Programs must establish, implement, and monitor a system of health and safety practices to ensure that children and staff are always safe. Regular staff, consultants, contractors, temporary staff, substitute staff, and volunteers must receive training in health and safety practices.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, the novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as other viruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. While there are many types of human coronaviruses including some that affect the respiratory tract, COVID-19 has been recognized as a new disease that has not been previously documented in humans (CDC, 2020).
The CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) have stressed the importance of social distancing since the spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (at least 6 feet), wearing masks in public places, washing hands frequently, and avoiding touching the nose and mouth areas.
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol.
Many City of Chicago businesses are required to pass biennial departmental facility inspections before the city can approve them for license renewal. The following slide details the 7 most common reasons Children's Services Facility licensees fail those inspections.
Issuance of City and State licenses is no guarantee that a business will remain in good standing the duration of the license. The following slide explains the business amendments, ownership/officer changes, and indebtedness matters that jeopardize a business' good standing.
The following document is Chapter 4-75 of the Municipal Code of Chicago. It defines and details the city's Children's Services Facility License.
The following document is the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' licensing standards for daycare centers that are reopening after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois passed legislation that requires certain licensed childcare centers and homes to test drinking water for lead and mitigate when necessary. DFSS contractors conduct water sample testing for lead at all DFSS funded early learning centers and sites as required by a new state law, PA 99-0922, that requires all day care centers, day care homes, and group daycare homes that serve children ages birth to six years old that were constructed on or before January 1, 2000 be sampled for lead. If any of the fixtures sampled at your sites come back with a lead level greater than 2.0 parts per billion (ppb), an assessment of the problematic fixtures will need to be completed.
Post the Flushing Record Keeping Log nearby the affected fixture(s) and follow the directions in your mitigation plan e.g., flush daily for 30 seconds and 1 hour prior to start time. The numbers alongside represent the days of the week. Feel free to use these postings/log or you can develop your own.
These screenshots will help you to navigate the portal and to locate your lab results. It provides a view of the face page where you can download mitigation reports even upload documents and pictures.
Agencies can utilize this template to share with parents, if agencies findings are positive for lead. Agencies are able to include agency logo.
Agencies can utilize this template to share with parents. Agencies are able to include agency logo.
This a memo provided by DFSS CSD to all agencies notifying them that testings and log-ins need to be conducted.
