A    RICH    MIND    FAMILY    DAYCARE
(A   Better Childcare  Experience)

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.

A Rich Mind Family Daycare accepts cash, HRA/ACS vouchers, PayPal and Zelle. We work with most union payments. However, the parent must make the payment directly to A Rich Mind Family Daycare. The union will reimburse the parent thereafter.

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.

Yes. The daycare is open holidays. Our childcare program operates when other daycares are closed. We are open when schools are closed. No need for parents to take time from work because school is closed. A Rich Mind Family Daycare is open for our families during teacher's conferences, Summer vacation, Winter Recess, and Spring Break. We're even here to serve our parents the weeks between Summer camp ending and school beginning. Our childcare program is only closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Otherwise, we accept children on a reduced schedule during holidays. Please discuss with Ms Desiree at the time this service is required.

Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare operates non-traditional hours. Many daycares operate 8am to 5:30pm. In most cases, we can accommodate later hours based on staffing. We strive to work with families according to their individual needs and hours required. Feel free to discuss this with Ms Desiree, the Owner / Director, on an individual basis.

Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare is open when other daycares are closed. We are open most holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Our childcare program operates Spring Break, Winter Recess, holy holidays, teacher conferences, and the gap between when summer camp ends and when school starts. We have short-term and long term packages depending upon space availability. Discuss program availability with Ms Desiree, our Owner / Director.

Our childcare program is unique. We make every attempt to accommodate our parent's work schedules. No specific drop off time required. We have rotating drop-off times. A Rich Mind Family Daycare works with each family. We understand that drop-off and pick-up fluctuates based on a parent's needs. Be advised that those pick-up and drop-off times must be discussed with Ms Desiree. We ask our parents to text us those times in advance so we can have children finish an activity before pick-up time. We do not want congestion for pick-up. That is why advance pick-up and drop-off times are crucial in reducing traffic through the daycare. We appreciate this cooperation in making the drop-off /pick-up procedure efficient for all members of the childcare program.

A Rich Mind Family Daycare is conveniently located in Bronx, New York. We are near major city bus routes, the BxM10 Williamsbridge/Morris Park - Midtown express bus line, and the #2 and #5 MTA subway lines. The daycare is off the Hutchinson River Parkway, as well as 95 North. Our childcare program is on a quiet dead end block, so parents need not worry about thru-traffic safety.

A Rich Mind Family Daycare is on Mickle Avenue in the Bronx, New York. We are a few blocks from Boston Road, near East Gun Hill Road, and behind Eastchester Road off of Hammersley Avenue. A Rich Mind Family Daycare is on a quiet, dead end block. Therefore, you must enter on Hammersley Avenue. Although the childcare program is in the Bronx, it is contained outside the hustle and bustle of the city. This provides a safe environment when weather permits outdoor activities.

Our childcare program has scheduled interviews. We accept limited off the street visits. It is safer for everyone to call or text for an appointment in advance. You can make an appointment with Ms Desiree to interview at A Rich Mind Family Daycare. It is suggested that you bring your child's most updated medical record. In that way, the enrollment process can begin. Text or call Ms Desiree at 347-640-3045. In your text, please provide the following information: 1. Your name- please spell when possible 2. Your cell number 3. When do you want childcare to begin? (specific dates are helpful) 4. How many children require our childcare program? 5. What are the ages of the children seeking childcare? 6. What days of the week do you require daycare? 7. What are drop-off and pick-up times? If possible, we suggest that you bring your child with you to interview at A Rich Mind Family Daycare. However, that is not required. Experience has proven that it is better for the child to meet us prior to their start date. It makes for a smoother transition for all parties involved.

A Rich Mind Family Daycare teaches letters, numbers, shapes and colors everyday- everyday- everyday. No matter the child's age, we teach and reinforce these educational tools. These skills are the foundation of each child's formal education, and tools for everyday life. We teach life skills in self-feeding and potty training. When appropriate, we work with children when they take their first steps, and speak their first words. We show them how to create artistic masterpieces as they learn to hold a crayon, marker, pencil or pen. We have activities designed for age appropriate awareness and advancement. We work with children with life skills like tying, buttoning, snapping, dressing themselves, feeding themselves, washing their hands, potty training, etc. The goal is independence and preparation for school.

Yes, A Rich Mind Family Daycare provides meals. Depending upon the time the child is dropped off, a child can receive breakfast, lunch/ supper and snacks during the day. If your child requires a specific diet or nutritional plan, we suggest the parent supply food. In this way, the parent is sure that the food is prepared in the correct manner. Bottles and formula will be provided by the parent. We suggest the parent send bottles already made. We will heat them up if necessary. If formula is sent, we will make the bottles in accordance with the child's feeding schedule.

Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare goes on trips / outings. We have gone to numerous places including the stage and reading room at Barnes and Nobles, the Bronx Zoo, Rye Playland, the Children's Museum, parks, movies, restaurants, and LegoLand, Trips are determined by parent approval, parent participation (when necessary), staffing availability, weather, transportation, and child readiness. Our childcare program attends age appropriate events. We do not take children to family shows or events in which some children might be frightened.

YES. A Rich Mind Family Daycare provides after school care. In some cases, the school bus delivers the child directly to the daycare. In other cases, the parent retrieves the child from school and drops him/ her off at the daycare. In a few cases, A Rich Mind Family Daycare does pick-up at local schools. The school must be within a close radius to the daycare to be eligible for after school pick-up.

Yes. There are 3 circumstances in which our childcare program gives parents access during the day. 1. A Rich Mind Family Daycare provides parents with photos during the day. This service is usually via text messages. Occasionally, these photos have been sent via email. In this way, the parent can see what the child is doing. There are no guaranteed number of photos taken during the day. This service is determined by staffing availability and activities scheduled for the day. Some days may provide more or less photos than other days. 2. For nursing mothers, we provide a private, separate area for mothers to personally breast feed. Most mothers choose to provide breast milk in bottles. We request that mothers give prior notice of their arrival schedule to ensure a private, safe space is available. 3. Some children have to attend outside programs like speech therapy, physical therapy, or doctor appointments. A Rich Mind Family Daycare understands that these appointments are important. A parent must give information PRIOR to the appointment, as to not disturb the operations of the childcare program. We make every effort to accommodate our parent's schedules.

Yes. A Rich Mind Family Daycare assists with potty training. Our childcare program is a partnership with the parents to reinforce the positive practices taught at home. We only assist in potty training if the parent is potty training at home. We do not decide to potty train on our own. We wait for the parent to inform us that the child is being potty trained at home. Then, we will do the same at the daycare. A Rich Mind Family Daycare supports our families to achieve their desired goals.