Childcare Protocols

 

Before and Aftercare Programs (Right at School)

The District recognizes that there are many working parents who could benefit from having their children attend a structured and safe aftercare program. Right At School (RAS) provides the aftercare program for the District every day, Monday – Friday, for a fee. There is potential for this program to expand to before care as well. RAS has developed a Safety Plan outlining how it will prevent the spread of COVID-19 by adapting the programs to accommodate safe physical distancing and adhere to the CDC guideline and state mandates.

People:

RAS will ensure that that the staff and students will comply with physical distancing requirements by implementing the following plan:

  • 6 feet distance between people will be established unless safety or core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance. Any time people are less than 6 feet apart from one another, all must wear acceptable face coverings.

  • Tightly confined spaces will be occupied by only one individual at a time unless all occupants are wearing face coverings. If occupied by more than one person, RAS will keep occupancy under 50% of maximum capacity.

  • Social distancing markers will be posted using tape or signs that denote 6 feet of spacing in commonly used areas on the site.

  • In-person gatherings will be limited as much as possible. Tele- or video conferencing will be utilized whenever possible. Essential in-person gatherings will be held in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants.

  • Designated areas for pick-ups will be identified, limiting contact to the extent possible.

  • Non-essential visitors will be prohibited in the RAS licensed space(s).

  • Staff and students will always wear masks.

  • Parents/authorized adults will be asked to bring their own pens to sign out students during pick-up times.

  • Student groups will remain static. If required to change staff members, the staff will do their best to keep their distance while wearing masks.

  • Children will be assigned to groups of 10 with one staff member. RAS will use separate spaces for each group. The schedule will reflect a rotation to eliminate the potential of two groups being in same location at same time. Staff will continue to monitor OCFS regulations to ensure compliance.

Places:

RAS will ensure staff and students comply with protective equipment requirements by implementing the following plan:

  • RAS will provide staff with an acceptable face covering and have an adequate supply of coverings in case of replacement. Each staff member will receive a reusable face mask and RAS will have a week’s supply of disposable masks on hand in case there is a need for replacement.

  • Face coverings must be replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, may not be shared, and should be properly stored or discarded. All staff will be trained on how to put on, take off, clean, and discard PPE before they start working at our program.

  • Opportunities for the sharing of objects (e.g. electronic equipment, arts and crafts materials, touch screens) will be limited students will be discouraged to share surfaces. If students become in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, staff and students will be encouraged to practice hand hygiene before and after contact.

RAS will ensure staff comply with hygiene and cleaning requirements by implementing the following plan:

  • Adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) and maintain cleaning logs (ocfs-6041) on site that document date, time, and scope of cleaning. The Site Director will be responsible for cleaning log. A cleaning log (ocfs-6041) will be kept on a clipboard in each licensed space for the week. At the end of the week it will be filed with other licensing paperwork (i.e. attendance).

  • Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations for personnel, including handwashing with soap, water, and paper towels, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible. Hand sanitizer will be provided in every licensed space and students will wash their hands after each change in schedule approximately every half hour.

  • Provide appropriate cleaning/disinfection supplies for shared and frequently touched surfaces (e.g. door handles, toys, art supplies, areas where children eat), and employees to use these supplies before/after use of these surfaces, followed by hand hygiene. Regularly clean and disinfect equipment and toys using the Department of Environmental Conservation s (DEC) list of products identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as effective against COVID-19.

RAS will ensure staff comply with communication requirements by implementing the following plan:

  • Post signage throughout the site to remind staff and students to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

  • Establish a communication plan for staff, families, and visitors with a consistent means to provide updated information via emails, phone calls, and/or the RAS website.

  • Maintain a continuous log of every visitor who may have close contact with other individuals at the RAS Program; excluding deliveries that are performed with appropriate PPE or through contactless means. The Site Director is responsible for the visitor log.

  • If a worker tests positive for COVID-19, RAS will notify state and local health departments and cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as staff or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal law and regulations. The Site Directors will alert the Area Manager who is responsible for notifying the State and local health departments.

Process:

RAS will ensure the program and its employees comply with protective equipment requirements,

by implementing the following plan:

  • Site Director will perform health checks on staff and students before entering program per guidelines using form ocfs-6040.

  • A temperature check will be done by using an infrared forehead thermometer. Along with the OCFS-6040 form, RAS will ask if staff/students have been out of NY State with the last 14 days and referring to the list of "Covid Hot" States listed as states to self-quarantine.

  • Site Directors will be trained during our Live Training a week before the start of program. All Site Directors have completed their 15-hour Health and Safety Course. Anyone not passing this health check will not be permitted to program.

  • A weekly supply of gloves will always be supplied along with an infrared thermometer.

RAS will ensure that the program will comply with contact tracing and disinfection requirements by implementing the following plan:

  • In the case of a staff member or student testing positive for COVID-19, staff will spray with proper disinfectant, the space that a staff/student normally occupies along with all common areas as stated in the NY Guidelines. The staff will clean and disinfect equipment and toys using the Department of Environmental Conservations (DEC) list of products identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as effective against COVID-19.

  • In the case of a staff member or student testing positive for COVID-19, staff will use daily attendance sheets and follow recommended guidelines to inform close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Additional Information:

RAS will stay up to date on the guidance that is being issued by the State, by consulting the NY Forward website at forward.ny.gov and applicable Executive Orders at governor.ny.gov/executiveorders on a periodic basis or whenever notified of the availability of new guidance.