PARENT
HANDBOOK
FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
Mission Statement
2.
Resource and Referral (R&R)
3.
Fees and Contracts
4.
Maximum Group Size
5.
Fire and Safety Requirements
6.
Background Clearance / Training Requirements
7.
Child Abuse Training, Detecting and Reporting
8.
Monitoring of the Program
9.
Accidents and Emergencies
10.
Pets in the Home
11.
Positive Guidance/Touch Policy
12.
Transportation and Trips away from the FCC Providers Home
13.
Food and Nutrition
14.
Health Screening and Criteria for Denial of Service
15.
Administering Medication
16.
Insurance Requirements
17.
Developmental Program
18.
Supervision of Children
19.
Parent Communication / Participation
2 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 CHILD & YOUTH PROGRAMS
FAMILY CHILD CARE
PARENT HANDBOOK
The purpose of this handbook is to inform the parent (s) of the policies and procedures which all
certified providers in the MCB Hawaii and Manana Housing Family Child Care Program are
required to follow.
1.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS “MISSION STATEMENT”
“To support readiness by reducing lost duty time due to conflicts between parental
responsibilities and military mission requirements.
“To provide developmental experiences which promote each child’s physical, social
and intellectual development.”
The FCC Program supports the Mission Statement by providing a safe and
developmentally appropriate child care environment as an alternative to care in the
Child Development Centers. Many families prefer the home atmosphere for their
children and many children need the personal attention and program flexibility that
they receive in a small group setting.
2.
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
In order to assist parents, the Resource and Referral (R&R) and Family Child Care
office maintains a current listing of certified FCC providers, their location and their
vacancies that can be utilized for Hourly/Drop-in Care. A list may be obtained by
visiting the R&R office. (Lists are provided to parents of children with active CYP
memberships.) The office is located off of Lawrence Road and Cushman Avenue at
Kaneohe Bay, in Bldg. #5082. Their telephone numbers are 257-7430 or 257-7240.
If a family is requesting for Full or Part time child care they may place a request
through MilitaryChildCare.com, where the child’s name will be placed upon
requested provider’s waitlist. R&R will provide a current waitlist to provider upon
vacancy. Once child is accepted in a FCC program they will follow up with R&R to
complete a DD Form 2606 and Child & Youth Program Registration form and pay a
$15.00 membership fee.
3.
FEES AND CONTRACTS
It is important for parents to be aware that FCC Providers are self- employed business
owners. Please interview the prospective providers carefully, be sure that they offer
the type of care which best suits you and your child’s needs. They offer a wide
variety of child care options.
3 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 Also, please execute a written contract between you and your day care provider for the
services you receive. The contract should include all fees for which you will be charged
and the conditions under which the fees apply. The Family Child Care (FCC) Director
cannot assist you in any fee disputes you may have with your provider. However, if you
are presented with a contract that you consider grossly unreasonable, you may discuss it
with the FCC Director or the Resource & Referral Counselor, before you sign it.
4.
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE
MIXED-AGE: A total of six (6) children from the ages of six (6) weeks to twelve (12)
years of age may be cared for in the FCC home. NO MORE THAN TWO (2) OF
THESE CHILDREN MAY BE YOUNGER THAN TWO (2) YEARS OF AGE (24
months). The provider’s own children under the age of eight (8) years must be counted
in ratio (the number of children allowed).
INFANT ONLY: A total number of three (3) children under the age of two (2) years may
be cared for in an infant only FCC home. The provider’s own children must be under the
age of two (2) years, or over the age of eight (8) years.
SCHOOL-AGE ONLY: A total number of eight (8) children from the ages of five (5)
years to twelve (12) YEARS. All the children in the FCC home must be attending
school. The provider’s own children must be school age (attending school), and count in
the number of children allowed up to the age of twelve (12) years.
5.
FIRE AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Every effort is made to ensure that FCC homes are safe and free from hazards. All
providers’ homes must pass three initial inspections: Base Safety, Fire Safety and
Health/Sanitation.
Fire Drills are conducted and recorded at a minimum of once a month. The drills involve
all children present in day care, completed at different times of the day, and conducted
upon the enrollment of a new day care child. The fire drill records are available for
viewing by any enrolled or CYP personnel. The emergency evacuation plan must be
posted in a clear and visible location. All FCC homes must have a working smoke
detector in the day care area.
