Portland Metro Area Child Care News

The cost of health insurance in 2008 was phenomenal, and it’s expected to go up in 2009 with coverage going down.  What is a family supposed to do when it’s hard enough to make ends meet?  Help has arrived.

 The Oregon Prescription Drug Program is now available to all Oregonians.  Many people who use this coverage state that it saved them more than their private health insurance coverage would.  The best part is that it’s free.  Yes, you read that right, the Oregon Prescription Drug Program is free to all Oregonians, and there are no age or income restrictions.  Parents, Providers, the rich, the poor, and everyone in between can benefit from this program.

Under this program, all prescription drugs are eligible for the discount, but you can save up to 60% on generics, and you can look up drug prices before going to your pharmacy.

There is no paperwork or testing required.  Either call 1-800-913-4146 or go to www.opdp.org in the web.  Registration for your entire family only takes a minute, and you won’t be turned down.  Just give the information for each family member, and your card(s) will be in the mail and in your hands in roughly one week.

With the cost of everything around us going up, it’s comforting to know that the medications you and your family may need to survive can be purchased without breaking the bank.  Don’t waste any time, call or go online and get your cards today, and stop paying astronomical prices for life saving medications.

Metro Child Care Resource and Referral is a resource not only for parents looking for a daycare referral, but for providers as well.  It’s beginnings as Child Care Development Services, Inc. in 1977 was for the Child Care Food Program to assure that all children in any care setting were getting the care they deserved.  When parents called the food program asking about good daycares, the Resource and Referral was born.

Parents can log on to their website to learn more about the services available to help them find the best care to meet their specific needs, find parenting seminars, learn about adoption services, and many other resources parents will find beneficial.

Providers can log onto their website to find extra provider training, how to become a provider, get enrolled on the referral database, learn about the food program, and many resources to help their daycare business succeed.

The food program is a government subsidized program that reimburses providers for the food they feed the children in their care as long as it meets healthy food guidelines established by the USDA.  The purpose for this program was to make sure that all children were able to get healthy meals, no matter where they were in care or what economic bracket they were in.  It also helps keep the cost of child care providers lower, because the cost of food is not passed on to the parents of the children in care.  It’s a very important program, and any questions that either parents or providers have about it, Metro Child Care Resource and Referral will be more than happy to answer.

Both sites are very user friendly, easy to navigate, and provide a wealth of information.  Whether you’re a Daycare Provider, or a parent looking to find a safe place for your child to be when you’re at work, Metro Child Care Resource and Referral is a good source of information, tools, and assistance.

Tuesday, Viva Redding, the 59-year-old owner and director of Sunnyside Learning Center was arrested Tuesday after reports that she disciplined a child by slapping the toddler hard enough to cause a cut on his face.

An instructor witnessed the slap recounted the event to DHS workers and sheriff’s deputies, who took Viva Redding to jail where she was booked and released.

Although the slap appears to be an isolated event with the child, this isn’t the first time Viva Redding has been in trouble for hitting a child.  Before owning Sunnyside Learning Center, Redding was investigated for hitting a child that she cared for in her home last year.  Redding was required to take discipline classes in the event in her home, and risks loosing her license if found guilty in the newest incident.

Jerry and Lisa Schultz are the parents of the toddler who was allegedly slapped are shocked and saddened about Viva Redding possibly slapping their toddler.  Unsure whether to remove their child from care at Sunnyside Learning Center because even though Viva Redding may have stepped way over the line, they believe that there are some great teachers there.

Viva Redding will face a judge in court on January 9^th, 2009.

If you or some one you know has information or concerns about a child enrolled at the Sunnyside Learning Center, please call DHS at 971-673-7257.

Every child loves making these Candy Cane Reindeer, and they’re quick and easy too!

You’ll need:

Candy canes

Pipe cleaners

Sharpie black marker

Yarn for optional pieces

Red pompoms are optional for a Rudolph nose

Googley eyes are also optional, but you can use the black sharpie instead as well

• OPTIONAL-before the project, I made scarves for the reindeer.  They are super fast and simple, I just used a crochet hook and made a chain 30 long and tied off the ends.  I also wrapped yarn around my four fingers ten times, slid it off, tied it together in the middle and clipped the loops, creating crazy hair that my students tied on the reindeer’s head.

• Give each child a candy cane and a pipe cleaner to wrap around the candy cane where it bends, creating antlers.

• Have the child either glue on eyes and a nose, or my students drew faces with a black sharpie marker.

• Give the students the scarves and crazy hair to tie on, and voila!  The easiest candy cane reindeer ever, and the children love them!

One of the funnest and most creative holiday craft ideas is the Egg Carton Christmas Ornament.

What you’ll need:

1 egg carton for every 4 students

Tempera paint

Glue

Glitter

String

For the teacher:

Scissors sharp enough to cut the egg carton apart

Beforehand, the teacher needs to cut the egg carton apart and poke holes In the top of each egg carton cup.  Each student gets 3 cups from the carton.

First, have the students paint the outside of the egg carton cups.

When the paint is dry, either let the children dip the carton cups in glue, or use glue to create designs on them.

Then, the students can cover the cups in glitter and let dry.

When the cups are dry, have the students tie a knot in the bottom of the string and thread one cup through.  Next, have them tie another knot higher up on the string and thread another cup through so that it stops above the first cup.  After that, do the same thing with the third cup, then tie a loop in the top so that they can hang it on their tree.

Whether this project is the one children wrap up and give to parents as a gift, or they take it home just as a project, it’s sure to be one that will be tucked away and brought out every year.

As the students are creating this project, you can discuss the importance of recycling.

Do you know what to do if a child is injured in your care?  Even small scrapes from a child falling need to be documented, not only to protect the child, but to protect you as a provider.  It’s important to have a procedure in place, and to follow it every time there is an incident.  Injuries can happen any time.  One child can bite another, a child can fall, children can have altercations, automobile accidents can occur, or a careless toddler can fall and hit their head.  What do you do?

Have a plan.

• Assess the situation-Look at the injury.  Does the child need first aid, or just a hug better?  Pay attention to the details of the injury, such as size, color, whether the skin is broken, bruised, or any other details that will be important.

• Place the call-Parents need to know what happened to the child, and what you are doing to make it better.  It’s okay to feel like you’re being annoying, but parents will feel better knowing that you are being up front and honest about anything that happens to their most important commodity.  Make sure you note the time of the call, whether you spoke to a parent, who you spoke to, what they said, whether you left a message, and when they called you back.

• Incident Report-Fill out an incident report every time there is an injury.  It’s important to have one with body outlines so that you can show where on the body the injury is as well as describe it.  Have the parent(s) read and sign it when they arrive, and make a copy for the parent to take home.  Put the original in the child’s file.

If the injury is bad enough to need medical attention, make sure that comes first.  Call 911, then parents, and fill out the incident form after the child has received care.  Remember, the child’s safety and well being comes before paperwork.

Having a plan is important because some injuries can prove to be worse after they happen.  Many people don’t realize that a child’s bone is fractured until the child complains for more than a day, and concussions aren’t always obvious.  If the doctor has an incident report, (s) he can more easily treat an injury that doesn’t present itself right away.

Safety is important, and observing safe handling practices with children and injury prevention are key, but if it does happen, it’s best to be prepared for any situation.