PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH FOR CHILDREN Chapter 1

DSS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS To be licensed, Family Providers and Centers must follow many CA state laws re. health, safety, and nutrition Refer to licensing regs for examples

Health Policies Health policies provide a written framework for promoting health and safety within the organization by Defining standards Developing a process to meet the standards Assigning responsibility Developing a time frame Ex hand washing

Children’s Health Records CA Pre-admission health records include: Emergency contact information Parent’s health history: allergies, illnesses Immunization and TB Physician’s health history Consent for emergency treatment

Records, cont’d Health records to keep on file: Immunization reports Injury reports Medication logs and permission forms Updates and assessments

Staff Health Records Immunization and TB tests Physician’s statement of general health and ability to perform job duties Hazards (AIDS) Be aware of ADA and other legal protections

Maintaining Staff Health Occupational Hazards include Exposure to infectious diseases –Teach and enforce sanitary procedures –Adequate (paid) sick days Stress-see p 34 in text –We can control our diet, sleep, leisure & activity level Back injury (demonstration) Exposure to environmental hazards

Providing a Mentally Healthy Environment Child development theories tell us it is CRUCIAL to provide a consistent, loving, and protective environment. Some key elements include: Self-esteem balanced with an awareness of the needs of others Practice developing appropriate tools for social interaction (getting along) Problem-solving skills

Healthy Environment, cont’d Providing a primary caregiver to watch over the health and development of each child provides a key trusting relationship which can foster these skills, reducing the child’s vulnerability and increasing his/her resiliency ie. their ability to overcome hardship

Implications Be a role model for children, parents, and staff Be culturally sensitive Educate yourself and others about promoting health, safety, and nutrition Supervision allows the environment to function as it should