Matches, detergents, solvents and cleaning supplies will be stored in a secured/locked
area inaccessible to children.
Firearms or other weapons, ammunition, drugs, poisons, poisonous plants, flammable or
caustic materials and insecticides will be stored in a locked cabinet or area.
4 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 FCC homes must have an operating telephone and all emergency numbers will be posted
by the telephone.
Doors having direct outside access will not be left ajar without a protective barrier.
Sliding doors will be plainly marked at a child’s eye level to avoid accidental impact.
Gates will be provided at stairways and kitchen entry ways.
All electrical outlets will be covered when not in use.
6.
BACKGROUND CLEARANCE AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Background checks are done on all FCC Applicants and anyone 12 years of age or older
living in the home before they can receive their certification/license. These checks are
completed by PMO, Family Advocacy Program (FAP), Substance Abuse Counseling
Center (SACC), Sponsor’s Service Record Book (SRB), DCII and the Housing office.
All FCC Providers must complete the New Provider Training Class prior to certification.
This is a 40 hour (week) training which covers regulations, child abuse identification and
reporting, administering medication, nutrition and meal planning, fire prevention and
evacuation procedures, health and sanitation along with other pertinent child
development issues.
All FCC Providers are required to complete training in Adult/Infant CPR, First Aid and
AED.
7.
CHILD ABUSE TRAINING, DETECTION AND REPORTING
All FCC Providers are trained in Child Abuse and Neglect detection and reporting
procedures.
Hawaii law (Rev Stat 350-1.1) requires that individuals/organizations working with
families and/or children must report any suspected child abuse. Family Child Care
Providers and CYP staff members are mandated reporters and will make these reports to
Family Advocacy (808) 216-7175, who then reports to Child Welfare Services (808) 8325300, Provost Marshall (808)257-2123, or the DoD Child Abuse Hot Line (877)-7901197.
Certified homes have a DoD Child Abuse Reporting Hotline poster visible in a prominent
area. The poster has the following Child Abuse Hotline numbers listed:
1. Family Advocacy Program: 808-216-7175
2. Safety Office: 808-257-1830
3. DoD Child Abuse and Safety Violation Hotline: 1-877-790-1197
5 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 Provider certification will be immediately suspended when an allegation of child abuse or
neglect is reported, and an investigation will be conducted. The FCC Director will assist
patrons in finding temporary alternate care for their children. Records of investigative
findings will be kept in the provider’s file by the FCC Director.
8.
MONITORING OF PROGRAM
A minimum of one unannounced inspection of the FCC Providers home and program will
be conducted on a monthly basis by a member of the FCC staff.
The purpose of these monthly visits/inspections is to ensure compliance with regulations
and provide assistance and information to the providers.
The following information must be posted in the FCC home:
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9.
Certificates – FCC, First Aid/CPR/AED
Weekly menus
Dated Daily Activity Schedule
Daily Routine Schedule
Fire Drill Log
Daily sign-in and sign-out sheet/Visitor Log
Touch and Discipline Policy
Auto Insurance
Liability Insurance
NO Smoking Policy
Child Abuse Hotline Poster
Emergency Phone Numbers
Evacuation Plan/Emergency Contingency Plan
FCC Window or Yard Emblem
GE Tax License
Current Health Card/Exam verification
ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES
It is imperative that you keep your work numbers and emergency contacts up to date.
You should also have a current transportation agreement signed and in your child’s file,
in case he/she needs to be transported for medical care.
Even minor injuries should be recorded by the FCC Provider, and signed by you on the
day of the accident. The report will be maintained in the child’s file. If you notice any
scratches, bruises or scrapes on your child, be sure to ask to see the accident report,
which will explain how, when, and where the accident occurred. Please make sure that
the questions you ask are answered to your satisfaction.
6 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 10.
PETS in the Home
Domestic pets will be allowed on the premises of FCC homes if they are free of disease
and are up to date on their immunizations. Pets are NOT allowed in the kitchen. +
Pets must remain separate from children during day care hours. The children may not
play in areas outside where animals have had access. No interaction is allowed between
pets and children.
If your children have an allergy to pets, please select a FCC home without pets.
11.
