There is “NO ADMITTANCE” into the building “after” 9:00 a.m.
Short Term Sick Policy
Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center reserves the right to temporarily deny any child admittance to the school for reasons of obvious illness or to request early departure, should symptoms become apparent during the course of the day. Any child who seems unable to participate in our program for any reason will be sent home. This is to ensure the continued good health of everyone at Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center. We realize the importance of parents going to work. However, we need parents/guardians to think of the importance of keeping other students and staff safe from spreadable germs.
We firmly stand on maintaining a “strict” wellness policy. We ask that parents assist by keeping all sick children home. Physicians’ recommendations are taken into consideration. Nevertheless, it is up to Helping Hands’ discretion when your child may safely return to school without the spreading of germs.
*Please speak directly with the Director with specific questions*
If your child becomes ill while at Helping Hands and is waiting for a parent to pick them up, the teaching staff will keep the child in a safe area away from other students. Pick-up is “required” within one hour of the sick call to parents/guardians.
*Please be sure a “Plan-B is in place for emergency call pick-ups*
If a child in Helping Hands care is suspected of having an infectious, contagious illness, all equipment that the child used will be sanitized with an approved cleaner. Please consider the hard work that it takes to “immediately” separate all students present to properly sanitize. The health and safety of everyone else in the learning environment is vitally important.
Parents are required to keep their child home for at least 48 hours (minimum: depending on the illness) when a child is ill or has a contagious illness listed below.
- The teaching staff will provide special attention to the child who is returning from an absence related to illness or a contagious illness during the “Daily Health Check”.
- A printed stamped medical note from a physician’s office is
required
for any child that had a contagious illness prior to their return. - Following any serious injury or surgical procedure, a medical note from a provider will be required indicating it is safe for the child to return to the center and noting any “specific” physical activity limitations and/or necessary accommodations.
The Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center Director will be in communication with the parent to discuss their child’s return.
| Illness/Symptom | Symptoms for Which a Child May Be Sent Home | Child May Return: |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea | Two or more loose, watery stools, or stools that are not contained in the diaper or toilet-trained child is having accidents caused by diarrhea OR stool contains blood or mucous or is an abnormal color. | The child must stay home until 48 hours after diarrhea has stoppedand must return with a note from the health care provider. The health care provider note is required for cases of bloody diarrhea caused by E.coli, Shigella, Salmonella, or Giardia. The note must state that negative stool samples were obtained (as per Department of Public Health requirements). |
| Fever | For temperatures below 100* without any other signs of illness, staff may wait 5 minutes and recheck temp before excluding the child. For temperatures above 101* F, the child will be sent home. | When fever-free for 24 hours (at home) and all symptoms are resolved “without” fever-reducing medicationOR with a note from a health care provider stating the child may return to school. After the required 24 hours at home. *Cannot return to school the next day. |
| Rash | A rash is accompanied by one (1) of the following:
|
When the rash and other symptoms are gone, a note from the healthcare provider stating when the child may return. |
| Mouth Sores | Drooling, discomfort related to mouth sores |
When pain/drooling due to the mouth sores have resolved. *Must return with a note from the healthcare provider. |
| Illness/Symptom | Symptoms for Which a Child May Be Sent Home | Child May Return: |
|---|---|---|
| Vomiting |
One (1) episode of vomiting. Could also be 24 hours accompanied by one (1) of the following:
|
The child must stay home for 48 hours from the last episode of vomiting. Be (vomit-free) at home. The child has tolerated at least one regular meal and is feeling well enough to participate in all program activities. *Must return with a doctor’s note. |
| Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) | Redness, irritation, and drainage of the eye(s), accompanied by other possible signs of illness. |
After taking antibiotics for a minimum of “2” days at home. When symptoms have resolved.*Must return with a doctor’s note. |
