abuse and neglect policy
By law, every childcare staff member is a mandated reporter, and must file a report when they believe a child is being abused or neglected. Massachusetts law requires mandated reporters to immediately make an oral or written report to DCF when, in their professional capacity, they have reasonable cause to believe that a child under […]
recovery
recovery Goals Restore services as quickly as possible. Meet the needs (physical, health, emotional) of children, families, and staff. Provide a supportive and caring environment that brings normalcy back into children’s lives. Recovery may include some or all the following actions: restoring our services and returning to normal functions as quickly as possible monitoring how […]
violence hazards
violence hazards Statistically, violent crimes are extremely unlikely to happen within First Circle. It is still important for us to be prepared for the improbable. The following information is a general response to physical threats that may present at First Circle. This includes threats from outside the center, such as community violence, and inside the […]
safety hazards
safety hazards For treatment of minor injuries, see HEALTH & SAFETY above. There are some safety hazards we can prevent, and others we can only prepare for. Serious injury In the event of a serious injury (such as a seizure, a serious cut, or a possible broken bone), strictly follow the procedures outlined. Missing, lost, […]
types of hazards
types of hazards Being aware of hazards helps us prioritize them and prevent them or limit their effects. Several hazards could impact our program, ranging in risk from possible to extremely unlikely. natural severe weather (snow, lightning) flood hurricane/tornado facility utility disruption (heat, water, power) fire hazardous materials safety accident/injury missing child epidemic illness violence […]
response
response Each hazard has its own protocol, so it’s important to be familiar with the specific procedure for each one. Staff must refer to the What to do in Case of Emergency Posting in the classroom and the specific responsibilities in the Appendix. Response may include some or all the following: Identifying that a crisis […]
preparedness
preparedness Methods [see HEALTH & SAFETY section above] Maintaining accurate head counts Keeping children safe in the classroom and on the playground Preventing injury Conducting emergency evacuation drills Maintaining and accessing parent emergency contact information Emergency evacuation drills EEC requires us to conduct evacuation drills every month in accordance with local fire department guidance, which […]
three phases
three phases Effective crisis and security plans help us effectively manage the operation of First Circle during a crisis incident or medical emergency. Emergency preparedness is the ability to react appropriately by knowing what measures should be taken during the THREE PHASES of an emergency (before, during, after). The more prepared we are, the shorter […]
emergency plan
emergency plan All staff members are trained in emergency preparedness and management annually. The safety and well-being of the children in our care and our staff always take priority over all other considerations. EEC requires us to have a written Emergency Management Plan with procedures for addressing potential emergencies. We keep the plan current. It […]
definition of an emergency
definition of an emergency The terms “emergency” and “disaster” mean any event or situation that could pose a threat to the health or safety of children in our care. Emergencies include acts of nature such as a tornado, flood, or blizzard; accidents such as a severely injured child or hazardous material leak; public health events […]