POSITIVE GUIDANCE/TOUCH POLICY
Many behavioral issues can be prevented through careful observation of the children and
knowing the temperaments and characteristics of the children in your care, and positive
guidance. Some helpful tips to remember:
1. Clearly define the play area as well as the play spaces.
2. Provide a variety of play spaces and a variety age appropriate activities.
3. Visually check on each child once every couple of minutes.
4. Use your hearing as well as your sight to notice what is going on around you
5. Move through each play area often, making physical or verbal contact with children
often. Ask open ended questions to extend children’s learning.
6. Keep activities interesting by making modifications when necessary.
7. Make sure all children are familiar with the rules of each play area.
8. Restate the rules often (and with positive wording). Allow children to assist in
creating the rules.
9. Model the behaviors you would like to see from the children. Praise them for using
appropriate behaviors. Provide multiple opportunities for success.
10. Redirect children to a new interest area when they begin to lose interest or begin to
interact inappropriately with people or materials. When redirection to another play
space is necessary, remember it is not a punishment.
11. Whenever possible, take the time to speak to children individually rather than
addressing the whole group.
12. Always give a warning before any transition.
13. Prevent children from having to wait in line or in large groups, or sitting for long
periods.
7 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 Setting clear boundaries and rules are essential to guiding children and also help to
prevent problems before they start. Each preschool and toddler classroom establishes
classroom rules for the children. These are worded in a positive manner and posted
inside each classroom. Simple rules will be established to set clear behavioral limits.
Samples of some simple classroom rules are:
1. We take care of ourselves.
2. We take care of our friends.
3. We take care of our things.
The purpose of discipline in MCB Hawaii’s Child and Youth Programs is to instruct
children in proper conduct and to teach them to develop their own inner controls so that
they can live according to established standards of behavior.
Techniques of discipline must be developmentally appropriate, fair, consistent, and
respectful of children and their individual needs.
Acceptable discipline techniques include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Setting fair and consistent standards
Clearly defining expectations
Redirecting the child to appropriate activities
Temporarily removing a child from a stressful situation
Limiting the child’s participation in certain activities
Contacting the child’s parents
Humiliating or frightening punishment is strictly forbidden.
a. Physical punishment such as spanking, slapping, hitting pinching or shaking
b. Verbal abuse, threats or derogatory remarks about the child or his/her family
c. Restriction or confinement by physical means
The Touch Policy is based on the premise that positive physical contact with children is
absolutely necessary for their healthy growth and development. Based on this premise,
individuals involved in direct care will provide positive physical contact (appropriate
touch) and refrain from inappropriate touch. Children will always have the option to
refuse physical contact except in case of danger to other children or the child
himself/herself.
12.
TRANSPORTATION AND TRIPS AWAY FROM THE FCC HOME
FCC Providers will not transport children in a private vehicle unless such transportation
is specifically authorized in writing by the child’s parent or guardian.
8 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 Parents will be responsible for determining on their own, the amount and extent of a FCC
Provider’s automobile insurance, and if the policy specifically covers death or injury
occurring to a child being transported by a provider conducting her/his child care
business.
Signed consent by parents must be obtained before the children can leave the FCC home
with the provider, even for routine outings such as walks in the neighborhood or walks to
the park.
13.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
The FCC Providers participate in the USDA Food Program. All menus must meet the
rigid nutrition standards of this program. All menus must be posted in each FCC home.
Appropriate meals and snacks will be provided for the children in the FCC home. NO
child will go without nourishment for more than three consecutive hours. School age
children will be offered a snack upon arrival from school.
14.
HEALTH SCREENING AND CRITERIA FOR DENIAL OF SERVICE
The FCC provider will screen the children upon arrival for obvious signs of illness or
health related problems.
Children who appear ill or have the following symptoms will be denied admission into
child care:
Fever 100.5 degrees or higher
Head Lice
Pinworms
Impetigo
Scabies
Ringworm
Conjunctivitis
Chicken Pox
Vomiting or diarrhea (3 or more watery stools)
Excessive green or yellow nasal discharge
Persistent cough
Symptoms of other contagious diseases such as measles, mumps, hepatitis and
Strep infections
If a child becomes mildly ill at the FCC home, she/he will be separated from the other
children, and the provider will notify the parent to pick up the child. The provider will
monitor the child until the parent arrives.
9 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 Children must be free of symptoms for 24hours without the aid of medication prior to
returning to the FCC home. Providers may request a doctor’s note stating that the child is
no longer contagious and able to return to the FCC home for any suspicious condition.
15.
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION
FCC Providers will receive specialized training from Naval Health Clinic on
Health/Sanitation and Administering of Medication.
