Child Guidance Plan

          The Child Guidance Plan is to help the staff at the Rosary Academy Learning Center to develop, and to use these policies in a consistent, reasonable and appropriate way, based on an understanding of the individual needs and development of each child.  It is our responsibility to provide a safe, loving and enriching environment for children; these years are crucial to future development.

It is our goal to help children with the following:

*   To be safe with themselves and with others
*   To feel good about themselves
*   To develop self-control and good coping skills
*   To appropriately express their feelings
*   To become more independent
*   To balance their needs and wants with those of others
*   To learn new problem-solving skills, including non-violent conflict resolution
*   To learn about conservation - to use equipment, materials, and other resources in caring, appropriate ways

The following is prohibited:

*   Spanking or other corporal punishment of children
*   Humiliation, verbal or physical abuse, neglect, or abusive treatment
*   Depriving children of meals or snacks
*   Punishment for soiling or wetting clothes
*   Isolating children
*   Physical restraint
*   Using the word “time out”

          Helping children develop self-control is an enormous challenge and responsibility.  Effective Child Guidance practices help children to form strong relationships with others.  Positive relationships between adults and children are key to a child’s social and emotional development.  It’s the hard work and effort that our staff makes to have a safe and caring environment where children can grow, discover, play and learn.

          To prevent problems from the start, child guidance principles must always be implemented in a consistent, reasonable and appropriate way, based on an understanding of the child’s individual needs.  Children will not be allowed to “fight it out” or to destroy things.  If a child acts out in a disruptive way that will place him/her in harm or endanger others, the staff must always consider the immediate safety of all the children when responding.  Staff may only supportively hold a child in the rare cases of an emergency where a dangerous threat to a child exists.  When a child is unable to regain control, a staff person will get the Director, or another staff person to help for these instances.  If a child’s behavior continues to be harmful to themselves or others, all teachers need to report their concerns to the Director.  A meeting will be scheduled to meet with the parents to discuss the concerns.  With written parental permission, the family will be referred for mental health counseling or other specialized services that can help address the child’s behavior problems.  The Director will follow the Rosary Academy referral policy which also has a list of agencies in the local area to accommodate the child’s needs.
 

Written Referral Procedures

          Situations sometimes occur where the staff and the Director determine that a child may need to be assessed for additional services to benefit the child.  An example of common referrals would be speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, hearing testing, social and mental health as well as educational and medical services.  Rosary Academy Learning Center has prepared the following policy and the list of agencies in the local area to accommodate the child’s needs.

          All teachers will report their concerns to the Director.  The process before the referral is made includes, observing and recording a child’s behavior and reviewing the child’s record.  A meeting will then be scheduled to meet with the parents to discuss the concerns.  The Director shall then provide a written statement, including the reason for recommending a referral for additional service, and a brief summary of the center’s observations relating to the referral.  The Director will also offer assistance to the parents in making the referral and will also have written consent before the referral is made.  The Director will then follow up the referral and with the parents’ permission, contact the agency or service provider who evaluated the child for consultation and assistance in meeting the child’s needs at the center.  If it is determined that the child is not in need of or is ineligible to receive the services from the agency the child will remain at Rosary Academy Learning Center and will be evaluated every three months to determine if another referral from a different agency is necessary.

          The Director will maintain all records, of any conferences, referrals or results, on file.  If the child is at least 2.5 years of age, Rosary Academy Learning Center shall inform the parents of Chapter 766 services.  These services are provided by the particular town in which a family resides.

