Health Policy

Exclusions from Child Care *

A child-care facility needs to temporarily exclude a child or send the child home as soon as possible if one or more of the following conditions exist:

1. The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities as determined by the
   child-care provider
2. The illness results in a greater need for care than the child-care staff can provide without
   compromising the health and safety of the other children as determined by the child-care provider
3. Fever accompanied by behavior changes or other signs of symptoms of illness until medical
   evaluation finds the child able to be included at child care
4. Lethargy that is more than expected tiredness
5. Uncontrolled coughing
6. Inconsolable crying
7. Difficulty in breathing
8. Wheezing
9. Diarrhea, defined by more than two watery stools, decreased formed stool that is not associated with changes of diet, and increased frequency of passing stool, that is not contained by the child’s ability to use the toilet
10. Blood in stools
11. Vomiting illness with two or more episodes of vomiting in the previous 24 hours
12. Persistent abdominal pain
13. Mouth sores with drooling
14. Rash with fever or behavior changes
15. Pink eye
16. Lice, may return after treatment and nit free
17. Scabies until after treatment has been completed
18. Tuberculosis until treatment is initiated and health authority indicates child can attend child
    care
19. Impetigo until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated. Skin will need to be covered with clothing or band aid until area is healed.
20. Strep throat until 24 hours after initial treatment and fever has ended
21. Chickenpox, until all sores have dried and crusted
22. Pertussis or whopping cough, until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment
23. Mumps, until 9 days after onset of gland swelling
24. Hepatitis A virus, until 1 week after onset of illness, jaundice, or as directed by the health
    department
25. Measles, until 4 days after onset of rash
26. Rubella, until 6 days after onset of rash

* Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of
Home Child Care Programs, 2nd Edition, 2002

Emerson Academy Health Policy

The staff members of Emerson Academy are committed to promoting healthy habits and preventing the spread of disease/illness as much as possible. We urge all parents and/or guardians take their child’s health seriously so that we can work together to prevent the spread of illness. As an inclusive child development center we provide care for children with special needs. Many of these children have a decreased ability to fight infection and can become seriously ill when exposed to contagious conditions.

Emerson Academy Child Development Center follows the Texas Department of Health guidelines* regarding when a child should be excluded from care. It is ultimately up to the directors to determine whether a child must be excluded from care and for how long. We will provide an illness report form for you to sign if your child is sent home from Emerson due to illness.

If your child has a contagious illness a note from a licensed healthcare professional must be provided before your child can return to school.

Please keep the list of conditions that warrant exclusion from care for future reference.

Required fields are indicated with a “*“.