Drop-In Child Care
Welcome to St. Paul’s
Drop-In Child Care
Forms: View Page
Parent Handbook
1965 Ferguson Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
Phone: 412.486.4595
Fax: 412.486.8801
Web site: www.stpaulsumc.com
St. Paul’s Drop-In Child Care is a weekday ministry program of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, founded in 1972. Our mission is to nurture and provide care for all the needs of the children in a loving and sensitive manner while they are in our midst and to assist and encourage families of these children as well.
Welcome to our program. This handbook was compiled to familiarize you with our Child Care program, and some of the requirements we must follow to maintain our state licensing. We hope it answers your questions, but we are always available to assist you. Should you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to call Mary Polley, Child Care Director, at 412.486.4595.
CHILD CARE REGISTRATION
All children must be registered each school year beginning in September before using the Child Care. Registration fees are $35.00 for one child, $45.00 for two children, or $60.00 for three or more children. These fees are non-refundable and a child will not be considered registered if the fee has not been paid.
The state mandates that the child care has on file a completed Emergency Contact/Parental Consent Form, Current Child Health Assessment, and an Agreement Form. These forms must be completed before your child can be enrolled. Please complete the form in completely (all boxes filled in) Health Assessment must have the date of the child’s most current well care health assessment and a doctor or licensed nurse practitioners’ signature; immunizations records must also be attached.
PERIODIC REVIEWS
The state also mandates that Emergency Contact/Parental Consent Forms be reviewed semi-annually (every 6 months). If these forms are not reviewed and signed we are required to remove your child from the program.
SECURITY SYSTEM
For the safety of our children St. Paul’s has provided a Guardian, an automatic door locking system. To access the Child Care, a key fob is used to gain access. There is a one-time fee of $35.00 for the key fob. Additional fobs are available for $10.00 deposit. Upon your child’s “graduation” from the program we will give back $10.00 per fob returned to us.
HOURS
St. Paul’s Drop-In Child Care operates Monday – Friday from the end of August through the end of June. During the month of July we will be open Tuesday through Thursday. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Days closed are according to the area school calendars (see back cover for Dates to Remember). We are closed the month of August.
HOURLY FEES
- $4.75/hour per child over 2 years
- $5.20/hour per child 12-24 months
- $5.30/hour per child 6 weeks to 12 months.
Minimum charge of one hour.
SNOW POLICY
Our closing policy is based in the following school districts: Shaler, North Hills, North Allegheny, and Hampton. If three (3) of the above school districts are closed, the Child Care is closed. If school districts are delayed, we are open at our regular time. Closings will be posted on KDKA, WTAE, WPXI, and the church’s website at www.stpaulsumc.com . An e-mail, using constant contact to all current and correct e-mail addresses, will also be sent. When in doubt, please call the Church Office at 412.486.7006 after 8:00 a.m. before coming. Be extra careful in our parking lot during bad weather!
Child Care reserves the right to closeat any time, so be sure to have an emergency backup.
ILLNESSES
If your child has been ill the previous 24 hours or has had a temperature, we ask that he/she NOT be brought to Child Care. Children with a heavy cold should be kept at home to prevent infection of other children and staff. Children must be fever-free (without Tylenol) for 24 hours before returning to Child Care.
A parent will be notified immediately if any child appears ill while in our care.
If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease, please notify the Child Care Center.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
To ensure the safety of children in the parking lot, please obey the stop signs, drive slowly over speed bumps (do not go around speed bumps), and refrain from talking on your cell phone. Also, never leave your child in the vehicle or leave you vehicle idling in the parking lot.
If your child is in preschool, coats and backpacks are to be placed in the appropriate carts in the hallways. All other coats are to be placed in the coat rack just outside the Child Care entrance. Older children’s lunchboxes are to be put in the refrigerator in the Craft/Lunchroom, and toddler and infant lunchboxes are to be brought to the front desk. Please fill in the daily sign-in sheet completely before entering the main room. (DO NOT place your child or car seat on the table. It is unsafe). The phone numbers listed on this sheet are the first numbers we will call if there is an emergency. Please list any special instructions pertaining to the day at the top of the sheet as well. Preschoolers who will come to the Child Care after classes will need to fill out a separate slip for preschool teachers. Parents of infants will receive a special form so that the caregiver will have detailed instructions. Please bring your child/children in to the Child Care Center.