          In case of a dental emergency, many insurance carriers have a specific list of plan dentists and protocols for visits.  It is the parents’ discretion who the child will see.  We have listed a few names of local dentists:

William Byrne - 617-926-1146                     John J. Caravolas DDS - 781-647-0808
 

Procedures for Identifying and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

          Rosary Academy Learning Center shall protect children from abuse or neglect while in the Center’s care and custody.  If a staff member learns that a child has been abused or neglected and is concerned that the child may be in danger, the staff member must report the suspected child abuse or neglect to the Director.  The Director will immediately notify the Office of Child Care Services after filing a 51A alleging abuse or neglect of a child.  It is Rosary Academy Learning Center’s responsibility to report any physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse, including sexual abuse; or any indication or neglect, including malnutrition; or any instance in which a child is determined to be physically dependent upon an addictive drug at birth.  Massachusetts law requires mandated reporters to immediately make an oral report to the Department of Social Services when, in their professional capacity they have reasonable cause to believe that a child is suffering from abuse or neglect.  The Director must made a written report to DSS within 48 hours after the oral report has been made.  For any reporter who fails to make the required oral and written reports there will be a fine of up to $1,000.00.

          Rosary Academy Learning Center  will cooperate in all investigations of abuse and neglect, including identifying parents of children currently or previously enrolled in the center; providing consent for disclosure to the Office of information from, and allowing Office to disclose information to, any person and or agency that the Office may specify as necessary to the prompt investigation of allegations and the protection of children.  Failure for Rosary Academy Learning Center to cooperate may be grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue a new license.

          Rosary Academy Learning Center shall also maintain written procedures for handling any suspected incident of child abuse or neglect, which includes but not limited to ensuring that an allegedly abusive or neglectful staff member does not work directly with children until the Department of Social Services investigation is completed and for such further time that the Office requires.

          If the Director is unavailable for consultation or does not agree with the suspicions of the staff member or members, all staff as mandated reporters are obliged to report their findings to the Arlington Department of Social Services, 30 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA  (781) 641-8500 or 1-800-769-4615.
implementing the program plan for the child without your written consent.  You must be notified if your child’s record is subpoenaed.

Access to your child’s record
          You are entitled to have access to your child’s record at reasonable times upon request.  You must have access to the record within two (2) business days of your request unless you consent to a longer time period.  You must be allowed to view your child’s entire record, even if it is maintained in more than one location.  The Center must have procedures governing access to, duplication of, and dissemination of children record, and must maintain a permanent, written log in each child’s record which identifies anyone who has had access to the record or who has received any information from the record.  This log is available only to you and the people responsible for maintaining the Center’s records.

Amending your child’s record
          You have the right to add information, comments, data, or any other relevant materials to the child’s record.  You also have the right to request deletion or amendment of any information contained in your child’s record.  If you believe that adding information is not sufficient to explain, clarify or correct objectionable material in your child’s record, you have the right to a conference with the Director to make your objections know.  If you have a conference with the Director, the Director must inform you in writing within one week of the decision regarding your objections.  If the Director decides in your favor, he/she must immediately take the steps necessary to put the decision into effect.

Transfer of Records
          When your child is no longer in care, the Director may give your child’s record to you or any other person whom you identify, upon your written request.

Charge for Copies
          The Director shall not charge an unreasonable fee for copies of any information contained in your child’s record.
 

Program Responsibilities

Providing Information to the Office of Child Care Services
          The Director must make available any information requested by the Office to determine compliance with any Office regulations governing the program, by providing access to its facilities, records, staff and references.

 Reporting Abuse or Neglect
          All Center staff are mandated reporters.  They are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect to either the Department of Social Services or the licensee’s program administrator.  The licensee must have written policies and procedures for reporting and must provide the written policy to you upon enrollment.

Notification of Injury
          The Director (or a designee) must notify you immediately of any injury which requires emergency care.  The Director (or a designee) must also notify you, in writing, within 24 hours, if any first aid is administered to your child.

Availability of OCCS Regulations
          The program must maintain a copy of the regulations, 102 CMR 7.00: Standards for the Licensure of Approval of Group Day Care and School Age Child Care Programs, on the premises of the Center and must make them available to any person upon request.  If you have a question about any of the regulations, ask the Center to show them to you.