Childcare Programs

COVID Protocols

Keeping Everyone Safe + Healthy: COVID Mitigation Strategies

Maintaining the health and safety of our participants and staff is more than a goal; it is a core value for The Takoma Park Recreation Department. We will continuously monitor the latest recommendations from the CDC, state and local health departments and update as needed. Working together with our parents/guardians, we will take every precaution necessary to have a safe, healthy childcare program! We are committed to following rigorous, data-driven COVID mitigation strategies. Here’s a list of what we have done since reopening and COVID measures that are in place now.  As restrictions lift, we anticipate MSDE’s (Maryland State Department of Education- Office of Child Care) guidelines to change as well. 

• We have updated our ventilation system to purify the circulated air in the buildings. 
• Plexiglass shields have been installed as a barrier around the building.
• TPRD will increase staff awareness of communicable disease procedures through required training offerings and enhanced procedures. Training will include, but is not limited to, health and safety procedures, what and how to clean/disinfect/sanitize, daily health self-assessment for staff and participant, general communicable disease information, participant health/symptom assessment and use of PPE.
• The maximum number of participants has been reduced for these childcare programs.
• Parents/Guardians are asked to self-monitor participants for  COVID symptoms and report any symptoms to staff immediately. 
• Participants will be assigned to cohort pods based on their school, not to interact amongst groups. 
• All participants and staff will be required to wear a cloth face covering in the facility. 

• Staff will engage in enhanced cleaning efforts during the day.  
• All activities will be modified to increase distancing and to meet sanitation requirements.
• If a confirmed positive case of COVID is present amongst staff and/or participants, TPRD will work with the Montgomery County Health Department to follow all necessary contact tracing protocols. TPRD will notify families of all participants as soon as possible via email. The email to impacted families will detail pertinent information regarding the issue as well as the potential length of facility closure for deep cleaning. 
• Participants will be asked to wash hands at scheduled times during the day. Hand sanitizer will be readily available and used frequently during program hours. Rooms will prominently display educational content, proper hygiene posters, and child-friendly hand washing instructions. 
• Staff will monitor their group participants looking for signs of illness and will notify the appropriate personnel if a child develops a constant cough, shortness of breath or appears to have a fever.  Participants may be moved to an isolated area as a safety measure.
• Parent/Guardian pick up at the end of the day will now be indoors (reverting back to pre-COVID times). If noted on the Participant Profile, participants will be allowed to walk home at a certain time.