HEALTH & sAFETY

TRAINING

Having worked in childcare centers and in healthcare for many years, I have received many training certifications in Health & Safety including: 

• CPR/First Aid

• SIDS/Safe Sleep

• Medication Administration

• Emergency Preparedness

• Handling Hazardous Materials

• Preventing Infectious Disease

COMMUNICABLE  DISEASE PREVENTION

In addition to standard communicable disease prevention procedures, I add extra layers of protection like:

• Limited enrollment to one child and careful grouping
  Caring for only one (or two children exposed to the same illness) means fewer exposures and more individualized attention.

• Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing
  Cleaning happens more frequently than in typical daycare. Toys, surfaces, and bathrooms are disinfected multiple times throughout the day, and materials may be rotated or assigned to individual children when possible.

• More frequent hand hygiene
  Handwashing is increased even further, especially after nose wiping, coughing, bathroom use, and before meals. 

• Dedicated spaces and supplies
  Children will not share bedding, comfort items, cups, and materials. Rest areas are spaced out to support recovery and limit close contact.

• Extra monitoring
  Just like you would, I will monitor symptoms closely, recognize when a child’s condition is changing, and know when care should escalate or parents should be contacted. 

• Strict exclusion and escalation policies
  If a child’s symptoms worsen or move outside my guidelines, parents are contacted promptly. This ensures children receive the right level of care and keeps everyone safe.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

As an actively licensed foster parent in Illinois,  I (and my husband) regularly complete comprehensive background checks, including fingerprint-based federal/state criminal history checks, searches of the child abuse/neglect registries (CANTS), and the sex offender registry.  These are the same checks that licensed daycare providers undergo.

HOME SAFETY

Our home is inspected by DCFS every six months to ensure basic safety and home maintenance. 

We are required to have:  Clean, well-ventilated rooms, evacuation plans, first aid kits, working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and locked medications. Our water heater is regulated to prevent scalding and we are required to have child-proofed outlets, secured stairways and no water hazards or firearms.

COMMUNICATION
Parents receive regular updates about how their child is doing, including eating, resting, symptoms, and comfort level. Transparency builds trust and helps parents feel connected even while at work. You can also reach out anytime to talk to me or your kiddo.

ACCESS TO SECURITY CAMERA

You will have remote access to a camera that covers the room your child is in. The camera does not record your child, it is essentially a baby monitor that you can log into at any time. You can also speak to your child through the camera.