We’re in this together, six feet apart!
CHFS Arts and Literacy After School 2020-2021
COVID-19 Safety Policies and Procedures
These policies and procedures relate specifically to changes in after school operations and programming due to Department of Health and Mental Hygeine (DOHMH), the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) COVID-19 related regulations and guidance. These policies and procedures are intended to be an addition to the general “Parent/Guardian Handbook” also being issued.
Safety and Precautions
We all need to work together to keep things safe for everyone!
Our policies are based on guidance from the following entities:
Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD- NYC)
Department of Health, Office of Children and Family Services (DOH, OCFS- NYS)
Center for Disease Control (CDC- US Government)
Policies are subject to change as guidance is updated
Safety at a glance
All participants, caregivers, staff and vendors will be carefully screened for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors every day upon arrival. Anyone presenting with symptoms or positive for risk factors will not be permitted to enter programming or stay on site.
Parents/caregivers and guests will not be permitted inside the center for any reason.
Masks must be worn at all times by staff and participants. Breaks from mask-wearing, can and will be provided safely and as needed.
Participants and staff will remain at least six feet apart at all times.
Programming will take place outdoors as much as possible
Class groups will be limited to 15 participants at most, depending on the space available. Our goal is to keep class sizes to 10 participants.
Class groups will be stable and will have minimal contact with other groups.
Classrooms, restrooms and desks will be cleaned and disinfected daily. High touch surfaces (doorknobs, faucets, etc.) will be cleaned throughout the day following a cleaning schedule. All rooms and equipment will be thoroughly cleaned between groups.
Students will not share supplies, and any equipment that is required to be shared will be cleaned thoroughly between uses.
After School Participant Safety Policy/Setting Up Participants for Success
While we want to offer an enriching after school environment for all students, safety is our top priority and we cannot make compromises. If a child shows that they are unable to follow safety rules they will not be allowed to continue participating in programming. We will not be able to give second chances to students who violate safety rules.
Please review safety rules with your child regularly. Please ask yourself if your child will struggle to keep a safe physical distance from others, wear a mask, and following all safety rules. If you foresee challenges, please practice and set the expectation now, and also consider whether or not this will be the best setting for your child at this time. We encourage all parents/caregivers to schedule one-on-one meetings prior to enrolling in camp to determine the best ways to ensure your child’s health, safety, and success both in and out of our programs.
Personal Protective Equipment
All students and staff must wear a facemask covering their nose and mouth at all times, with the following exceptions:
Students may remove or lower their masks while eating. They must be sitting at least six feet from others.
Students may take supervised “mask breaks” outside during which they are at least 8 feet away from other children while remaining safely distanced and supervised by staff.
Students will be provided with a face mask if they do not have their own.
Students may bring their own mask, provided it safely covers their nose and mouth.
Students will be given disposable gloves as needed,
Wear your Face Covering Correctly
Wash your hands before putting on your face covering.
Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
Make sure you can breathe easily and inform an adult right away if you are having any difficulties.
Wear a Face Covering to Protect Others
Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms.
Wear a face covering in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart.
Wear a face covering correctly for maximum protection.
Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect.
Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home
Wash or sanitize your hands.
Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops.
Handle only by the ear loops or ties.
Fold outside corners together.
Place covering in the washing machine .
Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.
COVID-19 Testing
All positive COVID-19 tests and/or contact with individuals who have tested positive is LEGALLY REQUIRED to be reported to the program IMMEDIATELY.
We encourage all participants, family/household members, and staff to get tested for COVID-19 and antibodies prior to attending program; however, this is not a requirement for participation or employment at this time.
Information about testing can be found at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/index.page
Arrival
When parents/caregivers participants arrive, they will be required to complete health/COVID-19 screening before the participant is allowed entry. If participants or family members are showing any symptoms or are confirmed for potential exposure to COVID-19, the participant will not be permitted to participate to ensure the safety of others.
Daily health assessment
When participants arrive to program they will receive a health assessment outside the school entrance before they are permitted to enter the after school program. This is LEGAL requirement for entry into program. Failure to comply or be truthful in answers will result in immediate expulsion from all programming and potential legal action/liability. The full cooperation of all individuals is expected and required.
All participants are REQUIRED to wear a mask (correctly) during check in and daily health assessments.
Participants’ temperature will be taken with a no-touch thermometer to check for fever (100.4 or above).
Participants will be asked if they’ve been experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Participants will be asked if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Participants will be asked if they have been in contact with any person confirmed OR suspected of to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Participants will be reassessed throughout the day.
If a participant is sent home due to COVID-like symptoms, they will not be allowed to return to after school until the symptoms are gone AND they can produce test results showing they are negative for COVID-19. All confirmed cases will be reported to DOHMH, OCFS, and DYCD per regulations and guidelines for required contact tracing. Families will be informed if there was a confirmed case; however, personal information cannot be shared.
Dismissal
We will check the ID of anyone who is coming to pick up a participant.
If a person picking up the child is not on the approved list in the child’s application, they will not be released to that person.
If a participant is 10 years-old or older, the parent/legal guardian can give the child permission to go home alone in the child’s application.
Students who travel home alone will not be allowed to leave early unless their parent/legal guardian submits a written request in advance.
Verbal requests to leave early or walk home alone, cannot and will not be honored.
Inclement Weather
Weather permitting, all after school programming will be held outside. In the event of rain, colder temperatures and in the event of a heat advisory after school program activities will take place indoors.
Rain
In the event of rain, program activities will take place indoors.
For indoor activities, social distancing and adherence to NYSDOH guidance will be mandated; no more than 10 participants will be permitted in a classroom at any given time.
Once the rain subsides, it is expected that programming will resume outdoors.
Heat Advisory
OEM classifies a heat advisory as a span of more than 2 days with a heat index of at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the event of a heat advisory, hydration and cooling every 1-2 hours should be enforced with rotational of indoor activities.
Students will be provided with disposable water bottles if needed. Students will not be allowed to use drinking fountains. Please send your child with their own water bottle if possible in order to avoid plastic waste
Program Cancellation
Program may be cancelled due to weather if it is necessary for health and safety.
If program is cancelled we will notify parents/caregivers as quickly as possible.
Please make sure the program has up-to-date contact information to facilitate this communication.
Child Illness
If a child falls ill or displays COVID-like symptoms during after school program, the child will be isolated in a supervised location and the parent/guardian or approved emergency contact will be contacted.
If a child is isolated due to COVID symptoms they must be picked up by an approved person immediately.
If a child is sent home due to COVID-like symptoms they will not be allowed to return to camp until the symptoms are gone and they can produce test results showing they are negative for COVID-19.
If a participant or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, parents will be notified and camp will be shut down until further notice pending DOHMH, OCFS, and DYCD guidance, and for deep cleaning and contact tracing.
Other rules:
All other general program policies and rules are in effect
Please ask your Site Director and other management personnel if you have any questions.
Once again...
We all need to work together to keep things safe for everyone
DO NOT send your child to program if anyone in your household is sick.