Research shows that the best procedure for leaving your child is to kiss your child, say goodbye, and leave. Yes, your child may cry, but we are capable of handling it. You can call later and check on your child.
PARENTS PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
All lunches, including beverages, for children must be provided by the parents.
Diaper bags should have:
- No more than 6 diapers.
- One (1) complete change of clothes.
- Rash cream (if needed) labeled with child’s name.
- Sunscreen in the summer.
If your child is being potty trained, please pack a set of extra clothing and underwear in their bag. If your child wears Pull-ups, clothing should be easily manageable for children and staff. If possible, it is recommended that Pull-ups with the Velcro sides are easier to change.
Please do not have any medications-over the counter or prescription-in the bag. If you must bring them that day, give them to the desk person and sign the medication log, this also includes epi-pens. Also, please remove hand sanitizer, as this can be very toxic to children due to the high alcohol content. Small toys, cell phones, checkbooks, etc. are also a hazard to the children and should be removed.
PERSONAL ITEMS OF THE CHILDREN
Please label all of your children’s belongings including bike helmets, backpacks, coats, diaper bags, bottles, pacifiers, and lunchboxes.
EMERGENCY TREATMENT
If an emergency situation occurs with your child, the Child Care will attempt to reach the parent or person designated on the daily form. If necessary, we will meet the individual at the hospital. In a life threatening situation, your child will be taken to UPMC Passavant unless the Hampton or McCandless Township emergency medical teams deems otherwise. A staff person will accompany your child.
NAPTIME
If you would like your child to take a nap, please inform the staff. We routinely have naptime for infants twice a day, late morning and early afternoon. We have a separate room with cribs, and children are supervised during naptime.
Older children may also nap or, if parent desire, they may rest. We have cots for older children, and they may bring a blanket or cuddly toy to be used during this time. Each child has his/her own sheet. Infants will be
placed on their backs for sleeping unless written instruction is given by the physician because of medical reasons. Naptime is 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
OUTSIDE PLAY
The Child Care has an enclosed play area with a variety of outdoor toys. We take the children outside frequently, so please be sure your child has the appropriate outdoor wear. Tie shoes and tennis shoes work best. Please apply sunscreen before you arrive. If sunscreen needs to be reapplied, a consent form needs signed and sunscreen (labeled with the child’s name) must be provided by the parent.
TOYS
A favorite blanket or cuddly toy is encouraged for a very young child. However, we have lots of age-appropriate toys for older children. Older children should leave ALL toys at home.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD
Please enter the Child Care center to pick up your child. Children are released to the individual listed on the daily sign-in sheet. If an individual arrives to pick up a child who is not listed, a phone call will be made to clarify to whom the child may be released. If the person picking up the child is not the same person who brought him/her or is not familiar to us, identification will be required. A good rule of thumb is to have all pick up people bring in their identification.
The fee can be paid on a daily or weekly basis, by check or cash. If paying weekly, the bill will be available on Monday for payment. Once the amount due exceeds $400.00 services cannot be provided, unless other arrangements with the director is made.
Your signature is required on the sign-in sheet upon departure to verify who has picked up the child. The Child Care center has the right and is obligated by law to deny pickup if the person picking up appears to be impaired. The Child Care will make other arrangement to have the child transported safely to their destination. Child Care has a few car seats available in an emergency situation. By law, no child can be released if no car
seat is available.
The Child Care center closes promptly at 5:00 p.m.
A fee of $5.00 per every five (5) minutes beyond 5:05 p.m. is charged as a late fee. If an emergency occurs and you will be late, please call the Child Care Staff at 412.486.4595, this allows us to explain to your child that you
are running late. A phone call does not exempt the party from the charge of a late fee. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated and dismissal from the Child Care program will be discussed.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Child Care does not serve breakfast. Please be sure your child has eaten before arriving.
All children receive a mid-morning snack of Cheerio’s (toddlers) or graham crackers (older children). We also have frequent trips to the water fountain. Unless there is a medical
reason – all will receive the same snack.
Remember, small amounts of a variety of foods will entertain your child and reduce the amount of uneaten food.
Feel free to write notes to your children and place in their lunch boxes – or add stickers. Kids love this!!
