal discharge (indicates a respiratory infection which requires
treatment). Children may return with doctor's written permission.
- Difficulty
in breathing to the point where child is very uncomfortable or unable
to sleep. Return when child is breathing and sleeping normally.
- Convulsions.
- Persistent pain in abdomen.
- Swelling, redness, or throbbing pain in
an injured part of the body.
- Undiagnosed rash or blisters on parts of
the body.
- Unexpected profuse sweating.
- Head lice. Children may return after
treatment and removal of all nits.
- Infectious skin or eye conditions (such as ringworm, impetigo, or pink eye). Children may return 24
hours after treatment with an antibiotic is begun.
Medications
If at all possible, please arrange your child's medicine dosing schedule
so that they will not require medications at the Center. However,
in the event that your child must have medications administered at the
Center, the following procedures are required:
- Bring all medicine to the teacher. Never leave it with your
child’s belongings. This includes not only prescription and
over-the-counter medications, but also medicated creams, ointments,
and cough drops.
- Fill out and sign the MEDICATION FORM we will provide, giving
Center staff permission and instructions for administering medicine.
Staff will store medicine according to safety guidelines,
refrigerating it if required. If you would like to fill out the
Medicine Form in advance, to save time, please download our
Medicine Form (MS Word).
- All prescription medication must be in the original child-proof
container; showing child’s name, date, directions, an expiration
date, and physician’s name. (You can ask the pharmacy to dispense
the medicine divided into two identical containers, so one can be
left at the Center.)
- We cannot administer the first dose of any medication.
- Non-prescription medication (over-the-counter medications) may
only be administered with a doctor’s prescription or signed
physician’s statement. This includes Tylenol, cough medicine,
vitamins, herbs, or topical medication. We will need written
directions from the doctor on office stationary or prescription pad
indicating your child’s name, the name of the medication, the amount
and the times to be given. Please write your child’s name on the
label and complete a Medication Form at the Center. This policy has
been adopted on the specific advice of the American Academy of
Pediatrics and is intended to protect your child. We cannot
administer aspirin in any form.
|
|
