MI CASITA HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN

Those 65 and older are at high risk of serious injury or death from COVID-19. Therefore, children in daycare should minimize in-person contact with any person 65 years of age or older, especially those with pre-existing health conditions. This includes maintaining social distancing of at least 6 feet separation from those individuals, wearing a face covering or mask, and avoiding sharing utensils or other common objects with those individuals.

• Follow the drop-off procedures prescribed by Mi Casita.
• Maintain at least 6 feet of separation from other individuals. If such distancing is not feasible, other measures such as face covering, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced

Screen yourself and your child before going into a child care center for any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Muscle Pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Diarrhea
• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100℉
• Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have Covid-19

• Staff will practice social distancing (6 feet) all the time, if possible. 

• Staff will be trained in proper use of facemask, face shields, and protective gear.

• If possible, all classes should include the same group each day, and the same child care providers will remain with the same group each day. (This is not possible for early morning and later pick up).

• We will cancel or postpone special events such as festivals, holiday events, and special performances.

• Consider whether to alter or halt daily group activities that may promote transmission.

  • Each group of children should be in a separate room.

• We will limit the mixing of children, such as staggering gym times and keeping groups separate for special activities such as art, music, and gym time.

  • At nap time, we will ensure that children’s naptime mats (or cribs) are spaced out as much as possible, ideally 6 feet apart. If not possible we will be placing children head to toe in order to further reduce the potential for viral spread.

  • Increase the distance between children during table work.

  • Incorporate more outside activities, where feasible.

  • Minimize time standing in line or waiting time, keeping safe distance apart from each other if possible.

• During arrival/drop off and pick up times a Mi Casita Maestra will be outside the facility to pick up the children as they arrive. Drop off and pick up should limit direct contact between parents and staff members and adhere to social distancing recommendations.

  • We will screen each child upon arrival, children who have a fever of 100.0 (38.00C) or above or other signs of illness will not be admitted to the facility. 

    • Student or staff who has the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19 will be sent home before entering the building:

      • Cough

      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

      • Chills

      • Repeated shaking with chills

      • Muscle pain

      • Headache

      • Sore throat

      • Loss of taste or smell

      • Diarrhea

      • Feeling feverish or a measure temperature greater than 100.0 degrees fahrenheit

      • Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19

  • Children will wash their hands in our sink located at the entrance and then the teachers will take them to their classroom. 

  • If possible, older people such as grandparents or those with serious underlying medical conditions should not pick up children, because they are more at risk.

• We will routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. This may also include cleaning objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, classroom sink handles, countertops, nap pads, toilet training potties, desks, chairs, cubbies, and playground structures.

• All cleaning materials will be kept secure and out of reach of children.

• Every classroom will have a schedule for cleaning and disinfecting.

• We will keep each child’s bedding separate and will be stored in individual cubbies, or bags. Cots and mats should be labeled for each child. Bedding that touches a child’s skin should be cleaned weekly and will be disinfected daily.

• Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized (stuffed animals, soft materials) will not not be used.

• Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions or excretions will be set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a person wearing gloves. 

• Children’s books, like other paper-based materials are not considered a high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures. 

• Outdoor walks: 

  • Walking ropes will be sanitized daily.

• Strollers may not be stored inside Mi Casita foyer.

• It is important to comfort crying, sad, and/or anxious infants and toddlers, and they often need to be held. To the extent possible, when washing, feeding, or holding very young children: Child care providers can protect themselves by wearing an extra-large button-down, long sleeved shirt and by wearing long hair up off the collar in a ponytail or other updo.

  • Child care providers should wash their hands, neck, and anywhere touched by a child’s secretions (tears, drool, etc.).

• Child care providers should change the child’s clothes if secretions are on the child’s clothes. They should change the button-down shirt, if there are secretions on it, and wash their hands again.

• Contaminated clothes should be placed in a plastic bag or washed in a washing machine.

• Toddlers, and their providers should have multiple changes of clothes on hand in the child care center or home-based child care.

• Child care providers should wash their hands before and after handling infant bottles prepared at home or prepared in the facility. Bottles, bottle caps, nipples, and other equipment used for bottle-feeding should be thoroughly cleaned after each use by washing with a bottlebrush, soap, and water.

As recommended by child care licensing, the following people will have access inside our facility during operating hours: 

• • Staff

  • Person with legal authority, licensing staff, law enforcement officer, department of family and protective service staff

  • Professionals providing service to children (if it is necessary)

  • Children enrolled at Mi Casita.

  • Parents should only enter Mi Casita when it is strictly necessary

When diapering a child, staff will wash their hands and wash the child’s hands before and will wear gloves. Steps include:

• • Prepare (includes putting on gloves)

  • Clean the child

  • Remove trash (soiled diaper and wipes)

  • Replace diaper

  • Wash child’s hands

  • Clean up diapering station

  • Wash hands

• After diapering, staff will wash their hands after removing gloves and disinfect the diapering area with a sanitizing or disinfecting solution.

• All children, staff, and volunteers should engage in hand hygiene at the following times:

  • Arrival to the facility and after breaks or transitions

  • Before and after preparing food or drinks

  • Before and after eating or handling food, or feeding children

  • Before and after administering medication or medical ointment

  • Before and after diapering

  • After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom

  • After coming in contact with bodily fluid

  • After playing outdoors or in sand

  • After handling garbage

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used if soap and water are not readily available.

• Supervise children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion.

• Assist children with handwashing, including infants who cannot wash hands alone.

• After assisting children with handwashing, staff should also wash their hands.

• We will have an Isolation Room in our Bodega. All students or staff that present any symptoms of being sick will be isolated until sent home. After a student or staff is sent home the Isolation Room and classroom will be rigorously cleaned and disinfected following the CDC guidelines. 

• Students or staff that present any symptoms of being sick will not be able to come back for the next two weeks or until a doctor certifies that is not contagious and can return to school with a doctor’s note.

• Covid-19 confirmed case in a child or staff

• It is required to contact the child care licensing and local health authorities to report the presence of Covid-19 in our facility 

• We will close off areas used by the sick person 

• Follow the CDC guidelines to clean and disinfect all areas used by the sick person

• Wash or disinfect hands upon arriving at Mi Casita and after any interaction with employees, other families, or items from Mi Casita. 

• Wear face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when dropping your child off, or when within 6 feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s household. If available, consider wearing non-medical grade face masks. 

• Wash or sanitize hands after dropping off your child. 

  • Think carefully about how you prepare your child’s lunch or drinks for the day. Consider disinfecting reusable items every evening and before leaving for the day. 

  • Pack at least 2 extra changes of clothes for your child, as Mi Casita is being asked to change children’s clothing more regularly to prevent disease spread. 

  • Do not send in toys, including but not limited to stuffed animals as a sleep aid.

  • While not mandatory, if you prefer that your child of 2 years or older wear a mask, staff will reinforce that preference. The child should wear a mask fit for their face and they should be properly trained by parents on putting it on and taking it off independently. 

  • Parents should be aware of the risk to individuals 65 years of age or older from a child who could show no signs of the virus.