LUNCHBOX CHATTER
This is our busiest time of the day! If you would like your child/children to enjoy lunch with us, please plan to arrive at Child Care by 11:15 a.m. (Children finishing the a.m. session of preschool arrive at 11:30 a.m.) We close our doors at 11:15 a.m. to serve lunch and reopen at 12:15 p.m. All children who are in Child Care at this time MUST have a lunch. Phone calls will not be received during our lunch hour, 11:30 – 12:30.
Please provide a SMALL lunchbox for your child, clearly marked with their first and last name. Lunchboxes will be placed in the refrigerators upon arrival. We request non-heatable foods, but we do have access to microwave ovens if food needs warmed.
We purposely leave uneaten foods (that will not spoil) in the lunchbox so the parent can see what the child has or has not eaten. It may also be a great snack for the ride home!
Children are offered sandwiches, etc., first before desserts and drink. Please limit sweets to one.
Choose foods that are easy to serve in order to speed the serving process. Foods wrapped in foil, baggies, or waxed paper “opens” more easily than Saran Wrap.
Children like feeding themselves, but we are concerned about children choking on foods while eating in a group setting. Apples, grapes, bananas, and pears can be cut and dipped lemon or pineapple juice to prevent them from discoloring.
Parents often ask for lunch suggestions, and over the years we have compiled the following:
- Cheese and crackers
- Raw veggies cut into bite-sized pieces
- Fruit in plastic containers
- Small Pretzels
- Yogurt
- Plain pasta noodles
- Food in individual serving containers
- SMALL sized juice boxes
Toddlers tend to be messy, so please include a bib INSIDE their lunchbox/bag.
FOODS DISCOURAGED IN CHILD CARE
Popcorn, peanuts, hard candy, chewing gum, Tootsie Rolls, Life Savers and Smarties will not be given to children in Child Care.
INFANT FEEDINGS
Infants under one year of age are fed according to the schedule provided by the parent. All infants are held and rocked while drinking their bottles, unless otherwise specified by the parent. Bottles are warmed in a bottle warmer or a crockpot.
2011 – 2012
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 29 STAFF MEETING AND CONTINUING ED
August 30 STAFF WORKDAY
August 31 Opening Day
September 5 Closed for Labor Day
November 24, 25, 28 Closed for Thanksgiving
December 23 – January 2 Closed for Christmas Break
January 16, 2011 Closed for Martin Luther King Day (STAFF WORK DAY)
February 20 Closed for Presidents’ Day
April 5,6,9 Closed for Easter
May 28 Closed for Memorial Day
July Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
July 26 Last Day
SUPPORT AND EVALUATION SERVICES
If you feel your child may be delayed, either in speech or with development, the following services are available to you.
Please note, St. Paul’s Drop-In Child Care does not endorse or recommend any specific agency. They are provided for our families’ information only and the center does not take any responsibility for advice or suggested programming done by any of the agencies listed below.
These materials can be provided in the family’s primary language, if their knowledge of English is limited.
THE ALLIANCE FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS – Call 412-885-6000 to arrange a free screening.
DART – Call 412-394-5904 to arrange a free screening/evaluation. Once your child is eligible for Early Intervention Services, you will most likely have more questions regarding the program. For these as well as questions regarding your child’s IEP, talk to a DART Special Education Supervisor. If you don’t know who your child’s Special Education Supervisor is, call 412-394-5736.
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL – a thorough evaluation for a variety of delays and issues. General Information –412-692-5325 To schedule an appointment, call 412-692-5560.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
(This is a list of the ones of which we are aware of in the local area. These programs may be able to give you additional information. Again this is provided for your information only and McKnight Children’s Center does not endorse or recommend any specific agency.)
NORTH HILLS OUTREACH CENTER – Assistance with housing issues, food and nutrition, financial planning, referrals for medical services. 412-487-6316
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES –EARLY INTERVENTION
NORTH HILLS PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES – 4068 Alpha Building – corner of Mount Royal and Duncan Ave 412-492-0644
ALLEGHENY INTERMEDIATE UNIT – (ask for behavioral evaluation) 412-394-5700
THE WATSON INSTITUTE 412-741-1800
EASTER SEALS – special needs, workshops on disability awareness 412-281-7244
SCHOOL DISTRICTS – Call your local school district. Many times they can suggest appropriate agencies.
If you have a need, please contact a group supervisor, the child care coordinator or the director and we will try to find more information for you.
Rev. March 2011