Come Grow with Us Manual

Parents, child care providers and the York Region Community and Health Services Department all have the same goal: to ensure that our children are well cared for in a safe and healthy environment. The Come Grow with Us manual is a resource to assist child care providers in their role in achieving this goal. It is not intended to provide legal or medical advice. Please read our disclaimer for full details on the conditions for use of this manual.

Each chapter provides general information, several "Tips for success", and forms which may be downloaded and printed or photocopied. Resource materials and website links relevant to each chapter are located in the appendix section of the manual. Please note that an appendix may contain several combined documents. Phone numbers of additional resource materials and services are in the Community Resources section.

Please email your questions or comments about the Come Grow with Us Manual to ComeGrowWithUs@york.ca or call York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933.

In this manual, you will find information on the following topics:

Immunization
Preventing the spread of infection
Illness
Creating a safe environment; indoor and outdoor
Nutrition
Food safety
Dental
Mental Health
Healthy Sexuality

Notification of updates to the manual and quarterly newsletters can be automatically received by inserting your email address in the Come Grow with Us E-Bulletin subscription box at the top of the page.

Chapter 1. Health records for children and staff

(Appendix 1 -Immunization Guide and Record, Appendix 1 -The yellow immunization record, Appendix 1 - Vaccination Fact Sheets)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Health history

� Immunization

� Medication and treatment

� Staff immunization and staff health

� Sample forms for collecting the following (reference use only):

-Children's immunization records

-Scheduled medication/treatment records

-Emergency information and health history

-Consent to obtain medical care on behalf of the child

-Medication/treatment for emergencies or special circumstances

-Health assessment for child care staff and volunteers

Chapter 2. Preventing the spread of infection

(Appendix 2 - Animals in a Child Care Centre, Appendix 2 - Diapering; Toileting; Handwashing, Appendix 2 - Disinfection; Play Materials, Appendix 2 - Child care centre inspection report)

In this chapter, you will find information on the following topics:

� Handwashing

� Diaper changing

� Cleaning and disinfection

� Potty chairs and toilet inserts

� Toiletry and personal items

� Cribs and other items used for sleeping

� Sensory play tables

� Pets

Chapter 3. Illness in your centre

(Appendix 3 - Enteric Control Guidelines, Appendix 3 - Reportable and Communicable Diseases; Recommended Policy for Ill Staff, Appendix 3 - Hepatitis B and C; AIDS and HIV; Handling body fluids, Appendix 3 - Head Lice; Needles & Syringes, Appendix 3 - Preparing for a pandemic)

In this chapter, you will find information on the following topics:

� Signs of physical illness

� Outbreak control measures

� Influenza pandemic

� Preparing for a pandemic

� HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

� Exposure to blood borne infections

Chapter 4. Creating a safe environment indoors and outdoors

(Appendix 4 - Car Seat Safety; Home Safety (English) Car Seat Safety Fact Sheets in other languages, Appendix 4 - Outdoor Play, Pesticides, Appendix 4 - Sun Safety, Appendix 4 - Water Safety and Treatment, Appendix 4 - Outdoor Environments, Appendix 4 - Indoor Environments)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Hazardous substances (poisonous plants, pesticides, common hazardous substances in your centre)

� Pesticides

� Smoke-free environments

� Sun safety

� Safe water

� Cold weather protection

� Protection from smog

� West Nile Virus protection

� Child care safety check

� Car seat and booster seat safety

� Pedestrian and sidewalk safety

� Cycling safety

� Playground safety

� Fire safety

Chapter 5. First aid and emergency

(Appendix 5- Allergy and Anaphylaxis)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Policies and procedures for emergency situations

� First aid and emergency services

� Routine practices to prevent or reduce the transmission of disease

� Anaphylaxis

Chapter 6. Healthy eating

(Appendix 6 - Menu Planning, Appendix 6 � Feeding Fact Sheets and Resources, Appendix 6 � Breastfeeding)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Feeding breastmilk, formula or milk

� Feeding solid foods to infants

� Serving sizes for toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children

� Planning healthy meals and snacks

� Choking prevention

Chapter 7. Food safety

(Appendix 7 - Food Safety, Appendix 7 - Food Temperature, Appendix 7 - Dishwashing)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Time and temperature control

� Cross-contamination

� Preventing food-borne illness

� Rodent and insect control

� Allergy prevention

� Food service tips

� Glove use for the food handler

Chapter 8. Dental health

(Appendix 8 - Dental Health, Appendix 8 � Snacking; Teething; Pregnancy)

In this chapter you'll find information on the following topics:

� Importance of baby teeth

� Teething

� Oral hygiene care

� Pacifiers, thumb and finger sucking

� Early childhood tooth decay

� Healthy snacking for healthy teeth

� Sippy cups

� First dental visit

� Fluoride

� Guidelines for a toothbrushing program

� Children In Need Of Treatment (CINOT) program

� Ontario Works (OW) program for dependant children

� Dental safety

� Dental emergencies

� Dental programs

� Contact information and clinic locations

Chapter 9. Healthy body, healthy mind

(Appendix 9 - Screening and Development, Appendix 9 � Screening and Development Links and Resources)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Brain development and early years messages

� Early identification of developmental lags in children birth to age six

� Self-esteem

� Physical activity

� Bullying

� Healthy sexuality

Chapter 10. Abuse

(Appendix 10 - Abuse, Appendix 10 � Abuse Links and Resources)

In this chapter, you'll find information on the following topics:

� Abuse prevention and indicators

� Neglect

� Emotional abuse

� Physical abuse

� Sexual abuse

� Witnessing family violence

� Abuse in children with special needs

� Dealing with disclosures

Community Resources

In this section, you will find contact information for services available within the community.

The Come Grow with Us manual is an education and resource manual and is not to be considered as providing legal or medical advice. Please e-mail your questions or comments about the Come Grow with Us Manual or Newsletter to ComeGrowWithUs@york.ca