Medication will be administered only to children enrolled in full day care (FCC homes
and Full Day Programs) and only by trained personnel/Providers. A physician must
prescribe the medications or special therapeutic procedures, and there must be no other
reasonable alternative to the medical requirement of the child. Parents/guardians must
administer all oral medication for the first 48 hours. Tylenol and like products will only
be administered following immunizations, and only with a current prescription;
prescribed medications must be on the NHCH list to be administered.
Parents must complete applicable portions of the Medication Dispensation form, to
include signature and date, before medication can be administered. Parents must annotate
the last time the medication was given, name of medication, and amount given. “As
needed” medications will only be given with the approval of the FCC Director and only
for special medical reasons such as asthma, or bee stings.
16.
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
FCC Providers who meet the certification requirements are eligible for liability insurance
through companies approved by the Marine Corps. The FCC provider is responsible for
paying the insurance premium. FCC providers must maintain coverage to
become/remain certified.
17.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM
The daily schedule for children, although informal, will provide some consistency to
encourage feeling of stability and security which promotes social, emotional, physical,
and cognitive development. Activities offered will be developmentally appropriate and
take advantage of the unique opportunities available in a home environment.
A schedule of indoor and outdoor activity periods will be developed for all children,
including infants. Directors/Monitors/Trainers are available for assistance in developing
routines and suggesting age appropriate activities.
Safe, durable and washable toys will be available for indoor and outdoor activities. Toys
will be kept on shelves suitable to the ages of the children to encourage self -help skills.
Television will be used sparingly, and will not be used for more than 1 hour a day.
10 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 18.
SUPERVISION OF THE CHILDREN
The FCC Provider will remain on the premises when children are in the home. The FCC
Provider will provide CONSTANT SUPERVISION when children under five (5) years
of age are in the bathtub, shower, swimming pool, playing with standing water, or using
plumbing fixtures that have a temperature that exceeds 110 F.
FCC Providers will observe napping children. Napping infants will be checked on every
five (5) minutes.
Military personnel will not be used as a substitute provider at any time.
Infants will be held for feeding unless the child is being fed in a high chair. Bottles will
not be propped for self-feeding.
20.
PARENT COMMUNICATION / PARTICIPATION
FCC Provider will communicate with parents regarding the child's daily experiences.
Provider will verbally exchange information with parents upon the child's arrival and
departure. A daily written information sheet will be provided to the parents on all
infants, pre-toddlers, toddlers in care regarding diapering, feedings, and activities.
Parents are welcome to visit with their child through-out the day and are required to sign
in and out on the visitor log sheet. Should there be any changes to curriculum or policy
the FCC Provider will deliver those changes to the parents in writing.
A parent is free to request a parent/provider conference with their FCC Provider to
discuss the development and behavior of their child.
Parent participation within the FCC program will be encouraged by including, but not
limited to:
(1) Inviting parents to participate in daily activities during their lunchtime.
(2) Including parents on field trips or quarterly scheduled play dates.
(3) Conducting special events for all FCC Providers and patrons.
(4) Providing information and assistance to families using FCC Programs.
(5) Encouragement to participate in Quarterly Parent Advisory Board Meetings
This handbook gives you, the parent an overview of the Family Child Care Program and
identifies the Family Child Care provider’s role.
A complete Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is available in every Family Child Care
provider’s home. Please ask to see it if you have any further questions.
11 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 The Family Child Care staff will be more than happy to assist you should you require any
additional information. Please feel free to contact our office with your comments,
concerns, complaints or compliments.
FAMILY CHILD CARE
BLDG. 5082
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Hours: 0730-1630
Monday – Friday
Telephone: 808-257-5525
12 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015 STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have received the Family Child Care Parent Handbook. I have read and understand the
child abuse, guidance, and touch policy of the Family Child Care Program. I also
understand that the FCC Provider is self-employed and are not employees of the
government, therefore, any contract disputes are between the provider and myself the
parent.
_______________________________
Sponsor Signature
Date
__________________________________
Spouse Signature
Date
THIS IS TO BE SIGNED BY EVERY PATRON IN THE FAMILY CHILD CARE
PROGRAM AND KEPT IN THE CHILD’S FILE ON SITE A COPY WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE FCC OFFICE.
13 FCC PARENT HANDBOOK REVISED 7/14/2015