What are tips to ensure my child is in a safe, nurturing, and clean child care environment during this time?

Are you trying to enroll in a child care program and have questions or concerns about health and safety parameters?  

Children’s Council is here to help!  

Here are some tips that you can use to ensure your child is in a safe, nurturing, and clean environment during this time. 

Guidance for Parents:   

1. Have conversations with your children about the health and safety measures they will experience at their child care site.   
2. Request to see your child care program’s health and safety plan. Have a video call or video tour of the facility prior to enrollment and let the provider know if you have concerns.  
3. Support your child care provider by signing the acknowledgment of health risks form.   
4. Ask if you can have video calls, or leave pictures, a scrapbook, or notes to offer comfort and emotional support for your child during the day. Get agreement on how your child can access those comfort items. 
5. Discuss drop-off and pick-up procedures with your provider. Adults picking up and dropping off child(ren) are required to have face coverings and cannot enter the facility.   
6. Bring your own pens for sign-in and sign-out.   
7. Be mindful of your child(ren)’s health and have them stay home if they feel ill or have a fever. Take their temperature before leaving home daily. Have a backup plan.   
8. Face coverings: Children 0-1 should not wear a face covering. Children 2-12 should wear a face covering, but not required. Children 13+ must wear a face covering. Adults must supervise use of face coverings. 
9. You can submit a complaint about health and safety, or ask general questions about health guidelines, to Community Care Licensing: 1-844-Let-Us-No/1-844-538-8766 or email [e-mail]    
10. You should expect to receive immediate notifications about any outbreaks/health concerns from your child care provider.   
11. If you have any concerns about your child’s health, please talk to your pediatrician.   

What to Expect at your Child Care Program   

1. Daily screening questions for staff/personnel about health, exposure to COVID-19 and general well-being to ensure health and safety, following recommended health check guidelines  
2. Stable groups of children and adults. Each site should meet authorized licensed limit. 
3. Daily temperature checks for children  
4. Posted signage with information about physical distancing, health and safety plans, face covering requirements, and Department of Public Health contact information  
5. Ventilation Placard at public entrances showing which ventilation measures they have implemented
6. During individual activities children should be three feet apart, as much as possible. Six feet of distance should continue to be maintained between adult staff and with children in shared spaces and during limited group activities. 
7. Staff disinfecting surfaces and materials after all activities   
8. Staff and children washing hands with soap and water before and after eating, using the restroom, entering the facility, playing, and handling bodily fluids  
9. Linens on sleeping cots/mats labeled, separated and cleaned daily   

*Please note that each facility will follow the city’s health and safety guidelines but may adhere to them differently. Guidelines are subject to change based on SF Department of Public Health updates.    

Children’s Council is here to support you during these challenging times!   

Contact us at 415.343.3300 or by email at [e-mail]

Our Child Care Finder centralizes open programs with descriptions, photos, and notes indicating whether public health-related trainings have been completed.  

We also have a wealth of information on our Online Help Center and ChildrensCouncil.org.

See related articles, "What is the protocol for families and child care providers if a child or a teacher is exposed to COVID-19?"