This email newsletter update provides helpful information from the Bureau of Certification. 
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Important Information from Bureau of Certification
Message to Child Care Providers
Immunization Information and Clarification
Measles: It Isn't Just a Little Rash  
Measles can be serious! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports:
  • 1 out of 4 people who get measles will be hospitalized
  • 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling due to infection (encephalitis), which may lead to brain damage
  • 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care

From January 1 to March 28, 2019, 387 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 15 states. This is the second-greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since measles was eliminated in 2000.
 
Early care and education programs are prone to disease outbreaks. Unvaccinated children are at increased risk for disease and they can spread disease to others. They can spread disease to babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated. People who might not be able to receive certain vaccines due to cancer or other health conditions can be infected. Children or staff who are behind on their vaccinations may be excluded from child care if there are outbreaks. 
 
The CDC urges early care and education staff to help parents understand that the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is the best protection against measles infection.

Check all health records to be sure children and staff in your program are up to date on MMR vaccine . Children need two doses of MMR: one dose at 12–15 months old and another dose at 4–6 years old. These are the recommended ages. Children can get the second dose at any age, if it is at least 28 days after the first dose. Adults who do not have  evidence of immunity , e.g., written documentation of adequate immunization, born before 1957, etc. should consult their healthcare provider about getting a dose of MMR vaccine. Children and staff members who do not have documentation that they are up-to-date should be referred to their health care provider.
 
Consider posting and sharing information from the CDC’s Educational Resources for Parents and Child Care Providers (also available in Spanish) and other reputable websites for staff and parent education:
Child Health Regulations and Immunizations
§ 3270.131(a), § 3280.131(a) and § 3290.131(a), relating to Health Information, including the Initial Health Report no later than 60 days following the first day of attendance at the facility.
  • As the operator, you shall require the parent of an enrolled child, including a child, a foster child and a relative of an operator or a facility person, to provide an initial health report no later than 60 days following the first day of attendance at the facility. 
§ 3270.131(e), § 3280.131(e) and § 3290.131(e), relating to Health Information
  • The facility may not accept or retain an infant two (2) months of age or older, a toddler or a preschool child at the facility for more than 60 days following the first day of attendance at the facility unless the parent provides written verification from a physician, physician’s assistant, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, the Department of Health or a local health department of the dates (month, day and year) the child was administered immunizations in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
  • Visit the CDC website for a vaccine schedule for children 0-18 years

Immunizations that are Age Specific
  • Some vaccines are age specific. If a child does not receive these vaccines in the time period specified, they cannot receive it and there is nothing more to be done.
  • Rotavirus vaccine is an example and should be given between the ages of six (6) weeks and the maximum age for first dose is 14 weeks, six (6) days. The maximum age for final dose is eight (8) months. (This information can be found on the ACIP catch-up schedule.) 

Influenza Immunizations
  • The Influenza is a vaccine that is typically given during a specified time frame to afford the best protection against Influenza.
  • The influenza vaccine is on the recommended ACIP schedule and therefore mandatory for children in child care unless there is a written exemption, medical or personal.
  • OCDEL permits written exemptions for part or all immunizations, including vaccines that were not given during a previous influenza season but will be given in the upcoming influenza season.

Early care and education providers should establish and use a tracking system to assist in maintaining compliance with the regulations for immunizations and other preventive health services. Electronic and paper systems are available. 
Immunization Tool
The Department of Health (DOH) has created an immunization tool that can be used by child care operators to assist in monitoring and tracking each individual child’s immunizations with receipt of the required written verification from a physician, physician’s assistant, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), the Department of Health or a local health department. The form provides space to record the dates (month, day and year) the child was administered immunizations in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

This tool is optional resource for providers and may be used in each child’s file. When updated with dates every time new immunization records are received for the child, it can assist in monitoring monthly record reviews to maintain up-to-date child immunizations records. 
New Certification Inspection Instrument and
Worksheets for Child Care Center Renewal Visits
The creation and implementation of the Certification Inspection Instrument (CII) represents Department of Human Services and Office of Child Development and Early Learning's commitment to consistent monitoring of all existing regulations and transparency of the certification and inspection process. The CII standardizes how certification regulations are applied, measured, and enforced consistently across Pennsylvania and supports consistent documentation of inspection results and compliance.

The CII accessed via the links below and presented in the webinar is for use in conducting a renewal inspection at a Child Care Center. An Inspection Instrument specific to Group Child Care Home and Family Child Care Home will be developed in the future.

Download the CII and related worksheets and forms below.

Provider Survey/Facility Information Sheet: This document helps Certification Representatives prepare for your visit. It is available by clicking the link below and will be sent out in advance of a Renewal Visit. Program administrators may email the sheet to their Certification Representative in advance of their visit or have it ready when the Certification Representative arrives.

Certification Inspection Instrument (CII) Center Renewal: The CII supports the consistent monitoring of Certification Regulations. Use this to support your own review of requirements related to: posted notices, required paperwork, transportation, ratio and supervision and physical site.

Disclosure Statement: This document replaces the former set of individual disclosure statements related to swimming, firearms, and consumer product safety.

Worksheet 1, 2, and 3: These worksheets help you monitor your own compliance related to critical staff and child records. Certification Representatives use these worksheets to document your compliance related to child and staff records.

Worksheet 1: Child Care Staff Data Sheet:

Worksheet 2: Child Records

Worksheet 3: Child Health Records


Webinar: Launch of New Certification Tool: Certification Inspection Instrument (CII): Learn more about the Certification Inspection Instrument and Worksheets by watching the webinar. It is recommend to download and print the Certification Inspection Instrument (CII) tool before watching the video.

 
This information can be found on the DHS website (half way down the page).
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning supports families 
and their children, from prenatal through school age, by using data, research and 
stakeholder guidance to assure high quality services.