2.3.3.1: Parents’/Guardians’ Provision of Information on Their Child’s Health and Behavior

The facility should ask parents/guardians for information regarding the child’s health, nutrition, level of physical activity, and behavioral status upon registration or when there has been an extended gap in the child’s attendance at the facility. The child’s health record should be updated if s/he have had any changes in their health or immunization status. Parents/guardians should be encouraged to sign a release of information/agreement so that child care workers can communicate directly with the child’s medical home/primary care provider.

RATIONALE

Admission of children without this information will leave the center unprepared to deal with daily and emergent health needs of the child, other children, and staff if there is a question of communicability of disease.

COMMENTS

It would be helpful to also have updated information about the health status of parents/guardians and siblings, noting any special conditions, circumstances, or stress that may be affecting the child in care. Some parents/guardians may resist providing this information. If so, the caregiver/teacher should invite them to view this exchange of information as an opportunity to express their own concerns about the facility (1).

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

3.6.1.1 Inclusion/Exclusion/Dismissal of Ill Children
3.6.1.2 Staff Exclusion for Illness
9.2.1.3 Enrollment Information to Parents/Guardians and Caregivers/Teachers
9.4.2.1 Contents of Child’s Records

REFERENCES

1. Crowley, A. A., G. C. Whitney. 2005. Connecticut’s new comprehensive and universal early childhood health assessment form. J School Health 75:281-85.