Rash/Return?

[GirlMomma]

DCK broke out in a rash on his stomach Tuesday. I sent him home, told DCM to get it checked out. DCK was already going to be out Wednesday. DCM text me Wednesday and said it hadn’t improved and hadn’t spread but she was keeping DCK home today.

DCM text me a few minutes ago and said she never took DCK to the doctor but the rash has improved - but not gone. I specifically said it needed to be looked at by a doctor. Would you exclude until you have a doctors note or would you allow the child to return since it hasn’t spread?

[Blackcat31]

Since you don't know what it is, I would exclude until it's gone. If she takes DCK to the doctor and gets a diagnosis saying it's not contagious then I would allow attendance.
You can't put others at risk because of one parent's choice.

[GirlMomma]

I did just that! I didn’t get a response after I told the parent the kid couldn’t return until it was gone since she didn’t take him to the doctor.

I’m 3 for 3 this week 😅

[GirlMomma]

I text DCM Friday morning that DCK couldn’t return until the rash was completely cleared up/seen by a doctor. I never got a response.

DCK was a no call/no show today. I text about 8:30 (15 minutes past normal drop off) and I haven’t gotten a response as of now.

The kid has stuff here. Payment is due by 5:30 or I typically term. I am not sure what to do/say, this is very out of character for this parent.

[Blackcat31]

I understand where your heart is at Alwaysgreener but in my personal opinion, calling CPS over something like this is what muddies up the system.
It’s a rash, more than likely DCM doesn’t like being told what to do or she feels it’s not a serious issue. If it were that serious, GirlMomma should’ve sent home ASAP and documented. I also didn’t get the feeling from original post that it was super concerning, just unexplained. I could be wrong but I just don’t think everything requires a call to CPS. Sometimes that makes things worse for years to come for a family that might just lack some guidance and/or support.
If a welfare check is truly needed due to no communication, call law enforcement.

[Alwaysgreener]

Blackcat31 I took a training class for Child care about 4 years ago, it was a Q and A with local CPS agents. We, the providers, were able to ask to call or not to call questions. During the training, they explained that CPS is not there to get parents in trouble but to help parents find proper recourses. For example, if one was having a hard time finding a medical doctor for their child, they could call. The idea behind CPS is prevention. (As a foster care parent, I found out that CPS provides resources for single parents to request respite for the weekend and some foster parents do just that, take on mentor parents that struggle with parenting to prevent their kids from coming part of the system.)

This I feel falls into a call. This is not about a rash but about a no-show, which in the past, can result in for example a child dying in a hot car.

Girl momma has stated a concern that this behavior is out of character for this parent, a red flag that there may be something wrong.

[Blackcat31]

Alwaysgreener I've taken more than my fair share of mandated training courses over the years.
It's interesting how CPS differs from state to state. 4 of my 10 daycare parents work in the the CPS department of our Health and Human Services and the vents I hear from them most days are the minor calls of concern they get daily that make their jobs harder and most of the callers have legit concerns but concerns that can easily be solved or addressed without involving them take up a lot of their time. Calls about parents breaking custody orders, calls on parents for not following medical advice of a grandparent or caregiver, calls about SA kids playing outside without supervision, kids that aren't fed organic meals etc etc...
I guess my point was a rash in and of itself is not really something I'd be concerned about. Many parents have different medical beliefs. Calling because it's out of character for a DCF that had a rule imposed on them not responding seems silly to me. IF the OP had a BIG picture reason to call (multiple concerns in regards to safety verses just bad parenting) then I would 100% agree but a rash or a no call/no show with no other reasons to be concerned seems like an unnecessary call to me.
As for resources and support for parents and caregivers, My state has several other options and other agencies that provide those things.

[Blackcat31]

I would email and text that payment is still due by 5:30 and if they don’t reply then services will be terminated. I’m guesses they’ll reply unless they are upset about the exclusion.

[GirlMomma]

I text DCM 2x and finally text DCD as I was concerned. That’s all it took - DCM responded and said she was pulling DCK because my policies are “a bit much” and she can’t take off of work every time the child has a “small issue” and she needs more “flexibility.”

[Blackcat31]

Didn't she read your policies before enrolling? I mean who wouldn't think a rash with no explanation wouldn't be reason for exclusion? What if another kid had a rash that you didn't know the cause of and her kid got it, I bet she'd be upset. I will never understand parents that agree to certain policies and then get upset when they are enforced.

Hopefully you can fill the spot easily and won't have to deal with this type of thing again. It sucks when you do enforce your policies and families leave but in the long run, when you stand firm you do end up with a whole lot of good clients that DO follow your policies.

[GirlMomma]

Blackcat31 She absolutely should have read all of my policies beforehand. I always go over them in the interview. When we got to my illness policy, she said she has “a very flexible schedule” and she worked in a daycare before so she “won’t send him if he’s sick.” The famous last words 😂 The parent had the rest of Tuesday, all day Wednesday and Thursday to take the kid to the doctor for a random rash. What is so funny about this is the parent also CHOSE to keep the kid home Thursday. So how is that any different than me telling her the kid was still excluded on Friday? When she didn’t take the kid to the doctor the day before when she chose to keep the kid home? 😂

I think she had an issue with me enforcing ALL of my policies. She was the parent that asked me if she could go to the gym after work AKA extend her contracted hours. I told her I only keep kids for parents while the parent is working. This isn’t uncommon for providers to do/say in my area. I specifically remember giving her the spiel (in the interview) about parents becoming more comfortable leaving their kid at daycare longer than needed.

I can honestly say I am not upset, this is totally on the parent. I’d rather her complain about me enforcing my policies than for her to brag about walking all over me.