In response to requests received from parents re: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

You may be feeling worried about the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. Given the widespread media attention of this illness, that is understandable. Many of us and our loved ones have runny noses, coughs and sneezes these days. Almost everyone with these symptoms will ultimately have the flu, a cold, bad allergies or young children could be teething.

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* Per our licensing requirement to keep the children in our care safe and healthy we routinely and frequently disinfect toys as well as touched         and mouthed surfaces with a vinegar, bleach or P-4D which is a hospital grade disinfectant.

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* Our staff is trained on the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.

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* Our classrooms, including, toys, diaper tables, food service tables, frequently touched toy shelves and surfaces are sanitized/disinfected as           the classrooms are closed every evening.

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* We will continue to monitor children in our care and send children with fevers home. If called, we ask for your support to pick up your child in       a timely manner to reduce spread of illness. Please refer to our illness policy posted on our parent information boards. We also follow Centers       for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and below are some things you can follow along with our staff to minimize exposure and       prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu, general colds and including COVID-19.

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* Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. This is one of the best ways your family and our caregivers can protect themselves from the         spread of germs. Remember to lather the backs of your hands, clean around your fingernails and the ‘webs’ between fingers and thumbs.               Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

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* Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes or nose, with your hands.

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* When you or your loved ones are sick— to prevent infecting others, stay home from work and school until the fever has been gone for 24 hours     without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

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* Sneezing or coughing into tissues or your elbow are great ways to minimize spread of germs.

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* Consider avoiding nonessential travel, close contact with people who are sick, and if you have a preexisting health condition take more                   precaution than usual. If you do feel ill, you can contact your physician to discuss the most appropriate treatment option. Working together we     can create the best environment for our children.

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September 20, 2020

Cohort Update

As of September 20, 2020 the California Department of Public Health has updated classroom cohort sized to no more than 16 people in a room including children and adults. This does include current Childcare Licensing classroom ratios for the number of children per teacher. Classroom groups are still expected to be stable groups meaning the do not mix with other cohorts or switch classrooms.

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https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/small-groups-child-youth.aspx

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May 4, 2020

8 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday

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Step by Step is an “Essential Business” and will remain open with modified hours shown above. In support of other Essential Businesses and the families who still need childcare, we are operating under the following mandatory conditions*: 

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1. Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 10 or fewer (“stable” = the same children in the same group each day).

2. Children shall not change from one group to another.

3. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, groups shall be in separate rooms and shall not mix.

4. Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.

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The health and safety of the children in our care, their families, our Step by Step staff and their families is of the upmost importance. In addition to the new procedures we stated yesterday we have also asked our staff stay with their children in their respective rooms and not visit other rooms. An ample break and lunch space has been provided allowing for the recommended distance between individuals.

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Thank you for your patience.

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*Under section 11. Definitions and Exemptions sub section f. For the purpose of this Directive, “Essential Businesses” means: Section xxiii. Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Directive to work as permitted. This will be in effect until the Governor provides a new directive.

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March 23, 2020

As of today our hours are Monday – Friday from 8am to 5pm.

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It is our goal to provide quality childcare service. We intend to remain open in support of our families that provide essential business for our community. In order to do that our center’s operating hours will be temporarily reduced for 30 days.

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Access beyond the lobby is now limited to essential personnel only. We have established a new health check desk, drop off and pick up procedure. Classroom sign in and out binders are now located in the lobby area. We ask that you use the hand sanitizer before signing in your child to help keep from cross contamination. As you are signing your child in one of our teachers will take your child’s temperature. They will assist them with hand washing at a sink provided at the health check station and escort them to their classroom. Our staff and children will be monitored throughout the day and if symptoms or a fever arises, they will be sent home. At the end of the day children will be escorted by a teacher from their classroom to the lobby area.

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Please contact the Step by Step office at (530) 541-1320 if you have any concerns regarding the reduction in hours.  We will make every effort to address your needs.