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Information about water testing for child care providers

Small business innovation assistance program

New Program Helps Small Businesses Recover from the Pandemic and Incentivizes Innovative Start-Ups

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced that the County is partnering with Ventures to launch the Small Business Innovation Assistance (SBIA) program. SBIA will provide a full toolkit of technical assistance services coupled with microgrants to help Snohomish County-based small businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic as well as incentivize new, innovative ideas from start-ups and entrepreneurs. The program is funded by the County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.

As part of SBIA, Ventures is hosting an eight-week Business Basics Course for Snohomish County small businesses and entrepreneurs. Ventures is hosting initial information sessions for the Business Basics Course in English on June 22 and in Spanish on June 21. At the free information sessions, interested small businesses and entrepreneurs can learn more about SBIA, including how to apply. Individuals can register for upcoming information sessions in English and Spanish here.

Anyone interested can find more information on SBIA, including eligibility, how to apply, and other components of the program on this website (available in English and Spanish).

Infant Room Shoe Policy

Infants are unique in that they spend quite a bit of time on the floor. They crawl around on their hands and knees, lay on their tummies, and pick up toys that have been lying on the floor. Then, they put those little hands and toys into their mouths taking in all the dirt, bacteria, and toxins (poisonous substances) that were on the floor.

Lead and other toxins in soils can be tracked into your child care by people wearing street shoes. Carpets collect dust, pollen, mold spores, and pesticides. These contaminants can be released into the air during regular daily activities. Young children’s breathing zones are much closer to the carpet than an adult’s and they can be exposed to higher levels of these contaminants. That’s why it is especially important to keep infant and child play areas clean and free from harmful substances.

There are several ways to properly keep the floor area where infants and young children play clean and free from harmful substances. Child care providers can:

Wear inside-only shoes or slippers. Leave outdoor shoes by the door.
Place disposable shoe covers over street shoes while in the infant room or children’s play space.
Post a no shoe policy or poster on the door entering the infant room or child care space.
Clean and sanitize hard floors and thoroughly vacuum carpets daily to remove dust, dirt, and other contaminants.
No matter how careful staff can be, the bare floor is not a great place for a baby. Always place babies on a clean blanket or pad, not directly on the floor.
Caring for our Children provides national best practice guidance: CFOC Standards Database | National Resource Center (nrckids.org)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a great website with information on Children’s Environmental Health: https://www.epa.gov/children

COVID-19 Information

WA DOH has released an updated version of guidance for childcares (Guidance to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in K-12). Child cares are still required to report every case to the Snohomish County Health Department.

All schools and child cares should establish a core set of infectious disease prevention strategies as part of everyday operations.

Please contact The Snohomish County Health Department to report cases at the Call Center (425-339-5278) or email SHD.ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us

NO-COST COVID-19 TEST KITS FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES

Child care facilities that are in need of rapid antigen tests (home tests) can now contact the Snohomish County Health Department to make a request for those tests. Tests are provided at no charge to child care facilities through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program funding.

You must call the COVID-19 Call Center (425-339-5278) or email SHD.ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us to request your kits and discuss the pick-up process.

Tests are NOT available on a drop-in basis. Test kits can be picked up at our downtown Everett office or delivered to the childcare facility.

5 Things to Know About the End of the COVID Public Health Emergency

1) WE’RE NOT DONE WITH COVID

We’d love to shout, “The End!” and have COVID stop making people sick, but that’s not something we can do. What public health and partners can do is shift out of emergency mode and approach COVID as a threat that is here to stay, like many other contagious and potentially severe diseases.

The end of the emergency doesn’t mean the illness is less serious. We can’t lose sight of the toll it has taken – more than 1,500 lives lost in Snohomish County since 2020.

We’re focusing now on long-term efforts to reduce the spread and impacts of this disease. We have vaccines, treatments, and knowledge we didn’t have when the emergency was first declared, as well as good prevention habits we’ve used throughout the pandemic like handwashing, masking when appropriate, and staying home if we are ill.

To read the full blog post please click here. Page will open in a new tab.

Dealing with Illness in Child Care

Young children typically get 5 to 10 illnesses every year. These illnesses are caused by a variety of germs and viruses. Children in group settings tend to have more illnesses because they share their germs with each other. Germs and viruses are spread from person-to-person by direct contact, through the air, or by contaminated objects. While there is no way to prevent all illnesses in child care settings, there are many things that parents and child care providers can do to reduce sickness.

Most child care programs are licensed to care only for well children. If a child is ill and comes to a group care setting, that child exposes the rest of the children and the staff. Child care providers do not have the time to provide the attention that an ill child needs.

For further guidance see our brochure here

Healthy Kids coloring and activity books available

The Health Department has coloring and activity books available in English and Spanish for distribution in Snohomish County while supplies last. If you are a child care provider in the county and would like to pick up books to use in your child care or give to families, please reach out to SHD-Communications@snoco.org.

In the email, please provide the following information:

Your name and the name and address of the child care that is requesting the books
Quantity requested (Recommended 25-30, limit is 50 total. Pages may be copied and printed from the books to re-use in early learning activities.)
Please specify requested quantities of English and/or Spanish

Someone from the Communications team will respond to coordinate a time for you to pick up the coloring books at 3020 Rucker Avenue. Please do not drop in without coordinating a time when a staff member can meet you at the building to provide the books.

Thank you.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to update our courses to enhance your learning experience. Classes are being offered AT NO COST at this time.

For questions about our online classes, contact our team at SHD.ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or via phone at 425.252.5415.