Kids, Incorporated - Parent Handbook

Kids, Incorporated is a child development and early intervention program providing services and supports to families of children with disabilities from birth to three years of age in an inclusive, typical setting and in the child’s natural environment. Eligibility is determined under criteria established by the Department of Education under Part-C guidelines.

The center based program is intended to be family-centered, child-focused, and in a typical environment with inclusion of special needs and typical children. Sensory stimulation, early intervention activities, remedial treatment, and educational activities are designed into planning and programming to promote the acquisition of skills in several developmental areas. These areas include self-help, cognitive, fine & gross motor, communication, and psychosocial development.

The classrooms use a combination of child-direct, teacher-directed, and typical play activities to develop each child’s unique skills and personalities. The teacher’s are educated and trained in age appropriate programming, developmental milestones, and positive behavior modification plans. Parents and caregivers are empowered with information about development, behavior, and age-appropriate expectations.

Children with special needs are expected to participate in all activities as their typical peers. Modifications or adaptations may be implemented to empower children with special needs to accomplish these tasks. Kids, Incorporated collaborates with Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), Department of Education (DOE), physicians, physical, speech, and occupational therapist to provide all children with special needs the appropriate care and intervention. An individualized program for each Part C eligible child is based on parent’s concerns, the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), and the Hawaii Early Learning Profile checklist, which provides additional curriculum for educating each child in their area of special needs, such as cognition skills.

Kid’s Incorporated is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Breakfast, milk for lunch, and PM snack are provided for children who stay all day. Children who are Part C eligible are offered 10 hours of care a week by the DOE. These families have the option of morning (9 am to 11:30 am) or afternoon (1:30 pm to 4 pm) early intervention sessions Monday through Thursday. Extended care is offered to these families for an adjusted child care fee.

We are very proud of our staff. The Executive Director has been operating Kids, Incorporated for 30 years and earned a Master’s degree. The Program Director has been serving for 3 years and earned a Master’s degree in special education, curriculum and instruction. All of our lead teachers have at least 20 years teaching experience at Kids, Incorporated. Two of our lead teacher’s earned their Child Development Associate certificate (CDA’s). The other has some college experience. All of our staff is CPR and First Aide certified. The financial manager takes care of all payments and fee concerns.

Enrollment into Kids, Incorporated, consists of parent/guardian requesting their child be placed on the waiting list. When space is available a family is called in first come order, providing the child is age appropriate for the space available. The family is called and asked to about their interest, to visit the center, and to pick up needed paperwork, if appropriate. If they are not interested, unable to be reached, or fails to return the call after 2 attempts the next family is contacted. Children who are Part C eligible are placed on a Part C eligibility waiting list and the same procedures are followed when a space is available for a child with special needs.

Dismissal of child from our program could be implemented if, the family is 2-weeks or more delinquent in child care fees, a funding source, such as UCHRA or DHS discontinues supplemental child care fees and the family is unable to pay the fees, a child is no longer eligible for Part C services and the family is unable to pay for services to continue. Children with behavioral concerns are not dismissed due to their behavior, unless behavior modification plans have been implemented, but ineffective in preventing or stopping a child who is violent toward staff, peers, or themselves.

All parents/guardians are required to sign a child in, when arriving, and a child out, when leaving. Children are to be signed in/out every time they leave the child care facility, even if the child is returning later that day, such as due to a doctor’s appointment. The sign in/out sheet is located in the entrance and is available everyday. A child will not be released to any person who is not listed by the parent/guardian as an authorized pick up person. A written letter must be provided giving permission for an unauthorized person to pick up your child. We ask for identification (driver’s license), when authorized or unauthorized persons initially pick up your child. Please prepare your emergency contact and authorized pick-up people that they will have to provide identification to pick up your child. If you will be unreachable or out of town, please provide in writing the name and number of a contact person, if case of emergency.

A child’s file will consist of an immunization and health record from their physician/health department stating they are released to participate in a group care setting or a copy of letter from a physician stating the child may participate in a group care setting, but the family refuses immunization due to personal beliefs. All parents are required to sign an emergency medical care permission form, an individual medical plan, and provide at least two other emergency contact persons. We ask families to complete forms about our outreach program(s), your child’s daily routines, and media permission.

Your child may not attend, when a temperature of 101 degrees has been present in the last 24 hours. Your child may return to school after the fever has been broke for 24 hours without the assistance of a fever reducing drug, such as Tylenol. Even with a doctor’s note, the child needs to be without fever for 24 hours before returning to group care.

Your child may not attend, when diarrhea has been consistent, such as 2 times within one hour. Your child may return to school after the diarrhea is no longer present for 24 hours. If the child is on medication that has diarrhea as a side effect, a doctor’s note must be obtained stating the diarrhea is not contagious and is the result of a medication.

Your child may not attend, when vomiting has occurred in the last 24 hours. Your child may return to school after the vomiting is no longer present for 24 hours. If you suspect the vomiting is due to reflux or food intolerance, please obtain a doctor’s note before returning to school.

Your child may not attend, when your child has a common cold, such as consistent runny nose, body aches, coughing. Your child needs to be able to function in their classroom, before returning to school. The teacher’s have the right to call a parent, if they feel your child is not feeling well or unable to participate in activities.

Your child may not attend, when they have an unexplained rash, chicken pox, measles, or mumps. A doctor’s note stating what type of rash it is and that the rash is not contagious is required before a child may return to group care. Any rash/hives that has open sores with puss or liquid exposed can be spread, so your child’s rash/hives will have to be dried up before your child will be permitted to return, even with a doctor’s note.

