Frequently Asked Questions about 2021 Childcare Programs

In planning for childcare, our highest priority is always protecting the health and safety of your children, our staff and our members. Due to COVID-19, we have implemented new procedures and protocols based on the latest directives and recommendations provided by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the State of Pennsylvania. We are also prepared to quickly evolve plans to align with any health agency updates.

Our talented team continually works to ensure the safest experience possible, while ensuring children still have every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Our protocols include, but are not limited to:

• Parents are to self-screen their children daily before bringing them to school. Children with a temperature of 100.3 or higher, who have come in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last four days or are exhibiting two or more COVID symptoms will not be permitted to attend childcare programs. Visitors need special approval to be onsite. 
   
• More frequent handwashing breaks and enhanced disinfecting procedures have been implemented.
   
• Parents and guardians will remain in their cars during drop-off and pickup with a member of our staff accompanying each child to their classrooms. Parents of infants may take their child to their classroom, however, they will have to go through a health screening prior to entering the building.
   
• Social distancing will be employed through the use of stable groups. Every effort will be made to keep siblings in the same group, as well as having the same staff member with each group. This group will be autonomous, maintaining recommended social distancing from all other groups and in this way, the children will be limited in their exposure to others.

Social distancing requires a combination of several protocols. 

• Social distancing during drop-off & pick-up time is accomplished by physical demarcations among age groups within a space. 
• Stable groups, throughout the day, function as a cohort of children and staff that stay together.
• Staff maintain the 6 ft. recommended distancing from each other, whenever possible.

For children in childcare programs, social distancing refers to a stable group (typically a classroom) staying away from other groups (or other classrooms). Staff also encourage children to participate in more individual activities in the classroom or utilize outdoor play. Masks are also required for all participants. 

All staff are trained on social distancing, stable groups, cleaning and disinfecting (according to CDC guidelines), virus spread reduction practices as well as required handwashing. Each branch has a designated staff member responsible for making sure that all program participants as well as staff, adhere to the requirements.

All children participate in an orientation that includes a discussion on the need to be attentive to personal space and avoid close contact, stable group management, handwashing techniques, mask management, keeping hands away from the face, sneezing and coughing etiquette and respecting others' belongings.

Children and staff wash their hands upon arrival and multiple times during the day. Staff will instruct children on how to wash hands effectively, and we ask that you review the importance of handwashing at home also. 

Hand sanitizer will be provided and used as needed when children and staff are not near a sink. Parents are invited to donate hand sanitizer.

Updated as of July 8, 2020: The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provided additional direction on face coverings for children following the order Governor Wolf issued last week. All children ages two and up will need to wear a face covering at YMCA camp and childcare programs unless one of the exceptions below applies:

• If a child is outdoors and able to consistently maintain a social distance of at least six feet from individuals who are not a part of their household
• If a parent or guardian has been unable to place a face covering safely on the child’s face
• If a child is unable to remove a face mask without assistance

Face masks can be removed during mealtimes and napping, as the children will be socially distanced. Face masks will be removed when swimming.

We know it can be difficult for children, especially those who are younger, to understand why they need to wear a face covering and often to keep a face covering on. We will encourage children to keep masks on as much as possible. In our childcare and camp programs, we will be discussing the need to wear face coverings with all of the children.

Below are some suggestions for how to encourage your child to wear a face covering:

• Give your children matching masks for their favorite doll or stuffed animal to wear
• Have your children decorate their own masks so they are personalized and more fun
• Make sure you model wearing a face mask so your children understand how important it is
• Practice wearing a face covering at home with your children
   

We cannot offer an opinion on whether or not participating in YMCA programs is a good fit for your child. That decision is up to you. We can assure you that, following the guidelines we have been provided, we are doing everything we can to provide the safest environment possible for children and staff.

Parents are to self-screen their children daily before bringing them to school.

Children will not be permitted on site if they have a temperature higher than 100.3° and/or answer YES to any of the questions below:

• Have you had a fever or taken fever-reducing medicine in the last 24 hours?
• Have you experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms within the last 24 hours (to include loss of taste/smell, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, difficulty breathing or vomiting/diarrhea)?
• Have you or anyone in your household had close contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days? (If you show two or more of the following symptoms, please do not enter our facility: fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste and/smell, body aches or nausea.)

In addition, all children and staff are monitored throughout the day for signs of illness. Should there be a concern, the individual will be moved to an identified and isolated location, and their parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up their child immediately. Impacted children and their families will be contacted about the process to return to care.

For everyone's health and safety, we cannot make exceptions and we thank you in advance for not asking our staff to do so if your child is not permitted to enter the facility. Visitors need special approval to be onsite. 

In all classrooms, we have removed any unnecessary items and reduced the amount of furniture. Seating around tables is limited and soft surfaces that are tougher to clean have been removed. Center areas will be further apart, and the number of children invited to play in these areas is reduced.

The stable groups share equipment as needed but every effort is made to provide individual supplies and equipment whenever possible. Items that are used by another group are cleaned and disinfected between groups.

The CDC recommends no visitors on site. As such, until further notice, we are not inviting parents to visit. If you have specific concerns, please discuss them with the director. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Classroom activities look very much like they did before and include dramatic play, art, music, blocks/building, science, manipulatives, library and computers.

Outdoor playgrounds are also available for children to use (weather depending). Playgrounds are disinfected daily as part of our daily cleaning and disinfection process.

If the YMCA identifies a child who tested positive for COVID-19 or we learn they are positive, we will take the following steps:

• The YMCA will immediately notify local health officials.
• The YMCA will notify the parents of those in the affected stable group.
• The Director will inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
  • If a person does not have symptoms, CDC guidance for home isolation should be followed.
• Students in the stable group and staff who are in close contact with the affected student will be asked to stay home 14 days after the last know contacted of those affected.
  • This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the Y and for custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities.
  • The Y will work with the local health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow the further spread of COVID-19.
• The affected classroom will be closed for 24 hours, then thoroughly disinfected before using it again.

In the case of a confirmed case, the CDC recommends the child not return until:

• Authorization by a medical professional OR they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Symptom-free is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.