Click here to visit our website February 2021

What's In This Newsletter?

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
Use Chemicals with Caution
Seven Types of Self-Care: Social Strategies
Listening Circles for Early Achievers Coaches and Child Care Directors
How Honey is Made - Beekeeper Fieldtrip
Sesame Street Resilience Resource
PLAY: A Seattle Children's Study
Child Care Health & Safety Featured Classes

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

We are currently in Phase 1B, Tier 1. Be sure you are signed up to get our health alerts for important and urgent health messages such as communicable disease outbreaks, pandemic response, environmental health hazards, and vaccine information. Sign up here.
Not sure what phase child care providers fall into, where and how to get vaccinated? Click here for more information.
A Phase Finder online tool has been launched to help determine when you are eligible.

Use Chemicals With Caution

During the pandemic, keeping surfaces clean and disinfected remains one of the many things that child cares are doing to keep children and staff healthy. It is important to remember that disinfectant chemicals themselves also can pose a health risk if not used properly, especially for young children whose lungs are still developing. Here are some tips to stay safe:

Clean, clean, clean. Cleaning all surfaces with soap and water and a microfiber cloth before applying a disinfectant or a sanitizer is a critical step which removes dirt and a large number of germs. Use soap and water to clean surfaces frequently throughout the day.
High touch surfaces (such as door handles, tabletops, counters, light switches, etc.), bathroom and diaper areas, and areas where a sick person has been should be disinfected with an EPA-registered N-List disinfectant. Remember that just because a chemical is listed on the N-list as being appropriate for use against COVID-19, it may not be appropriate for use in a child care setting.
Ensure plenty of ventilation when using chemical products. Open windows and use exhaust fans. Think about the best times to apply stronger products, like at the end of the day or right before taking the children outside and then leave the windows open.
No fragrances – The child care regulations (WAC 110-300) requires that chemical products be fragrance-free. Check the label and ingredients list on your products for the word “fragrance.”
Always read the entire label of the product. Make sure to follow the label directions exactly. Wear appropriate PPE when using chemicals.
Get approval from DCYF before switching products. Unless you are using a bleach and water mixture, you need to get approval from DCYF. Here is the form you need to submit to your licensor. Choose safer products (with third party certification - Green Seal, EPA Fragrance-free Safer Choice) whenever possible.
Continue to use an approved sanitizer on food contact surfaces, children’s tables, and toys.
Keep all chemical products out of the reach of young children.
If a classroom is closed due to a person with COVID-19 having been in the space, wait 24 hours before entering if possible. A space left unused for 7 days requires only routine cleaning per the CDC.

Continue following all of the other Washington State Department of Health guidance that has been in place for child care facilities including keeping cohorts separated, spacing children out as much as possible, excluding children and staff for any one symptom of COVID-19, wearing masks (required for ages 5 and up and advised for ages 2 and up), ensuring proper ventilation, and reducing the sharing of items.

Here are a few resources for additional information:

7 Types of Self-Care: Social Strategies

Self-care is about taking the time to put your health and well-being first. We are referencing Dr. Greg Markway’s seven types of self-care.

This is part 6 of a multi-part series.

Connecting with others is an important part of self-care. Humans are probably the most social creatures on the planet. We need each other to thrive and remain healthy. Animals such as whales, dolphins, wolves, cows and gorillas are also very social, and researchers note that dairy cows produce more milk when they are happy and living in social groups.

With this pandemic, the isolation and boredom that can accompany social distancing and quarantine certainly can cause severe loneliness. The effects of these emotions are that we tend to look at negative things in our lives. You are much more at risk of depression and anxiety if you tell yourself “I am trapped” or “I am a caged animal.”

Perceived social isolation, according to the American Psychological Association, is linked to adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive functioning, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function, and impaired immunity at every stage of life. Additionally, experts say that the longer the loneliness continues, the worse its impact on overall well-being.

The good news is that it’s within your power to be more social. Don’t be shy! Sometimes the most difficult step is the first one. Once you take that first step to connect with someone, you may find that subsequent steps will be much easier.

Here are some novel ideas to help keep you social and safe:

- Have a virtual lunch date with a good friend or relative. You can use apps such as Zoom, House Party, Facebook Messenger and Snapchat.

- Join an online support group, class, or book club:

Try this weekly online support group for helpers. Crystal Gurney, the facilitator, is trained and an experienced support group facilitator.
Did you know there are support groups for men? Check out the Mankind Project – Puget Sound or Men’s Group – try it out for free. If you do join, there’s a fee.

- Meet a friend for coffee even if it’s just for a few minutes.

- Rekindle old friendships, call or send a message to an old friend. They’re probably thinking about you too!

- Watch your dog or cat as he/she entertains you and makes you laugh. Talk to your pets as if they were human!

