Current Health Practices used in Childcare during COVID-19 Outbreak

The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with the opportunity to explore current health practices used in childcare alongside the COVID 19 outbreak. COVID 19 has affected the way the children are cared for in childcare centres.  Practices have been tempered or toughened around what should done to prevent the spread of disease and promote wellbeing.  This assignment will support students to learn and develop current working knowledge around the management and prevention of contagion.  

Note: COVID 19 is a fluid situation and thus students should keep in mind that practices are subject to change.  It is advisable for students to keep an eye on Public Health updates on this matter.

1. Discuss, using your own words, the below three essential daily practices which occur in childcare.  Share the who, how, when and why each procedure is done. How does COVID process impact on these procedures? Compare IPAC/Units 3 & 4 procedures to the COVID resources (e.g. you may find the frequency of when a procedure is done has increased). Share what you notice has changed. 

Referencing for this assignment:  Citation “In Text” is required throughout.  Citing’s follow your information statement claims.  A final reference page is not required for this assignment. Please cite using (Author, date, p. #) for a reference to a single page & use (Author, date p.p. #-#) when multiple consecutive pages are referenced. E.g. (Smith, p.p.32-33).  Author for Toronto Public Health please use TPH as the name.

1. Diapering/Toileting  
2. Cleaning and Disinfecting
3. Handwashing

2. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is important in keeping workers safe.  In childcare it is also important that students/visitors as well as the children follow recommended PPE.  Read the Public Service Health & Safety Association (PSHSA) document plus the Ministry of Education (MOE) Operational Guidance during COVID_19 Outbreak: Child Care Reopening Version 3.  List your responses into the appropriate columns below.  If you need to insert added commentary, please feel free to do that.

3. Review page 15 & 16 of the Ministry of Education (MOE) document Version 3 Operational Guidance during COVID_19 Outbreak: Child Care Reopening Version 3.  Identify and describe the protocols when someone, such a child, begins to display symptoms of Covid 19 while in the program.  What needs to happen at the centre?  What types of reporting is done?  

4. Case Study:  SCENARIO:   Review the scenario below and then respond to the questions below.  Identify the health indicators, what procedures need to occur to manage the situation. Reflect on some challenges when such a situation occurs.   Each question is looking at the situation from different angles.  These all are part of the intricacies of managing illness within a centre.  

3-year-old Laura arrives at the childcare program and is monitored at the entrance.  She shows no signs of illness or fever. Laura is walked to her preschool classroom.  She joins her group of children in play.  She puts together a cardboard puzzle about the CN tower.   The children transition outside, where Laura rides a bike and climbs on the climber.  While she is outside, she begins to sneeze. The staff ask her how she is feeling and provide her with a tissue.  After returning to the classroom, the children wash their hands and eat lunch.  Laura says she is not hungry and will not eat anything.  She holds onto her head then puts her head down onto the table.  She closes her eyes. Her educator asks, “How are you feeling?”  Laura says, “My head hurts. My tummy hurts”.

Answer the following questions keeping in mind the details of the above scenario.

1. What are the indicators that Laura is probably ill?
2. Since she is showing signs of illness, what needs to occur as far as Laura and being at the centre?  Discuss these protocols in your own words and give the rationale for them.
3. Reflect on what you think could be a challenge in having to care for a child until they are picked up from the centre during this pandemic period? Explain your response.
4. What types of care and support will Laura need while being ill at the centre and not yet picked up?
5. What needs to happen in the environment to reduce the spread of COVID 19 due to Laura being ill in the space? i.e. What things need to be cleaned and disinfected?  Identify 2 things and discuss why you mention them. 

5. As individuals around the world take extreme measures to cope with COVID19.  Families, caregivers and educators focus on how to ensure that the children “weather the storm”.  Children’s well-being and supporting families is the focus of the Health Promotion Action Plan (HPAP).  Provide an action that would support in each level of the HPAP.  Discuss your reasons behind the action

1. Individual Problem Solving & Self Reliance:   Provide a physical activity suggestion you as the ECE might share with a family who needs help with preschool children who are not allowed outdoors at home but who need to exercise.  Share and describe an activity you could provide for families that would incorporate aerobic exercising and using energy when in a limited space.   
   
   
2. Community Action:  In the area where you are living now, what types of services are available to the public (i.e. groceries, restaurants, hospitals etc.).  How are these adapted for COVID 19?  Identify two services and include their name and address.  Describe how they have adapted their services due to COVID 19.  
   
   
3. Societal Action:  Discuss one thing that you see the Canadian or Ontario Governments are doing to support families in this time of COVID19.