cpm6

Annotated Outline for an Operational Policies/Family Handbook

After reviewing chapter 12 in your textbook, What to Include in Your Child Care Parent Handbook and “DCDEE Operational and Personal Policies Checklist”, please complete this submission form. Write your center’s policies for each section. You may find the “Child Care Center Handbook”, the sample handbook, or any other resources you can locate be helpful as you build your center’s operational policies/family handbook.

Your Business Name:

Mission, Philosophy Statement (feel free to use the one you created in EDU 261- Admin I)

Ages Served - What ages will you serve in your program?

Enrollment procedures - What are your enrollment procedures? Do you require parents to visit and or stay with their children in the beginning? What paperwork/documentation do you require before the child starts? Do you have a trial period?

Weekly Schedule - What days will you be open? What time will you open and when will you close? Be clear about what your hours are and put them in writing. Do you have a cut-off time for a drop-off? If so, be sure to state it. If you decide to extend your hours or offer nontraditional hours for individual families, indicate this in a separate agreement in their contract.

Absences - What are your policies around absences? Do you expect to be notified if a child will not be in child care for the day? If so, at what point do you expect to be notified? Do you expect to be paid for absences?

Appointments and early pick-ups - Do you want to be notified if a child will be picked up early, or if a child has an appointment and will be leaving, and returning later in the day?

Termination - What are the causes for termination? What procedures are to be followed, and notices given for termination? What, if any, payment do you expect if notice is not given?

Holidays - What holidays are you closed for? Do you expect to be paid for holidays?

Vacations - Will you close for a vacation? When and for how long? Do you expect to be paid for your vacation time?

Emergency/Substitute Care - Be clear with parents that they must have arrangements for substitute care when you are unable to care for their child. The parents, not the provider is responsible for arranging substitute care!

Meals - Will you serve meals or will the parents be responsible for providing them? Do you participate in the child care food program? Serve only organic foods? What if a child has specific dietary needs or has allergies?

Supplies - Are parents responsible for supplying diapers and wipes? Snacks, cleaning, or paper supplies? Or do you provide some of things items for a fee?

Change of Clothing - Are parents responsible for maintaining a spare set of clothing in their child’s cubbies? Do you expect them to make sure the spare set of clothing matches their child’s current size?

Parent Involvement - Do you expect parent participation in the program? Do you want parents to volunteer in childcare? Do you hold individual parent conferences or group meetings? Do you have a newsletter or parent bulletin board?

Emergencies - Do you conduct regular Fire and Earthquake drills? In the event of a fire or other emergency where you have to evacuate, where should parents meet you? Do you expect each family to contribute water, nonperishable food items, and a full set of clothing for their child to be stored with the emergency supplies in case of an earthquake or other natural disaster or emergencies? If so, how often do you expect them to refresh the food and water supplies?

Daily Activity Schedule - It's a good idea to let parents know what your daily schedule is. When parents know your schedule, they can make better decisions about when to drop off or pick up their child, which may result in fewer disruptions in your schedule. It also gives parents a general idea of what activities their child will be participating in. Your Schedule can be as simple or as detailed as you wish.

Illness - When should the parent keep the child home? Do you require a doctor’s note for a child to return to child care after certain illnesses? What are your policies for administering medication?

Medications - What are your policies for administering medication?

Immunizations - Be sure parents understand that complete Immunization records must be on file before a child’s first day of enrollment. You will need to have a blue immunization form filled out and kept up to date for each child.

Guidance Policy - It is very important that you discuss guidance and discipline policies with parents, and are in agreement on this issue.

Tuition/ Rates - Be clear on what your rates are, and what type of care and hours your rates cover. Be sure to include when and how you expect to be paid. What are the consequences of late payments?

Payment during Family Vacations - What about parent’s vacations? Do you expect to be paid for part/all of the time when the child is not there due to a family’s vacation?

Deposit - Do you require a deposit? Is it refundable if the parent changes his mind?

Late Fees - Do you charge a late fee? How much? When does it start? Do you expect to be paid the late fee immediately, or when the parent pays the tuition?

Methods of Payment - What payment methods do you accept? Do you charge a service fee of $25 for any returned check? In the event of multiple returned checks, do you require that parents make all future tuition payments in cash only?

Add other sections you think necessary for the operation of your childcare and to be included in the family handbook.