Carelot Staff News
March 19 , 2020
Update from Carelot Administration
Dear Carelot Staff,
We are writing to you today to give you some updates as we remain open for Care for our families.
The Office of Early Childhood and the Govenor both have name child care centers essential personnel during the Corona virus pandemic. They have asked that stay open, continue to provide care while following our set policies.
Here are some key points as we take it day by day:
- The Senator has sent us loan applications and is looking into other forms of support for us.
- We want and need to be here in order to help the economy continue and Carelot to thrive when this is all over.
- We need to support key employees in our community. Our gas stations, grocery stores, hospital employees, military personnel, police, fire etc to need to be able to continue to work. As such we need to stay open and provide a safe place for their children.
- Insurance is not protecting us, as this is a pandemic - We want to stay open for our employees to get paid, to pay our bills, mortgages, rent etc....
Child Care employees are not government employees, unlike many teachers, we will not get paid. The school closures and group limits have left several centers empty or forced to close their doors indefinitely. It will be difficult to survive the next couple of weeks nevermind if closed longer. For those families who are still using Child Care programs, what will happen if child care centers all close and they still need to work? If we are open we are able to provide a safe, nurturing and educational environment for the children.
Please know that we are staying on top of information that is being sent out or that we are seeking from our government, our licensing regulators and local health officials. We are also staying abreast on Dept. Of Labor regs, unemployment regs, changes to regs and are here to offer support to our employees and families.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 860-739-1993.
From the CT Office of Early Childhood - Recent information issued 3/16/2020 from Beth Bye, Commissioner
1. Child care is a critical part of the public health emergency response. It is particularly important to ensure that public safety workers are able to work, healthcare workers are able to care for the sick (including those with coronavirus), and other workers can continue vital services in society, such as pharmacies and food stores.
2. It takes a village! Families may consider first identifying trusted friends, neighbors, and family members to care for your child if you must go to work. Ask those individuals:
- Have you traveled to a country for which the CDC has issued a Level 2 or 3 travel designation within the last 14 days?
- Have you had contact with any persons under investigation for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, or with anyone known to have COVID-19?
- Do you have any symptoms of a respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, fever or shortness of breath)?
4. For people who are unable to secure a backup child care plan, call 2-1-1 to identify open and available spaces for care near your work or home.
Families and staff need to be vigilant in implementing health care practices to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These practices include frequent handwashing, covering their mouth with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands and most importantly staying home when they are sick.
The CDC website includes links to tip sheets, posters on handwashing, and tips for families in its Interim Guidance for Administrators of US ChildCare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease. All CDC guidance is updated as necessary to respond to this changing situation.
Child care facilities must implement control measures to reduce the risk of spreading any infectious disease.
The following recommendations should be included in a guidance document:
All staff and children should be screened for risk prior to entry into the child care environment and throughout the day. Screening should be developed that includes at the very least, temperature, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, travel history, has the child or employee been recently on an airplane, and do they share a home with an individual 60 years of age or older and/or an individual with co-morbidities.
Staff who have a temperature greater than 100 degrees should not be permitted to work. Additional consideration/consultation should occur with the child’s medical provider if the child’s temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees.
Protocols should be developed that identify care for a child with an elevated temperature or children who may be ill, i.e. “sick room”.
Hand hygiene:
- Reinforce to staff and children, regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds should be done
- Before coming in contact with any child;
- Before and after eating;
- After sneezing, coughing or nose blowing;
- After using the rest room;
- Before handling food;
- After touching or cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated; and
- After using any shared equipment like toys, computer keyboards, mouse.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Use of alcohol based hand sanitizers should always be supervised by adults.
Respiratory hygiene:
- All staff: cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or the corner of the elbow;
- Encourage children, when appropriate to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or the corner of the elbow; and
- Dispense of soiled tissues immediately after use.
Protocols need to be developed for routine cleaning and disinfection. We thank you all for your continued support and commitment to children and families in CT.
FAQ- For employees and Employers- DPOL
STAFF MEETINGS AND SLUMBER CLUB HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR MARCH.
Carelot Children's Center, Inc
Email: adminassist@carelot.net
Website: www.carelot.net
Location: 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT, USA
Phone: 860-739-1993
Facebook: facebook.com/carelotctr