●Child Watch Team Members are vetted through an extensive background check process during hiring. 
●Child Watch Team Members are versed and understand the correct procedure for interacting with small children in appropriate manners which keep both child and staff safe.
●Child Watch Team Members have continual and up to date training ensuring best practices are utilized. ●Child Watch Team Members are certified in CPR and First Aid.

All Children MUST be signed out by the same adult who signed them into the center. The designated adult must be 18 years or older. Staff may ask for identification for personal verification. 

Children 8 weeks - 11 months old are welcome to remain in the center for 1.5 hours 
Children 1 year - 13 year olds are welcome to remain in the center for 2.0 hours 

These guidelines are set forth as appropriate time limits when all is going well and children are adjusted to being in the center. Children who are having difficulty adjusting to the center environment, display behavioral difficulties, or show signs of remedial socialization skills may be admitted on a limited basis, granted a shortened attendance time slot. (This decision will be made by the Child Watch Director.) Those time slots may increase as the staff and the caregiver work together to find paths for the child to acclimate and find success in this low structure environment. The Y Child Watch Director reserves the right to ask a child be removed from the Child Watch program for a short “we are done today” suspension, or a longer suspension if warranted. Decisions to suspend a child from Child Watch may only come from the program director, or their supervisors, and may come without previous warning. 

Aside from situations where the Child Care Director will make a suspension decision, the following guidelines will be observed for handling day to day situations. Please keep in mind, these are guidelines and our Child Watch Director maintains the authority to act outside these guidelines when appropriate. 

All children attending Child Watch will be expected to display age appropriate behaviors reflecting a moderate to high social skill set. The Child Watch Team is committed, and has been trained to intervene with positive reinforcement and to use redirection when possible. The YMCA Staff will never use physical discipline. A team member may take a child’s hand and walk them to a time out area, or to a redirected activity. However, physical discipline is absolutely not tolerated by any Y team member. 

General steps to resolve behavioral issues: (Parent/Caregivers will receive notice if a child did not have a successful visit to Child Watch) 

First Incident: Child will be asked to sit out from activities for a time corresponding with their age 

Second Incident: A “Let’s Be Done For Today” Suspension. The parent/ guardian will be asked to sign their child out of child watch and are free to try again the next day.

Child Watch utilizes three main areas within the Y campus for programming. The primary space is the Child Watch Center. During program times activities may also take place on the back playground or in Play Palooza. A sign letting parents know which venue is being utilized will be placed on the Child Watch Center Door.

Child Watch is a Nut Free Zone. If a parent/ caregiver sends a snack with a child it must not contain nuts and/or nut derivatives. Other than that, parents/ caregivers are invited to send a snack with their child. Children who do not bring a snack to child watch may be offered a small snack. Please send water for your child.

Child Watch is a personal Screen Free Zone. If a child brings a device into the center, the device will be placed in a cubby and will not be given to the child during their time in Child Watch.

Toys brought to child watch will be shared with other children, or will be put away until a child is checked out of the program. Please label all personal items.

The Hot Springs Family YMCA Child Watch team is most interested in helping children of all ages to successfully acclimate to the program environment. YMCA child watch staff will typically respond to excessive crying by using calming techniques like distraction and comfort, and by following a protocol that involves notifying parents if a child is inconsolable after a certain period. (usually 15 minutes) While we fully understand all children acclimate differently to “out of the ordinary/new” environments, the Y Child Watch team is most interested in not allowing the smallest of our members to be in prolonged distress. If a child is displaying signs of high anxiety, agitation or excessive crying which does not respond to intervention, the parent or caregiver will be asked to come to child watch and either sign the child out for the day, or stay to help with acclimation interventions. While it may take several visits before a child fully acclimates to the Child Watch environment, the staff is fully committed to working through a reasonable plan of integration. If a child is unusually agitated and/or has many visits where excessive crying occurs the program director will meet with the parent/ caregiver to discuss an appropriate acclimation plan.

Child Watch policies require children with illness symptoms to stay home and prohibits entry for sick children to protect the health of everyone. Key guidelines include not bringing a child with a fever (usually 100∘F), a persistent cough, diarrhea, vomiting, or other contagious symptoms. A child must be free of symptoms (and fever-free without medication) for a full 24 hours before returning.

