COVID - 19 Health Practices

At KU Kids Deanwood, we take standards for hygiene and cleanliness very seriously and are taking additional steps to protect our children, families and employees. Our health and safety measures are designed to address a broad spectrum of viruses, including COVID-19. As we know, the coronavirus (and the associated coronavirus media blitz) has created various levels of difficulty, disconnection, disempowerment, and perhaps despair in so many people. Our goal is to create a sense of safety, education, connection, empowerment, and hope. It is what we need.

We have always had specific communicable disease and hygiene policies and procedures at KU Kids Deanwood that aim to protect against the transmission of any disease. Of course, this is a novel virus, and so we will be revising and updating these procedures as needed based on the latest OSSE, CDC and local state and federal governments. In addition, as we track the spread of the virus and learn more from health experts, we will determine any programmatic changes that are needed, and will keep families updated.

IN PREPARATION FOR OPENING

KU Kids Deanwood has implemented several new measures to prepare a healthy and safe environment for re-opening. We have:

1. Installed hand sanitizer stations at all entries that are intended for use by parents and children as they step into the door.
2. Placed social distancing markets and posters that guide you where to stand, to wear your masks, and signs and symptoms.
3. Stocked up on PPE equipment including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning disinfectant, and bleach.
4. Professionally contracted a deep clean and sanitizing company.
5. Provided virtual training and in-person hands on training to all staff.
6. Purchased UV light hand wands that will be used to quickly sanitize surfacesaround the centers throughout the day.
7. Employing staff member specifically responsible for cleaning, sanitizing, anddisinfecting throughout the day.

OUR STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

Social Distancing

We will ensure appropriate social distancing by

• Not allowing more than 8 children and 2 teachers in any classroom, group, oractivity. Kids will not be combined and will remain in their classrooms
• In these groups, where possible, we will space children and teachers as far apartas possible.
• Parents will continue to drop off in the front entrance. A teacher or director willbe there to assist with symptoms screenings
• We cannot allow visitors of any kind, only adults that are dropping off or pickingup.Staying Home when Appropriate

• If your child currently has or has had a fever in the past 14 days, they must remainhome. Please check your child’s temperature and look for any signs and symptoms of communicable illness before arriving to the center each morning. Symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
• We will make sure employees stay home if they have had fever, symptoms, or exposure to COVID19. We will actively encourage employees to stay home if they suspect illness, have symptoms, or have been exposed to COVID19.Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

• During drop off and after health screening, teachers will assist your child inwashing their hands.
• We require that all children wash their hands with soap and water upon arrival

  and throughout the day, before meals, after activities and returning from outside, and any other time deemed necessary. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol will be used.

   

  Modified Drop Off and Pick Up

Parents will be required to certify that their child has not had a fever, symptoms, or anyone that they have been in contact with within the last 14 days. Parents must take their child’s temperature before arrival. Any child or staff member with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher on physical check OR with signs of illness on visual inspection OR reporting that they or any member of their household has had fever, cough, or shortness of breath shall not be admitted. Such families or staff shall be instructed to call their health care provider to determine next steps.

• Health screenings will be completed and recorded each morning for all staff and children. Staff will use PPE equipment when receiving your child and performing health screening.
• If a family is unable to complete the questionnaire to the required standard, due to concerns over their own health or the risks as described, we will not allow them to leave their child until they can.MAINTAINING HEALTHY OPERATIONSModified Layouts

• Physical Barriers and Guides will be placed where social distancing maybe be difficult or not be possible.
• We will space seating at least 6 feet apart where possible.
• During nap times, we will ensure that children’s cots and cribs are assignedto individual children, are sanitized before and after use, and spaced out as much as possible, ideally at least 6 feet apart. We will place children head- to-toe to ensure distance between their faces.
• We will prioritize outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained as much as possible.Supplies

We have purchased ample supplies including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, paper towels, gloves, tissues, disinfectant wipes, face masks, and no-touch/foot pedal trash cans.

Cloth Face Coverings

Face coverings are required to be worn by all staff.

Cleaning and Disinfection

We have contracted professional cleaning and sanitizing services each week to deep clean the facilities.

• We will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains) within the facility. Use of shared objects (e.g., art supplies, toys, games) will be limited when possible, or cleaned between use.
• We have developed a schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection.
• Cleaning products will not be used near children, and staff will ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children or themselves from inhaling toxic fumes.Shared Objects

• We will discourage sharing of items that are difficult to clean, sanitize, ordisinfect.
• We will keep each child’s belongings separated from others’ and inindividually labeled containers, cubbies, or areas.
• We will ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of high-touchmaterials to the extent possible (e.g., assign art supplies or other equipment to a single child), or limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of children at a time and clean and disinfect between use.
• We will try to avoid sharing toys, books, and other games or learning aids. Gatherings, Visitors, and Field Trips

• We will limit any nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as much as possible,
• We will avoid activities and events such as special performances that are indoor and cannot provide social distancing space requirements.Staffing Plan and Training

• We will train staff on all safety protocols mentioned in the plan and on all updated policies and procedures.
• We will conduct training virtually and onsite while ensuring that social distancing is maintained during operations. We will also conduct virtual staff meetings more frequently to ensure policies and procedures are maintained.

PREPARING FOR IF SOMEONE GETS SICK

Sick staff members or children should not return until they have met
CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation. If a child or staff member begins to exhibit signs and symptoms,

• We will immediately separate staff or children with COVID-
  19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath) at the center. Individuals who are sick will be sent home or to a healthcare facility depending on how severe their symptoms are, and follow CDC guidance for caring for yourself or others who are sick.
• Administrators will isolate anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms. Staff will be sent home immediately and given resources to get tested and properly isolate and quarantine.
• If a child begins to exhibit symptoms, we will immediately notify parents and require that they pick their child up.Clean and Disinfect
• We will close off areas used by a sick person and will not use these areas until after professionally cleaning and disinfecting them (for outdoor areas, this includes surfaces or shared objects in the area, if applicable).
• We will wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, we will wait as long as possible. We will ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children.Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts
• In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, the center director will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 or other communicable disease, while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

We will advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home, self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Disclaimer
This document is for informational purposes. Although the above protocols will be implemented, the nature of childcare includes a variety of traditional social activities, games, learning activities, and events that may prove to be impossible to consistently implement social distancing of 6 feet or more.

KU Kids Deanwood will be taking many more health precautions in light of COVID-19. Precautions include daily health screenings, encouraging and enforcing more handwashing, more use of hand sanitizers, more wiping down of doorknobs, materials, bathrooms, and high use areas with antibacterial wipes, etc. We plan to send children and staff home that have a high temperatures or exhibit signs and symptoms of communicable disease. But even taking these and other extra precautions, children msy still be exposed to the risk of contracting communicable illnesses.

This document serves as a brief summary/overview of the policies, procedures, and protocols that have been developed by the administrators at Kiddie University to help mitigate communicable disease and COVID-19. These are based on recommendations from OSSE, CDC, as well as local state and federal government agencies.

The information presented is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the precautions that are implemented internally in partnership with the facilities management regarding medical care, cleaning and sanitation, equipment, PPE, etc. However, these protocols provide in-depth guidance for care of children and staff while at the center.

Please contact our main office with any questions or concerns that you may have.