FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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We have been privileged to have children come to us in numerous ways. In general -
A parent, guardian, or social service agency contacts Ms Desiree to inquire about a spot for a child.
The spots are allocated based on age, days of the week service is required, and drop-off/ pick-up times.
If there is mutual interest, an interview is scheduled.
The parent, guardian, and/or social service agency takes a tour and asks questions about the program.
If the answers are satisfactory to all parties, the parent, guardian, and/or social service agency receives the required documents for enrollment.
Parents or guardians are encouraged to bring their child's most updated medical records at the time of the interview. In that way, a spot might be held with the completed enrollment application and the medical record. The updated medical record is absolutely necessary for admission.
Once the enrollment documents are completed, the start date is added to the application. A folder is created for that child.
Additional documents are needed. Once all information is submitted to the daycare, the new child receives individually assigned linen, storage organizer, attendance sheet, cot, and wash cloth. Soon after, the child can start.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare is honored to serve our youngest population through pre-teens. We accept infants at 3 months old through school age children at 12 years old. In rare cases, our childcare program accepts infants younger than 3 months old. Ms Desiree can further discuss age availability in detail.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare understands that each parent prefers a certain brand.
Parents will provide pacifiers, bibs, diapers, pull-ups, wipes, ointment, non-prescription accessories, and any other items required.
Our childcare program honors your brand preference in that we utilize whatever items are provided. If those items run out, however, A Rich Mind Family Daycare has to use the supplies in stock. We will make every effort to advise parents when supplies are low. This will provide a cushion of time for the parent to obtain the items and give to the daycare.
Bottles, formula, baby food, special supplements, vitamin water, etc are all specific to a child. We put their names on their items to avoid confusion. In those child specific items, A Rich Mind Family Daycare will NOT provide substitutes. Only when the parent indicates that certain store bought baby foods can be used, then our childcare program might use a popular brand -store bought baby food for the child. In that case, the parent will be made aware that supplies are low, and the parent has to replenish the baby food.
We work with you to ensure the child has the quality foods and relevant items parents desire.
Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare has separate storage space for each child's things.
Each child must have at least one change of clothes. Those clothes must be age appropriate. They must fit properly and be in accordance with the weather. We suggest that our parents change outfits as the seasons change. In that way, we will not have a summer outfit when the weather is freezing.
Our childcare program provides an individual, standardized cot or crib for napping. Cots, cot sheets, wash cloths, and blankets are assigned to one individual at a time. Each will have the child's name on it. The childcare's linens and your child's clothes are stored in huge storage bags labeled for each child.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare will work with the family's schedule and specific requirements.
As we have taken training in Family Development, it is always our desire to assist families to reach their goals.
If that means one person drops off and another person picks up, then that is fine. Please understand, though, that both individuals are required to sign the child in and out. We have strict procedures to ensure proper documentation.
Each family member picking up will be required to present state/ federal identification for review. We can not and will not release a child to anyone we have not met, have not spoken to the parent for approval, or have not received a written communication from the parent to release the child to the other person.
So, different people are fine as long as that individual is on the list as an authorized pick-up person, and that person presents legal, legible, and presentable identification.
Your child's safety is our priority. Therefore, we can not and will not waive the identification policy. NO EXCEPTIONS.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare has NYS negotiated rates through HRA/ACS vouchers. At the time of HRA/ACS approval, a parent/ guardian receives documentation indicating their co-pay responsibility. Therefore, anyone with a HRA/ACS voucher does not require a co-pay UNLESS they are aware they have a co-pay, OR if the parent/ guardian has gone over the hours the voucher stipulates.
If the parent has utilized childcare services over the designated / authorized amount of time, then an additional payment would be required from the parent.
Private paying parents can discuss rates with Ms Desiree at the interview. Discounts are provided for more than one child attending our program together.
The staff at A Rich Mind Family Daycare has received training in early childhood development.
They are certified in child and adult CPR and First Aid.
They have also taken training in handling Anaphylaxis, which requires use of an instrument such as an Epi-Pen.
Training is on-going.
Ms Desiree has a Master's Degree in Business Management, and Bachelor's Degree in English/ Psychology.
As of March 2022, Ms Desiree is working on her Family Development credential to further assist families in working towards their goals.
She has a Women's Empowerment Series that is open to the women in her childcare program.
Yes. We accept children with allergies.
Depending upon the level of the child's allergy complications, a written medical plan may be necessary. That plan is IN WRITING. It describes what steps should be taken if the child has a reaction. This plan would come from the parent, and/ or the parent with the doctor. Either way, the parent has to advise the childcare program what course of action the parents expect in case of allergy flares.
At the time of enrollment, there are forms in which the parent would disclose that the child has allergies. We ask the parent to be as detailed as possible. There are some allergies that are life threatening. We ask the parent to supply an Epi-Pen if the child's allergies are major.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare will follow emergency protocol if allergies are triggered while in our care.
Be advised that food allergies are also treated with emergency protocol. A form is filled out by the parent indicating foods that the child is allergic to. This list is displayed on the refrigerator door to ensure proper food preparation for each child. That allergic food list is checked before meals are prepared daily.
Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare is absolutely COVID-19 compliant.
We follow all guidelines and suggested guidance from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services), and NYS/ NYC government.
Our staff has been vaccinated. We wear masks and gloves. We follow regulations as they are provided and updated. We sanitize daily. We have a COVID station at the front door with gloves, masks, face shield, sanitizing wipes and spray, receptacle to dispose of soiled items, hand sanitizer, and tissues. We carry masks and gloves for children as deemed necessary by governing officials.
Our childcare program practices six feet distancing whenever possible.
We ask our parents to send a text prior to drop-off and pick-up. This will reduce the amount of congestion in the lobby and hopefully, eliminate COVID-19 spread.
At A Rich Mind Family Daycare safety is crucial. The word safety has many meanings. It means being protected from a harmful situation or danger. It is consideration of one's well being or welfare.
Safety is a broad category in that it affects physical safety, food handling/ preparation safety, and health safety.
Proper pick-up and drop-off procedures are safety issues as well. When numerous individuals drop-off their children and/or pick-up their children at the same time, congestion becomes a concern.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, we ask all parents, guardians, and visitors to provide advance notice of arrival and departure times. This will allow all children to arrive and leave the childcare program in safety with limited risk of COVID-19 spreading.
We ask parents to text when they are on their way to ensure staggered drop-off and pick-up times. When everyone cooperates, the drop-off/ pick-up process becomes efficient.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare takes no political position on smoking or carrying firearms.
HOWEVER, for safety purposes, there is absolutely NO SMOKING on premises.
Our childcare program will not allow smoking on daycare property. There are no cigarettes, no e-cigarettes, no marijuana, nor any other 'smokeable' substances allowed.
This policy applies to firearms, knives, and other weapons also. There are absolutely no firearms allowed.
Our childcare program can not allow handguns, rifles, knives, weapons, nor hunting weapons. Clearly, these policies are enacted for the safety of our children. But, we are also concerned about the safety of our parents / guardians, staff, visitors, workers, and educators.
A Rich Mind Family Daycare is strict regarding compliance with these policies.
VIOLATING THESE POLICIES WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND ABSOLUTE TERMINATION FROM THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM.
Law enforcement personnel will follow state and federal laws governing firearms while they are on daycare property.