| Upper Respiratory Infection (Croup, RSV, Flu) | Fever, severe cough, sore throat, runny nose, rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing if not already evaluated & treated. | When fever-free for 48 hours, able to participate normally, and child no longer has a persistent/severe cough, *must return with a health care provider’s note stating the child can return. |
| Impetigo | An oozy and red rash with yellow, crusted scabs; usually found around the mouth and nose. | After the first dose of medication, the child must be excluded for the next 24 hours and a healthcare provider’s note is required stating when the child may return. |
| Croup | Barking cough, difficulty breathing. | When symptoms have resolved or with a note from the healthcare provider. *Can NOT return until the cough is resolved. |
| Illness/Symptom | Symptoms for Which a Child May Be Sent Home | Child May Return: |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Pox | Red spots, which will scab over, low fever, and runny nose. | When all spots are crusted over (typically 10 days) and with a health care provider’s note stating the child may return and no longer contagious. |
| Scabies | Itchy rash with red bumps and lines. Usually between the fingers, wrist, elbows, underarms, and belt lines. | When treatment has been given. The child no longer has open/oozing areas. *Health care provider note is required stating child may return and is not contagious. |
| Head Lice | Itching and scratching of the head and back of the neck AND evidence of live lice. This could be one of the following: Live lice and /or nits without previous evidence of treatment. | Must stay home for “3” days after the first treatment has been given. The child must be checked by staff before returning to childcare. Must be free of live lice and nits. |
| Pinworms | Itchy rectal area | When treatment has begun. Health care provider notes stating when the child may return. |
| Ringworm | Circular rash. The edges of the circle are usually reddish and may be raised slightly. |
After treatment has begun. *Two days of treatment at home. *A healthcare provider’s note is required to return. |
| Illness/Symptom | Symptoms for Which a Child May Be Sent Home | Child May Return: |
|---|---|---|
| Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever | Sore throat, fever, swollen glands, stomachache, headache, cold symptoms. | After *72 hours/three days of antibiotic treatment and fever free for 3 days. *A healthcare provider’s note is required to return. |
|
Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease |
Small blisters in the mouth and on hands, feet, and buttocks. Also: fever, cold symptoms, drooling, refusal to eat and drink due to painful mouth blisters. |
When drooling and/or pain due to mouth sores have resolved and the child is both fever free and able to participate normally. Sores that cannot be covered (i.e. hands)must be dry/nonweeping. *10 “school” days home *14 “school” days home if drooling is a factor. |
| COVID-19 | Fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, cough, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea. |
*Exclude for 10 school/business days (after a positive test). ~24 hours “home” with no fever or symptoms. ~Must return with a “negative” PCR Test. ~No Exception~ |
| *Influenza** (influenza-like illness) | High fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, aches, runny nose, headache; | *Exclude from school 7 to 10 school/business days. ~Return after there are“NO SYMPTOMS”, and no exposure at home. ~Negative flu test results must be provided. *must return with a note from the healthcare provider. |
Short Term Sick Policy CLICK HERE
Health & Illness Policy
Under no circumstances are parents to bring a sick child to school. Please call the Center if your child will be absent due to illness.
Students should NOT be brought to the Center if they have:
- A temperature of 99.9 or greater
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Undiagnosed skin infections
- Pink Eye ~eye discharge from eyes, ears or nasal passages
- Chicken Pox/Measles, Rubella, German, Mumps
- HFM Hand Foot and Mouth Disease REQUIRES 14 days quarantine
- COVID 19 REQUIRES 14 days quarantine, must provide a NEGATIVE PCR Test before returning to school
If your student has had any of these conditions listed above in the past 24 hours. He/She must be “symptom-free” for 48 hours at home, without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to Helping Hands.
Medication Permission
*These guidelines for exclusion are based on the recommendations from the State of Michigan Child Care Licensing and the City of Detroit Health Dept. children must be free of any of the following “GERMS” before returning to school. This may seem like an inconvenience, however Helping Hands staff work extremely hard at maintaining a safe, clean, healthy, loving, and learning environment.
