Click here to Visit Our Website December 2019

Our Classes are Getting a Face Lift!

Interactive components will be added to all of our classes in order to meet DCYF requirements. You will have the opportunity to engage with other providers who are taking the same class through a section called Discussion Board. Learners will respond to reflective-type questions and then will easily be able to read and respond to other learners who are participating in the same Discussion Board. Sound confusing? Don't worry. Our class instructors will guide you through each step and also participate in the forum. Our Discussion Board questions and responses are intended to foster exchanges and communication among child care providers and early learning teachers.

Please Note: All of our classes will be offline for the first few days of January and will be added back as they are updated, no later than Jan. 6, 2020

Any in-progress classes need to be finished by December 31, 2019 to avoid being charged the new fee.

Classes will be available to everyone!

Starting in January 2020 our classes will no longer be restricted to Snohomish County child care and early learning providers. They will be open to everyone. Please let colleagues and co-workers living in other parts of Washington state know about our classes.

PLEASE NOTE: The SHD Board of Health has mandated a fee for Child Care Health Outreach Program STARS trainings beginning in January 2020. A fee of $10.00 per STARS credit will be charged for online and in-person classes. This fee was passed to help cover the costs of providing high quality, interactive heath and safety STARS trainings. Classes will continue to be free of charge if STARS credits/certificates are not desired.

DCYF will reimburse you! Please remember that DCYF will reimburse child care providers up to $250 per year to take STARS-approved classes. Check out MERIT Training Reimbursement for directions.

To all the Snohomish County child care providers who have benefited from our free classes, we apologize that we must now impose this fee. We hope that you continue to take advantage of our quality health and safety courses. They are designed by licensed health and safety professionals with years of experience working in the field of child care health, including a public health nurse, environmental and behavioral health specialists and a certified nutritionist. Our class content aligns with both the new Washington state child care licensing WACs and national best practice standards.

Immunization forms commonly used by child cares

Immunization Reporting

Between December 2, 2019 and February 1, 2020, certain child cares and preschools must complete and file an immunization status report to the Washington State Department of Health. This is required by WAC 246-105-060.

Reporting is required for:

- Child care centers with 13 or more children
- Preschools located at a public or private school
- Head Start and ECEAP programs

Reporting is optional for:
- Licensed family home child care with 12 or fewer children
- Private preschools not located at a public or private school
- Co-op preschools

Instructions can be found on the Department of Health website at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/348-272-AnnualReportInstructionsPreschoolChildcare.pdf

Food Safety Alert - Romaine Lettuce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have advised the public not to eat any romaine lettuce that was harvested in Salinas, California, including whole heads, romaine hearts, or packaged lettuce/salad products that contain romaine. The lettuce may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, which often becomes bloody, and stomach cramps. In some people, especially young children, the infection can cause a complication that can lead to kidney failure.

Child care providers should look at any lettuce products they have and discard it if:

the packaging says "Salinas" anywhere on it
the packaging is not labeled with a growing region
you do not know if the lettuce in a mix is or contains romaine

If you did have romaine lettuce from the affected area stored in your refrigerator, wash, rinse, and sanitize drawers or shelves. Carefully check any romaine lettuce or lettuce products that you purchase in stores.

More information about this outbreak can be found on the CDC's webpage.

For recipes using safe, fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, check out our website and scroll to Menu Planning for Recipes from Cooking Classes. The Super Hero Salad is particularly colorful and festive for this time of year. Topped with homemade ranch dressing, it is a super hero kid's favorite salad!

Flu Season is Early this Year

Flu cases in Snohomish County began to pick up in the middle of November. The best way to prevent the flu or make it less severe is by getting the flu vaccine. Last year in Snohomish County, 362 people were hospitalized from the flu and 26 people died.

An online tool to find a flu vaccine provider near you can be found at www.snohd.org/155/Flu-Vaccine-Information.

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.

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.