● Fever: A body temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit 
● Respiratory issues: Persistent cough, green runny nose, or difficulty breathing. 
● Digestive issues: Diarrhea or vomiting. 
● Other contagious illnesses: Pink eye, lice, unexplained rashes, ear infections, or strep throat. 
● Medication: A child must have completed a full 24-hour dose of antibiotics for bacterial infections before returning, and be fever-free without medication for 24 hours.

You must pick up your child immediately if they become ill while at the facility. The staff will contact you if your child shows signs of illness.

●Staff discretion: Child Watch staff can refuse entry to a child who appears to be visibly sick. 
● Reporting: Parents should notify the Child Watch Center Director if their child has been diagnosed with communicable illness or head lice and has been in the Child Watch Facility within the previous 48 hours.

Note: Keeping all names and identities anonymous, the Child Watch Director will put out a public announcement of any incidents of known communicable disease or lice exposure as soon as the exposure is declared.

If an emergency occurs and the YMCA building is executing an evacuation, children in Child Watch will attempt to exit the building through the back door and will meet with parents/ caregivers on the YMCA playground located at the north corner of the Y campus, along Nash Street. If the back exit is blocked children and staff will evacuate through the aerobic room and proceed to the playground area. In the case of an evacuation Y team members will account for all children prior to allowing any to be signed out by a parent and/or caregiver. 

 If an accident occurs in Child Watch which involves blood borne pathogen contamination or contagious bodily fluids children signed into child watch will be located to another designated area while clean-up is occurring. A sign will be placed on the door with a notification of the change in program space. 

If a child is signed into child watch and is involved in an emergency the parent/ guardian will be immediately notified and is expected to report to the child watch center.

● Child Watch staff are not permitted to change diapers, nor help small children with toileting. We ask that parents and caregivers take their little ones to the restroom prior to signing them into the center. If a child needs assistance while using the restroom we will ask the parent/caregiver to come and assist the child. 

● Children who are trained to use the restroom without assistance will be escorted to the restroom located on the south side of child watch. Staff will ensure the restroom is empty and then permit the child to enter. Only one child at a time will be allowed in the restroom, this includes siblings. The staff will stand outside the restroom door and remind the child to hand wash upon completion. No staff are permitted to be in a restroom alone with a child. 

● Please ensure you take your child to the restroom prior to signing them into Child Watch. If your child currently uses diapers, please have them arrive wearing a clean diaper.

The Y has a zero-tolerance policy for child on child, adult on child or adult on adult harassment or sexual deviant behaviors. Please take note of the following policy as it pertains to Child Watch. Any verbal and/or physical deviant and/or aggressive, or apparently aggressive interaction with another child, of a sexual nature, to include but is not limited to asking another child to remove ANY article of clothing, show any “protected body parts”, including but not limited to genitalia for both boys and girls, and/or breasts for girls, will be considered sexual harassment and the parent/caregiver will immediately be asked to pick up the child and a suspension will be imposed. Further, ANY verbal conversation that contains verbiage and/or content which could be construed as sexually deviant and/or sexual in nature will lead to a suspension, the length to be determined by the Child Watch Director. Second offenses for either of these infractions may result in immediate expulsion from the YMCA child watch program. 24 The Hot Springs Family YMCA has ZERO tolerance for sexually deviant behaviors, and/or seemingly sexually deviant behaviors or behaviors displaying sexual conduct or knowledge found to be “not age appropriate”, or unbecoming to settings where children are present. YMCA staff are Mandated Reporters by law, in the state of Arkansas. This requires staff to report to DHS the appearance of/ or episodes of sexually deviant behaviors. There will be no appeal process to this policy. It will be applied to all enrolled children equitably who are enrolled in to the Child Watch program. Child Watch is a unique drop-in child-care center that is available for families while the parent/ caregiver is utilizing the Y. Our smallest members benefit from the social interactions and the appropriate relationships built with peers and adults. We thank you for entrusting us with your little one and we ask for open communication when issues of any kind arise. We are here to help, support and provide a beneficial member experience for the children in our care.