Please Remember:
- Families may not administer fever reducers to lower a child’s temperature to attend the Center.
- If your child becomes ill at the Center, you will be asked to pick him/her up within 60 minutes of the phone call.
- An attempt will be made to reach a parent or guardian first.
- If the parent or guardian is not reached, the next contact on the child information card will be called.
- Prescription medication must be provided by a physician in the original container.
- Medication Permission and Instruction Form must be filled out and signed in its entirety to provide Helping Hands proper permission to administer medication.
- Parent authorization must be on file for each prescribed medication.
Medication Administration Policy
Medications must be prescription “only” prescribed by a physician with specific instructions of administering on the medication container. *Helping Hands does NOT administer over the counter medication. Only exceptions involve special or serious problems where it is deemed absolutely necessary by the physician that the medication be given during school hours. The parent is urged, with the help of your child’s physician, to work out a schedule of giving medication at home, outside school hours whenever possible.
IF MEDICATION IS TO BE ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET
1. A signed request from a licensed physician/dentist specifying the condition for which the medication is to be given, the name, dosage, route, side effect and specific instructions for emergency treatment must be on file at school. School staff is not authorized to determine when an “as needed” medication is to be given.
2. Specific instructions are necessary.
3. A signed “Medication Permission and Instructions” form request from the parent/guardian must be on file at school.
4. Medication must be in your child’s original, labeled pharmacy container written in English.
5. All liquid medication must be accompanied by an appropriate measuring device.
*A separate form is required for each medication*
Hours of Operation
The Center is open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.(tentatively) except for holidays, closed days, and special events.
Tuition Fees
Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center is a privately owned child care center. A schedule of fees is available from the director. Parents are provided a child care agreement prior to enrollment. Exact “pick-up/drop-off” hours are reserved for each student. This policy ensures an accurate enrolled ratio of the child to the teacher of all children enrolled.
The age of the child determines tuition fees. Payment in full is expected on or before Friday evening by 5:30 p.m. for the upcoming week of enrollment.
*Any tuition payment received after 5:30 p.m. on Friday must include the agreed late fee amount “before” the return of your student enrolled.
*Late fee increases after Monday evening. *Please refer to your Childcare Agreement/Parent Handbook.
Absence
- It is expected and a common courtesy to call the Center or send a message via “my Procare” before 9:00 a.m. when your child will not be attending school.
- If your child is going to be absent, please provide a phone call to the Center or send a message via Procare to advise a staff member.
- If your child is absent for “3 or more days” he/she will be required to return with a Negative PCR test signed by a Doctor “before” returning to school
Clothing
Helping Hands ask that you plan for the comfort of your child when dressing them for the Center. Children are continually working on self-help and independent skills. We ask that clothing is free of complicated fastenings, zips, and shoe laces. Remember that we are a hands-on program, and your child may participate in messy activities.
We ask families to keep a change of seasonally appropriate clothing at the Center. *Brought to school inside a clear gallon-sized Ziploc bag ONLY*.
Outdoor play is an important part of our day. We will go outside when the weather permits, even on nice winter days. Your student will need boots, snow pants, mittens, a warm coat, and a hat. All clothing and outerwear should be labeled, including hats/gloves/boots.
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, children, families and volunteers we serve.
Enrollment
To inquire of enrollment, please call the center at 313-387-9455 to make an appointment, for a tour visitation. Typically, visitation days are held weekly and involve a tour of our facility with the parent, student and director to gain a greater understanding of Helping Hands core values and expectations of every student and family. During the tour information regarding enrollment, tuition, registration, potential waiting lists, etc. will be provided.
*Temperature check and thorough “20 second” hand washing is required of “everyone” entering the facility.
*Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center is an shoe-free zone.
Transportation/School Bus Uber
An ‘inconvenience fee’ will be applied for adding or changing days within the same week of service.