Coronavirus - Update & Resources

An outbreak of respiratory illness in China caused by a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) began in December 2019. The virus has been spreading person-to-person. Cases have been confirmed in other countries as well, including the United States. One case occurred in Snohomish County, Washington, in a resident who had traveled to Wuhan, China. Currently, the immediate risk to the general American public is considered to be low.

Children, staff, or volunteers who are ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND who have traveled to China or have been identified by public health as being a close contact of a confirmed case should notify their local health department immediately for guidance. Travelers from China who arrive after February 2, 2020 at 2:00 pm should stay home, away from others, and monitor their health for 14 days.

Guidance for child care providers is available online at this link.

If you have general questions about the coronavirus or the situation in Washington state, call 1-800-525-0127 and press #. If you would like to get more information, please check one of these resources:
Snohomish Health District: https://www.snohd.org/ncov2019
WA Department of Health: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
Coronavirus fact sheet, available in multiple languages
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

Prevention of Respiratory Illnesses

While the coronavirus is not currently spreading in Washington state, influenza is. There are steps that early learning providers can take to help prevent the spread of viral respiratory infections such as influenza or the common cold. These include:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Monitor and assist children as they wash hands.
Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid contact with people who are sick. If a child becomes ill during care, place them in a location away from other children as they wait for their parent or guardian to pick them up.
Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others.
Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.

Delay Payment for our Health and Safety STARS Trainings

As you know, on January 1 of this year our online Health and Safety classes became available to everyone who wants to take them regardless of county of residence. If STARS credits and certificates are needed, the cost is $10.00 per credit. Most of our classes provide 2 STARs credits.

You can take the Learning Class module of our trainings at anytime at no cost. You may choose to delay paying for the STARS credit and certificate. Sign up for the STARS Credit/Certificate module with the same name as the learning class you successfully completed at ANY time during 2020 as long as you pay by the end of the year.

We want to make it feasible for you to continue taking our classes and pay for them when it is most convenient and closer to the time that you can claim reimbursement from DCYF for STARS trainings. You may apply for reimbursement for state-approved trainings once every fiscal year, (July 1 - June 30.) For further information link to About Training Reimbursement. https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/MERIT_Training_Reimbursement.pdf

Classes are available to everyone. Learning courses can be taken at no cost. If you wish to obtain a certificate or STARS credit, cost is $10 per credit hour.

Click here for instructions on how to use our online learning portal.

Image of people using online learning portal.

Click here to go to the online learning website.

This Month's Featured Classes

FREE In-Person Training
Spring Gardening in Child Care and Early Learning

The Spring training will focus on growing plants for small garden spaces and containers, garden play, and harvest activities. We will explore ways to involve children in caring for planted seeds and seedlings, discover what makes plants grow, and explore ways to prepare the harvest bounty. Our guest speaker from the Snohomish Conservation District will demonstrate how to make a worm bin suitable for small scale composting. Everyone will get to plant a container of spring greens to take home to get the spring garden going.

Register soon.
This will be the final free training the CCHOP offers this year.

To register, go to the CCHOP online training portal. If you have not previously used our online learning portal, select "SignUp" at the top bar and follow directions for very easy registration process.
Then enter the catalog and look for the class titled:

Under Categories - check the box next to "In Person Trainings"
Find and select the title of the the course: In Person Training - Spring Gardening in Child Care and Early Learning
Select "Get course" and then click on the course picture to start the course.
Once you are in the course, select "Register" and then you are all set!

Online Course
Preparing for the Flu

Harm from influenza disproportionately affects young children. This class provides both basic and advanced information regarding influenza. In this class, participants will identify the difference between flu and other viruses it may be confused with, learn about how seasonal influenza is different from pandemic influenza, and find new strategies to avoid influenza illness. The class will cover everything from the virus that causes flu to the global impact of influenza pandemics.

Contact Information

Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave., Ste. 104, Everett, WA 98201

Email: childcarehealth@snohd.org

Program Phone: 425.252.5415

Website: http://www.snohd.org/238/Child-Care-Providers

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The Child Care Health Outreach Program staff are available to consult with you on these and other health, safety, and nutrition topics by phone, by email, or at your child care.