Toolkit for Integrating Healthy Physical and Mental
Development in Early Learning Guidelines
Health and Safety Topic #4: Medication Administration
Caring for Our Children (CFOC) Standards and Healthy Kids, Healthy Care Links [Tips for Parents]
Selected States' Early Learning Guidelines
State Assessment

CFOC Standard(s):

Permissible Administration of Medication-3.081

The administration of medicines at the facility shall be limited to:
  1. Prescribed medications ordered by a health care provider for a specific child, with written permission of the parent or legal guardian;
  2. Nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications recommended by a health care provider for a specific child or for a specific circumstance for any child in the facility, with written permission of the parent or legal guardian.

Labeling and Storage of Medications-3.082

Any prescribed medication brought into the facility by the parent, legal guardian, or responsible relative of a child shall be dated, and shall be kept in the original container. The container shall be labeled by a pharmacist with:
  1. The child's first and last names;
  2. The date the prescription was filled;
  3. The name of the health care provider who wrote the prescription, the medication's expiration date;
  4. The manufacturer's instructions or prescription label with specific, legible instructions for administration, storage, and disposal;
  5. The name and strength of the medication.

Over-the-counter medications shall be kept in the original container as sold by the manufacturer, labeled by the parent, with the child's name and specific instructions given by the child's health professional for administration.
All medications, refrigerated or unrefrigerated, shall have child-resistant caps, shall be kept in an organized fashion, shall be stored away from food at the proper temperature, and shall be inaccessible to children. Medication shall not be used beyond the date of expiration.

Training of Caregivers to Administer Medication-3.083

Any caregiver who administers medication shall be trained to:
  1. Check that the name of the child on the medication and the child receiving the medication are the same;
  2. Read and understand the label/prescription directions in relation to the measured dose, frequency, and other circumstances relative to administration (such as in relation to meals);
  3. Administer the medication according to the prescribed methods and the prescribed dose;
  4. Observe and report any side effects from medications;
  5. Document the administration of each dose by the time and the amount given.

HKHC Link(s):

Medicine in Child Care


Domain 1: Physical Health, Well-Being, and Motor Development
Sub-Domain: Safety
Safe Practices
Goal: Children demonstrate knowledge about and avoid harmful objects and situations.
36 to 60 months
Some Indicators for Children:

Family, Early Learning, and Community Partnerships
Indicator:
Connecting Parents with Community Services
If parental consent is provided, program personnel must support families in evaluating the responsiveness and effectiveness of the health, Early Intervention, and mental health services to which they were referred, and in identifying next steps.
Supportive Practices
Have written information from the child's medical source of care about accommodations in early learning programs as well as any instructions for medication administration or emergency care.

For references to the state early learning guidelines used see State Early Learning Guidelines Used in Examples
Medication Administration Content:

Content absent

Content to be strengthened

Content approaches CFOC
Action Plan
     


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