You will be called to pick up your child, if the child has a fever of at least 101 degrees, has 2 episodes of diarrhea in 1 hour, vomits, has an unexplained rash, has lice/nits in their hair, or has symptoms of a common cold that are interfering with their ability to participate in activities, such as fatigue, runny nose, coughing. Should you be unreachable, after the 2^nd attempt your emergency contact person will be notified. Your child may return to school, when the symptoms have stopped for at least 24-hours, as stated above.

All children have an individual medical plan that explains procedures for minor cuts and bruises, diaper rashes, biting, head injuries, and rashes. Should a serious head injury occur your will be called immediately. The plans provide allergy information, medical considerations, and parent input for treating a child.

Children with special health considerations do attend Kids, Incorporated. We enforce all sick child policies. A common cold can put some children in the hospital for a month, so please respect these policies. They are in place to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Kids, Incorporated uses age appropriate practices to govern our planning, scheduling, and educational activities. Our teachers are aware of each child’s individual needs, are trained in positive behavior modification plans, and use play based curriculum. Each family will receive a monthly activities sheet, daily sheets, and constant communication with teachers. We have an open door policy, which means you are welcome anytime.

Meals provided by Kids, Incorporated are breakfast, milk for lunch, and PM snack. Breakfast is provided for morning children who are Part C eligible and PM snack is provided for afternoon children who are Part C eligible. Parent/Guardian supplies a daily lunch. Lunches should include a protein, vegetable, bread/grain, and/or fruit, as recommended by USDA regulations. You are encouraged to send healthy, balanced lunches and a microwave/refrigerator is available, when needed. Please notify your child’s teacher of ALL food allergies or intolerances. If we need to alter you child’s breakfast or snack foods due to food allergies, medical condition, or sensory concerns, a doctor’s note is required.

Children congregate in the great room until 8:30 am, when group circle begins. By 8:45 am all children are in their classrooms with their teacher. Breakfast is served around 9 am. Daily planned activities begin at 9:30 am until about 11:30 am. During this time children are engaged in a variety of activities, such as flannel stories, art, music, center play, peer lead activities, and story time. Lunch is served at 11:30am and nap begins at 12 pm and ends at 1:30 pm. Children wake up to snack, and then go outside. All classes are back in the great around 3:30 pm until the children go home.

Your child’s teacher will contact you in the event of an emergency, about concerns, or daily questions. If the teacher is unavailable to call, the director will call you. The financial manager will contact you in regards to all fees and late charges. A late charge of $1.00 per minute is implemented when a child is not picked up on time.

All staff practice positive behavior reinforcement. A child is NEVER physically disciplined at school – NO STAFF will spank, hit, pinch, or physically harm your child. We practiced redirection, removal of object/child from a situation, offering acceptable alternatives, and time to think. Time to think is when a child is seated in a designated spot, told why they are there, how they can change the behavior, and allowed to return to play when they are ready. It is similar to time out, but has different goals. We encourage the children to learn natural consequences to their behavior/choices, both positive and negative consequences. All staff attempts to make eye contact and talk to children at their level.

Kids, Incorporated has served children with special needs since 1975. The center and home based interventionist have changed over the years, laws have changed, and funding sources have changed, but the passion and commitment for serving children with special needs has never changed. Our program gives children the opportunities to play with peers, to learn from trained teachers, and to develop to their full potential. Collaboration between families and teachers builds success in a child’s develop and encourages the family’s future dreams.

All children with special needs are eligible for Part C services. An individualized program is planned and implemented for each child. The program is used as a tool for meeting the IFSP goals and family expectations, as well as to supplement the daily curriculum. Teachers adapt or modify an activity only when necessary. All children are expected to participate to the best of their ability in ALL activities, such as art, mealtimes, free play, dramatic play, story, and movement activities. They are expected to begin, if not complete, toilet training skills and independent skills within their abilities. Children with special needs are treated as equals, are expected to contribute, and are encouraged to grow and develop in all areas.

We collaborate with therapist and physicians to provide the best care and intervention. All recommendations are implemented to the best of our abilities and resources are provided, as needed. We educate the parents on how we are serving their child and why we are working on these skills. Parents are a crucial part of their child’s success and our goal is to empower the parents, both as mentors and advocates.

Confidentiality is practiced at all levels of staff, volunteers, and aides. Every person signs a letter of confidentiality and is educated on why confidentiality is so important. We expect our families to respect the privacy of other families at the center.

You have the right to information in your child’s file. Please write down any changes to personal information, to authorized pick-up or emergency contacts, and when a child’s medical or allergy conditions change. The letter or note may be given to your child’s teacher or the program director. The program director maintains all files. Upon your child’s leaving, we will keep all files for at least one year, for typical peers, and 5 years for children with special needs, who are Part C eligible.

Abuse training and information about contacting the Department of Children’s Service will be available to parents annually. The law states that “if you know or suspect child abuse or child neglect you are required by law to report it to the Department of Children’s Service”. If you suspect or know of a child who is being abused please call 1-877-237-0004. All calls made to the hotline are anonymous.

Our license is through the Division of Mental Retardation and our certification is through the Department of Education. As a parent, you have the right to call the Department of Education at 1-800-462-8261, with any concerns or questions you may have. The Summary of Child Care Approval Requirements has been attached to the parent handbook. When reading the ratio charts, our facility practices a 1:6 ratio in all classrooms.