Information for Parents
- Does your infant occasionally need some Anbesol or Infant Tylenol drops to help with teething pain ?
- Does your toddler occasionally need Benadryl for seasonal allergies?
- Does your school age child have asthma and require the use of a rescue inhaler?
- Does your child have a serious food allergy that requires the use of an Epi-pen?
As of April 2004, there exists a New York State law that requires childcare providers, who are willing to administer medication in their programs, to complete an Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) approved training for the administration of medications (MAT). In addition the provider must be certified in CPR and First Aid, and have their site’s health care plan approved by a Health Care Consultant. This law was put into effect in order to bring a standardized level of safety and professionalism to the administration and storage of medication in childcare programs.
Licensed Childcare programs in New York State must complete the above stated approval process in order to give your child any medication (with the exception of over-the-counter topical applications like sunscreen or insect repellant). This law encompasses the administration of over-the-counter oral products such as Infant/child Tylenol, Benadryl, or Anbesol; as well as prescription medications, such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, or Epi-pens. In addition, in order for a child to be able to self medicate in a childcare setting, that site must be Medication Approved.
Our childcare resource and referral department can provide you with the names of Medication Approved homes/programs in your area. It is important to consider your child’s medication needs, both now and in the future, when determining your choice of daycare.
If you have any questions regarding this law please feel free to contact one of the Health Care Consultants listed on this page.
| Information for Providers
If a child care provider chooses to administer medications (except diaper rash cream and sunscreen), they must complete the Medication Administration Training course, become CPR /First Aid certified, and have a Health Care Consultant approve their site’s health care plan.
The Health Care Consultants on staff here at the Child Care Council of Dutchess serving Dutchess and Putnam Counties, can help you through all the steps to become approved to administer medication at your program.
In addition, our Health Care Consultants can…
- answer questions about common child care health issues.
- review current health care plans
- assist with the development of health care policies and writing of the health care plans of sites that will be giving medications
- help caregivers accommodate children with special needs
- offer Medication Administration Training (MAT)
- tailor both telephone and on-site consultations to your individual needs
- support all modalities of child care in their efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for the children they serve.
Problems with head lice, exclusion criteria, enrolling a child with special health care needs, medication questions, give us a call and we will answer your questions.
Liz Hargraves R.N. BSN
HCC of Dutchess
845-473-4141 ext. 31
lhargraves@childcaredutchess.org
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