Child Care Enrichment Program Parent Handbook YMCA OF

GIVING YOU
PEACE OF
MIND
Child Care Enrichment Program Parent Handbook
YMCA OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
WELCOME TO THE
CHILD CARE
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
We are excited that you have chosen the YMCA of Southern Indiana! We know how
important it is for you to have safe, convenient, affordable, quality child care while you
are at work or going to school. We offer a planned, comprehensive program designed with
the child and family in mind. The Y maintains the highest standards for the safety and well
being of the children enrolled.
The program is conducted and planned by caring Y staff members, who are trained to
meet the needs of children and provide positive adult role models. All staff are background
screened. Safety is one of our primary objectives but that does not mean your child will
not have fun. The program will include crafts, sports, indoor and outdoor games, field
trips/swimming during school breaks, snack time and other creative activities that the
counselor will teach within the groups. Programs are conducted in accordance with YMCA
operating principles and philosophy.
In addition, the following goals have been established and will be monitored for the Y
program. We seek to help children develop to their fullest potential by focusing on self
awareness, child choice, self confidence and self worth, interpersonal relationships,
character development, community service, physical skills and health and nutrition. We
support and strengthen families by increasing a sense of community and sharing common
values.
PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Registration fees are non refundable and everyone must be registered to participate. Fees are paid by
automatic bank draft or credit card draft. We like our Site Directors to focus all of their attention on the
supervision of the program curriculum and the children rather than on the collection fees. If you have any
questions concerning your payment contact Kim Young - Payments Coordinator - at 812.206.7889 or
email at [email protected].
Tax statements should be requested in January at your site. Please keep any documents according to IRS
reporting requirements. The YMCA of Southern Indiana tax ID number is 31-1183203.
IN SERVICE & SNOW DAYS
Full day care is available from 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (snow day care begins at 7:00 a.m.) at each Y
branch. Care will be provided at the Floyd County Branch in accordance with the New Albany Floyd County
School system and at the Clark County Branch when school is out for Greater Clark County, West Clark
or Clarksville Community Schools. Other school systems may join us for these days, but care is only open
if one of the three school systems listed above is out. Charges for the full day out will be added to your
weekly payment. Charges are an additional $5 for the first child, $3 for the second child and $2 for every
additional child in the family. Financial Assistance applies to full day out fees.
Children should bring a sack lunch and swim gear for each full day out. You will be charged $3 if we must
provide a lunch for you (added to weekly fees).
INCLEMENT WEATHER
If any school has a morning delay, care will be provided at sites that offer a.m. care, but care will begin at
7:00 a.m. for the safety of our staff and participants. If school must be
released early, after school care will begin at the time of early dismissal
at any school hosting an after school site. Care for early dismissals will
end at 6:00 p.m. weather permitting. There is no additional charge for
delays or early dismissals.
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
The Y is committed to providing quality programs to all children and
families regardless of their financial circumstances. The Y strives to turn
no one away due to an inability to pay. Applications for assistance are
available through our website - ymcasi.org - or at your local Y branch.
Submit completed applications to your Site Director or at the Y’s front
desk. Applications are on file for six months and should be reviewed at
this time.
ENROLLMENT & CUSTODY
At the time of enrollment, parents are to provide all court ordered
paperwork if any parties are not to have contact with a child enrolled
in the Y program. Paperwork must be court ordered and indicate who is
the primary residential parent or if both parents have shared parental
custody. Please notify the Site Director of any unusual circumstances.
In order to provide the safest care for your child, the above must be
followed.
SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT
Drop off and pick up for your child will be at the Parent
Table located at your site. The Site Director may take the
sign in/out book with them if they are in another location
or outside (sign will be posted at Parent Table). YMCA
policy dictates that all children must be signed out by an
appropriate parent/guardian. If you add additional people
that are able to sign out your child, please make sure they
bring ID with them until staff are comfortable. You will
be called if this policy is not followed. Additions to your
pick up list should be done in writing. Any person who
appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
while picking up a child will be asked to wait while staff
attempt to contact another person on your child’s form.
If no one is available, we will be required to call law enforcement.
LATE PICK UP
The Y sites close at 6:00 p.m. Late charges begin accumulating
at 6:01 p.m. A phone call for being late does not always excuse
you from accruing late fees. Late charges are $1 per minute and
fees are due upon pick up. If payment is not made, charges can
be added to your weekly draft payment. Children will be kept
at the after school site until 6:30 p.m. and then transported
to the closest Y branch. At 7:10 p.m., if all efforts to
contact someone have been unsuccessful, we will notify the proper authorities.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD IS INJURED?
If your child is injured, the Site Director will take whatever steps necessary to obtain emergency medical
care. These steps may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Attempts to contact a parent or guardian.
2. Attempts to contact persons listed on the emergency information.
3. If we cannot contact you, an ambulance may have to be called.
4. Sickness and accident insurance is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
MEDICATION
In order for the Y to dispense medication to your child, you must have filled out the appropriate YMCA
medication form, bring medication in the original prescription bottle and bring only the dosage amount
for the day. Over the counter medication will only be dispensed with a note from a physician that is
given to the Site Director. Please be aware that you will need to fill the medication form out and plan
accordingly.
