Infant Toddler - Become Part Of Our Family

2008 Policies and Procedures

Our Mission

Infant Toddler Family Day Care has been bringing families together with our network of experienced and professionally trained child care providers since 1983. Our nurturing program provides care and early childhood development to children beginning at six weeks of age and beyond. With Infant Toddler, children benefit from the special experience of forming lasting relationships with their provider in a small, mixed age group setting where children learn and grow through play.

Enrollment Policies

Children, 6 weeks of age and older, are eligible for enrollment in the Infant Toddler Family Day Care. Under the requirements of Virginia State law, several policies must be followed including proof of identity and items related to health, nutrition, equipment, outings, and emergency procedures.

Health Policies

Children must have a current immunization record and examination signed by a physician on file. Immunization records are updated regularly. Children cannot be brought to the family child care home when:

1. Their temperature is in excess of 100.5 degrees
2. They are vomiting and/or have diarrhea
3. They have a fresh cold
4. They have a contagious infection
5. They are in discomfort and require one to one care

In the event that your child becomes ill in the family child care home, you will be called to pick up your child. Your child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the child care home. Washable or disposable changing pads must be brought to the child care home. Each provider uses disposable gloves while changing diapers, assisting older children with toilet needs, etc. Providers are trained to properly abide by universal health precautions with the use of gloves.

Nutrition Policies

Infant Toddler Family Day Care is an approved USDA Child Care Food Program Sponsor. Providers serve breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and supper according to each child’s schedule. Parents may supply formula and infant food at their discretion. Accommodations for special diets will be handled on an individual basis to best meet the needs of the child and family.

Supplies and Equipment

Parents are responsible for providing their child’s provider with the following equipment:

• disposable wipes
• disposable diapers
• non-mesh port-a-crib
• linens
• car seat
• washable changing pad

Parents are encouraged to bring at least one complete change of clothing including shoes, socks and seasonally appropriate clothing.

Outings

Family child care providers and parents are encouraged to plan and participate in field trips. Outings are an important enrichment experience for the young child. They provide children with an opportunity to explore their environment. Children are required to be transported in an age-appropriate, federally approved infant or child car seat. Transportation to and from family child care homes will be the responsibility of the parents.

Emergency Procedures

Because we live in challenging times, we have established the following emergency procedures to ensure the well-being of all children in the family. Please discuss and put in writing emergency procedures with your provider. Please be sure to address the following issues in your plan:

• Where would the provider go if she had to leave her home?
• How would you communicate?
• Provide a list of all numbers where you can be reached.
• Who should the provider contact in an emergency in the event that you or another family member is unavailable?
• Leave a car seat each day or get an extra car seat to leave permanently with your provider. Make sure the provider knows how to properly install the car seat.
• Be sure that your provider has at least a three day supply of formula, food, diapers and drinking water in case of an emergency.

Scheduling

Arrival and departure times are determined by the individual needs of families and providers. A change of schedule must be submitted to the office (703-352-3449), with your provider’s approval, a month in advance of the change. After the first 45 days in care there will be a $25.00 change of schedule fee.

Emergency Closings

Family Child Care Homes will be closed only when the Federal Government closes due to an emergency including snow. (There will be no reimbursements for care missed in this situation) When individual jurisdictions close, i.e. Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church City etc. our homes will remain open.

Holiday Policies

Our homes are closed for the following paid holidays:

• Christmas Day through New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• President’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday)

Family Vacations

Please notify your provider as soon as you schedule your vacation. (Please note - there are no refunds for days missed for vacations.)

Substitute Care

If your provider is unable to care for your child, arrangements will be made for an approved Infant Toddler Family Day Care substitute. Please visit potential substitutes prior to using them. If you decide not to use this service, please notify your provider and/or substitute as soon as possible. Providers pay their substitutes. If you choose not to use a substitute, you are still responsible for the full fee.

Absences

Please notify the provider at least one hour before scheduled arrival time if your child is not going to be present that day.

General Information Changes

Please notify provider and the office immediately of any changes in emergency information, telephone number, job change, address change, or any other pertinent changes.

Communication

Parents, providers and staff work together as a team to serve the best interest of the child. Respectful, open, honest communication between parents, provider and staff is crucial to your child’s well being. To facilitate effective communication:

• Daily activity sheets will be provided to parents.
• Parents and providers may establish a mutually convenient conference time.
• Child Care Specialists are available to assist you via phone or email.
• Our newsletter (The Twig) is published monthly and copies are given to your provider. Specific development information is available upon request. Infant Toddler Family Day Care has links with a wide range of community health and social service resource. A list of these resources is available upon request. Parents will be referred to appropriate health and/or social agencies when needed.

Child care fees are due the first of each month, payable in advance of care.

Enrollment Fee: $350.00
Please note that providers may negotiate the child care fees that are charged to the families in their care. They may do this by adjusting the number of contract hours. Rates are evaluated annually at the Provider Business Meeting.

Billing

Invoices will be mailed on the 15th of each month. Child care payments are due on the first of the next month. All child care is paid for in advance of the care. A late fee of $25.00 will be billed for all late payments. There will be a $20.00 charge for all checks returned by the bank for any reason and that must be resubmitted. Early/Late Charges -A penalty of $6.00 every 15 minutes may be charged by your provider when children are left before or beyond their scheduled time.

Vacation/Illness

There are no reimbursements for absences from the family child care home due to vacations or illness.

Withdrawal

Please notify your provider and the office in writing two weeks in advance of your child’s last day. Arrangements to hold a space may be made through the office with the consent of the provider.

Adjustment

Your child will miss you. To help your child adjust to the provider and family child care home, please take time to become acquainted with the provider and the environment prior to the start of child care. In the morning, help your child to settle in - take off coat, change diaper, etc. but try not to stay too long. Remember, the crying usually stops a few minutes after you leave.

Occasionally a child is unable to adjust to the child care home. If after a reasonable period of time a child is unable to adjust, we reserve the right to request withdrawal of the child. If your provider is unable to care for your child, every effort will be made to place your child with another provider.

Complaints

Calls received by Infant Toddler staff from parents who have a problem in the child care home will be considered a complaint as required by licensing. Infant Toddler staff will document, investigate, and file the complaint with the Virginia Department of Social Services, Department of State Licensing as required by family day system licensing standards.

Open Door Policy

Infant Toddler Family Day Care has an open door policy for all of our homes. Parents are encouraged to visit their child's child care home at any time while their child is in care. Infant Toddler staff members also visit the homes on an unannounced basis.