print

Policy

Head Start staff will lower the risk of spreading communicable diseases in our classrooms and offices through preventative health practices. The Registered Nurse on staff will coordinate with Lane County Public Health Department to ensure that reporting procedures adhere to all relevant state laws. The Physicians and Nurse Practitioners on the Health Services Advisory Committee will offer consultative support in this area as well.

Procedure

  1. Direct service teams (DST) should contact the Registered Nurse (Health/Safety Consultant) on staff whenever they are unclear as to whether a child should be excluded from the classroom.
  2. The Regional Assistant (RA) or teaching staff will send out informational alerts/flyers to all parents of classroom children within twenty-four (24) hours when the disease in question has been verified by a Health Provider or the Health/Safety Consultant. Alerts can be found on the portal in the forms section. If unable to find an Alert for the diagnosed illness, contact the Health Consultant for Alert information.
  3. Staff must not come to work when they are ill. If a staff member has any of the signs or symptoms described in the childcare exclusion guidelines, they are to report this to the Regional Manager (RM). The RM should contact the Health/Safety Consultant if there are concerns about spread of illness from an ill staff member.
  4. Parent (s) or emergency contacts will be notified to pick up the child if s/he appears to have symptoms of a communicable disease or becomes ill at school. (see below for “Caring for a Sick Child”) The child will not be allowed to return to the classroom until the DST receives a note from a Licensed Health Care Provider that indicates they are safe to return to school. (For Head Lice, please refer to Head Lice policy)
  5. To inform others who visit the site of potential communicable disease risk, each classroom will have a dated notice board posted with the latest listing of verified communicable diseases which have occurred among children in the classroom. Names of children will be kept confidential and will never be written on the board.

Procedures for Caring for a Sick Child

  1. Isolate child from the other children in a way that is nurturing to child and as much as classroom/office space allows.
  2. When needed provide the child with a resting mat to lay on while they are waiting.
  3. Be sure to sanitize the rest mat and toys after each use ( see Classroom Sanitation policy).
  4. Take the child’s temperature when any of the following signs are present: nausea, vomiting, flushed cheeks, warm to the touch on the back of your hand, diarrhea, excessive coughing, or fatigue.

This policy complies with Oregon Disease and Dept. of Early Learning and Cares Rules & Regulations

It was approved by Policy Council On October 17, 1997.
Updated June, 13, 2001. June 2009. July 2013. April 2021. September 2023

Revised July 18, 2003- Approved by Health Services Advisory Medical Staff

© 1995-2023. Head Start of Lane County. All rights reserved.

REVIEWED: April 2021. September 2023