ILLNESS
To insure the health and well being of all children in our program, if a child has a contagious illness,
infection, lice or fever of over 100 degrees, parents must make arrangements for their child to be picked
up from the program immediately.
PERSONAL ITEMS & ELECTRONIC DEVICES
We discourage personal items from home such as music, CD players, toys, games or other materials.
Please ask that your child leave such items at home. If such items are brought to the site, children will be
asked to put the items away in their back pack. We cannot be responsible for lost, broken or stolen items.
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
Our staff wishes to work with you and your child to have the best experience possible. Occasionally,
there will be behavior problems. In most instances, we will try to redirect behavior or remove the child
from the conflict. Staff position themselves to be able to keep an eye on the entire group and encourage
participation in activities to avoid behavior problems.
In some cases, if the problem persists or is severe, our staff will speak to you or write a behavior letter
explaining the incident with room for your comments. If the problem has not been resolved, you will be
asked to meet with the site staff and your child to come up with a way to resolve the conflict.
In extreme cases, your child may be suspended or terminated from the program (a violent act against
another child or staff member would be considered extreme). These two alternatives are a last resort
because we know this would be an inconvenience to you, the working parent. Please help us to resolve
any behavior problems so that we may offer a safe and happy environment for all children.
COMMUNICATION
All sites will display information for parents at the Parent Table. Quarterly newsletters will be displayed,
emailed and on the website. Updates will also be posted on the Y website - ymcasi.org - and on our
Facebook page - facebook.com/ymcasi - and Twitter page - twitter.com/ymcasi.
HOUSE RULES
Speak for yourself… not for everyone else. Each person has the right to say what he/she thinks and
feels.
Listen to others… then they will listen to you. Listen to each person and respect his/her right to speak
for him/herself. Listen for others ideas and feelings. You do not have to agree with others to accept what
they are saying.
Avoid put downs… who needs them? Verbal put downs hurt people even when they might laugh and
appear to not be bothered by them. Non verbal put downs hurt also. These can include facial expressions,
gestures, side conversations and even unconscious looks. If people think they might be put down, they
hesitate to share their feelings and ideas.
Take charge of yourself… you are responsible for you! Each child will learn as much or as little as he/
she chooses to learn. The leader only creates the environment in which learning might take place. The
participant is responsible for him/herself.
Show respect… every person is important. When one joins a group and conversation begins, one can
usually tell in a few minutes whether people respect each other or not.
Ways to identify respect: How people listen to one another, what people say to one another and what
people do with one another. For a sharing openness to occur, each group member must feel respected.
Every person is important.
Ways to identify respect: How people listen to one another, what people say to one another and what
people do with one another. For a sharing openness to occur, each group member must feel respected.
Every person is important.
Bulling of any form will not be allowed. Bulling incidents will be considered as inappropriate behavior and
subject to disciplinary measures.
Challenge by Choice: Every person decides what they participate in at the site, but we encourage
everyone to try new things as often as possible.
All children enrolled in our YMCA Program are expected to follow the rules established by the YMCA
for the purpose of safety of the children in the program. Please cooperate with us in stressing the
importance of healthy and safe behaviors in the program. Your cooperation and support help insure that
all children have a fun experience in the program.
SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE
It is our legal obligation to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to the Child Protection
Services Unit. Any suspicions will be reported immediately with the child’s safety and well being as sole
consideration. If at any time you feel there is anything suspicious happening at one of the Y sites you
may contact Meredith Clipp-Rodriquez - School Age Child Care Director - or Barbara Morris - Human
Resources Administrative Assistant.
YMCA OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
The Y’s Child Care Enrichment Program is under the direct supervision of Meredith Clipp-Rodriquez,
School Age Child Care Director. The YMCA of Southern Indiana strongly encourages and invites parental
participation and communication. All programs have an open door policy and we hope you take an active
roll in your child’s day by sharing a talent, being a guest for a day or joining the parent board.
To better serve the needs of our community, we want to know how you and your child feel about the
program. We will distribute family surveys and collect data during the year. Please respond as honestly
as possible. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome and appreciated. We are committed to
offering quality care for all families in the community it serves.
OUR MISSION
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
CONTACTS
Meredith Clipp-Rodriquez, School Age Child Care Director
812.206.4895
[email protected]
Kim Young, Payments Coordinator812.206.7889
[email protected]
Barbara Morris, Human Resources Administrative Assistant
812.206.7891
[email protected]
Angie Cannon, Site Coordinator812.283.9622 x117
[email protected]
Debbie Hopfensperger, Site Coordinator812.283.9622 x117 [email protected]
YMCA OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
FLOYD COUNTY BRANCH
33 State Street
New Albany, IN 47150
812.283.9622
ymcasi.org
CLARK COUNTY BRANCH
4812 Hamburg Pike
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
812.283.9622
ymcasi.org