Daycare wwyd

[undecidedowl]

I feel like we have these all the time, but this is a pretty sticky situation. I'll try to keep it short.

I was made aware of something at daycare that the teachers do not feel the director is handling appropriately. It involves one particular child, and impacts the health of everyone in contact. I spend a fair bit of time in the room so I notice things about the babies and catch on to things that I otherwise would not know. The teachers are very careful about what they say and share while parents are in the room, but they know I (and another parent) had already figured something out so, without mentioning a name, they shared their concern. 

WWYD? Approach the director? I feel like this is awkward all around but I agree that it doesn't seem like it they are keeping the babies' best interest in mind.

ETA: PDQ. I'll try to clarify with some more details. A baby was treated for something contagious and returned to the center with a generic note that they were allowed to be back. They chose not to see the recommended specialist. A month later, the baby does not appear to have improved. The teachers believe baby needs to go back to the doctor (I agree) but the director is not enforcing it so the baby continues to attend every day.

[MamaMaui24]

Have they approached the director (their boss) themselves? This is weird. Like they are hoping you'll go to the director so they don't have to?

[undecidedowl]

Jul 29, 2015 15:17:43 GMT -5 @this said:

I think I'm dumb. I just read this like eight times and have no idea what is happening.

Ha. Not dumb at all. I was trying to be really generic to not put all the details in and was afraid I just made it super confusing.

[Ashley&Scott]

Yeah I'm with @this, you need to post more details.

[undecidedowl]

Jul 29, 2015 15:18:37 GMT -5 MamaMaui24 said:

Have they approached the director (their boss) themselves? This is weird. Like they are hoping you'll go to the director so they don't have to?

I didn't directly ask but I got the impression they had already brought it up and were ignored. The director kind of sucks but we use the center because of the awesome teachers.

[undecidedowl]

Jul 29, 2015 15:18:39 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Yeah I'm with @this, you need to post more details.

Okay. I tried to add a few more details for clarify. Does that help? @this

[Ashley&Scott]

Hmmm, depends on the illness.

[boxerdog]

Hmm, it depends on what it is, honestly.

[meltoine]

Depends on the kid's symptoms and the rules of the daycare. If the kid has a fever or a rash and the DC rules state that no kids are allowed when they have a fever or contagious rash, then the director needs to talk to them. If the director won't do it, the teachers should report anonymously to the health department inspector.

But absent some breaking of the DC policy, there's not much anyone can do if the parents have decided not to see the specialist. Maybe the specialist is out of network and they can't afford it.

I guess if the teachers feel like the kid's long term health is in jeopardy and the parents are taking it seriously they can call CPS?

[undecidedowl]

Jul 29, 2015 15:28:27 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Hmmm, depends on the illness.

Okay, so much for keeping the details out! PDQ It's scabies. 

@this boxerdog

[JayhawkGirl]

If you're not comfortable taking to the director about it, you can call the state agency that oversees daycare centers. It may be exclusionary, it may not.

My sister had it in her center once. They super deep cleaned the affected room each night and were able to control the spread to other kids.

[undecidedowl]

Jul 29, 2015 15:39:22 GMT -5 JayhawkGirl said:

If you're not comfortable taking to the director about it, you can call the state agency that oversees daycare centers. It may be exclusionary, it may not.

My sister had it in her center once. They super deep cleaned the affected room each night and were able to control the spread to other kids.

It's only exclusionary until after you treat. But it appears that the treatment was not effective and the mom doesn't want to take her back to the doctor because she already treated. Ugh!

[boxerdog]

I just read that issues can last for a few weeks even after treatment (I'm trying to be vague here, too!)

So, you are probably okay, but if you get the sense that it is a re occurrence, then yes I would say something to the director. It's a daycare, stuff like this happens and you have a right to be concerned.

[Ashley&Scott]

I would be concerned but not sure exactly how I would approach it. I would probably say something the director. Do they post that "X illness" is going around the center or classroom? If so then I would approach it that way. "hey Director I noticed the sign is still up for X illness & it's been up for quite some time. I just wanted to confirm that the child has been/is being treated per the DC handbook/sick policy guidelines."

[hbear]

Hmmm, this is tough.
At first, I didn't think I would care too much, but after you were specific, I would be very bothered if my infant were in the same room.

And it is true, symptoms can last 2 weeks after treatment which does not mean it didn't work. But if there is evidence of spreading or worsening, then it needs to be re-treated.

I guess you could also approach this situation from the view of the day care teacher. Are they mandatory reporters? If the infant has a contagious "disease" and the parents are refusing to treat (just because they tried once), I would think the health of the infant could be considered compromised. I would think this is reportable, regardless of the actions of the director.