- Have a virtual play session with a child. Arrange a video call with your grandchild, niece or nephew. You can play with play dough, match box cars, read a book together, or play charades.

- Play dice games like Yahtzee or Quixx with a loved one over video chat with someone who also owns the game.

- Do you like Cards Against Humanity? You can download cards for FREE, print the cards and play with a group of your friends via video call. Brace yourself for the laughs and ruckus!

If the idea of social activities fills you with dread or fear, or if you feel overwhelmed, sad, or too tired to connect with friends, family, or colleagues, these may be symptoms of anxiety or depression. If you think this might be the case, please contact your insurance company to share your experience with a mental health professional who will be able to help you. If you don’t have insurance, here are some other no-cost or low-cost resources:

In closing, we would like to share a quote from the Dalai Lama,

"We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others."

So, use technology and your imagination to find activities that will keep you social!

Listening Circles for Early Achievers Coaches & Child Care Directors

For many people providing child care and for those supporting them, the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly stressful. You have been coping with frazzled and worried parents, anxious and often times overwhelmed children, loss of work, loss of income, multiple new guidelines and rules at child care…..the list goes on and on.

The Snohomish Health District would like to invite Early Achievers Coaches and Child Care Directors from Snohomish County and surrounding areas to participate in a listening circle. Listening circles provide an opportunity for you to be heard. After a brief mindfulness exercise, and going over some ground rules, you will be able to reflect and voice how this experience has been for you. What have you been thinking and feeling as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold? Each person in the listening circle will be able to respond to 4 questions. The other handful of participants will simply listen. This is an opportunity to share with the purpose of listening, storytelling, and connecting.

Specially trained public health nurses from Snohomish Health District’s Maternal & Child Health Program will facilitate the process. Practice some self-care and come participate with us over Zoom.

To register, click one of the links below, depending on your role and availability. Space is limited to 15 participants per session.

Early Achievers Coaches: Tuesday, February 23^rd from 12:30-2 PM. Click here to register

Early Achievers Coaches: Thursday, February 25^th from 6:30-8 PM. Click here to register

Child Care Directors: Tuesday, March 2^nd from 12:30-2 PM. Click here to register

Child Care Directors: Thursday, March 4^th from 6:30-8 PM. Click here to register

How Honey is Made: Beekeeper Fieldtrip

Looking for a virtual field trip opportunity for your early learning center? Click here and get ready for kids to learn about how bees make honey!

Little Children, Big Challenges: Building Resilient Kids, Families & Communities

Sesame Street has teamed up with early childhood education specialists to offer this 30-minute video special which focuses on helping children develop coping skills and managing difficult emotions. To view the video, click here. Note: a portion of the video discusses the sensitive topic of parental addiction.

PLAY: A Seattle Children's Study

Come PLAY with us! Preschoolers Learning and Active in PLAY is a Seattle Children’s research study testing to see if wristband activity trackers help kids, teachers, and families be more active and healthy. Children ages 3 to 5, child care providers/preschool teachers, and parents are eligible to participate in the six-month program. Participating child care programs receive free STARS trainings for their teachers, rain gear for all-weather play, and 1:1 consultation with coaches for goal setting and action planning. Dr. Pooja Tandon is the primary investigator for this study.

To learn more about PLAY, please see the attached flyer or contact us at PLAY@seattlechildrens.org!

February Featured Classes

Free STARS Credit COVID-19 Class

Stay updated on COVID-19 requirements and recommendations. The class is updated regularly to reflect the most current guidance. Click here for an informational flier.

Cleaning and Sanitizing in Child Cares

Keeping children healthy is a priority for child care providers. To do so requires that providers keep their child care environments clean and reduce disease-causing germs as much as possible. Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are all necessary. Choosing the proper chemicals to get rid of germs can be tricky. This course will provide you with information on the different types of chemicals, proper and safe chemical use, and alternatives to harsh chemicals.

Classes are available to everyone. Learning courses can be taken at no cost. If you wish to obtain a certificate or In-Service Hours/STARS credit, cost is $10 per credit hour (unless otherwise noted).

Remember that child care providers are able to apply for reimbursement through DCYF up to $250.00 once each year. Click here for more information.

Registration Information

Visit the SHD Child Care Health Outreach Program Course link. At the top of the page, select the SignUp link and enter the requested information. Search for classes in the Course Catalog. Once you successfully complete the COVID-19 class, you will automatically be able to print a Certificate of Completion awarding you with one in-service training hour (STARS Credit) and your name will be entered into the MERIT System. An in-service training hour is also available for the Cleaning and Sanitizing course. To obtain credit, click on the STARS credit / certificate module of the Cleaning and Sanitizing course (in the Course Catalog) after completing the learning course.

For questions contact: childcarehealth@snohd.org or 425-252-5415

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

Click here to go to the online learning website.

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.