Kitsilano Area Child Care Society - Since 1976

Emergency Procedures

If your child is seriously injured or becomes ill while at Kitsilano Area Child Care Centre you will be notified by telephone immediately. If necessary, your alternate contact person and/or family physician will be called. In an emergency we will call an ambulance and a teacher will accompany your child to the hospital.

Staff members maintain first aid certification and are trained to know what to do in an emergency. Fire evacuation and earthquake drills are held regularly.

In the case of an evacuation from the building parents will be notified by phone or a sign will be posted at the Centre to explain where children can be picked up (St. Augustine’s Church is the first choice of an alternate site).

Emergency procedures are posted and all exits are clearly marked and drills are practiced on a regular basis.

You will be asked to prepare an emergency comfort pack for your child. A list of possible items to include will be provided. The emergency packs will be placed in the Kitsilano Area emergency storage (in the outside toy shed) located on the east side of the Centre.

Conflict Resolution

The Board and staff members of Kitsilano Area Child Care Centre are committed to working cooperatively with families. Families are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns that they have about the program with the Administrative Early Childhood Educator.

If a concern arises between a staff member and a family they are encouraged to discuss the issue openly and attempt to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of both parties the Administrative Early Childhood Educator is contacted or in the case of the issue involving the Administrative Early Childhood Educator, then the Privacy Officer of the Board of Directors will become part of the resolution process.

If a concern arises from a Board policy or decision, a family is encouraged to contact the Chairperson of the Board and openly discuss the issue.

The goal is to reach mutually agreeable solutions but if a family’s concern cannot be addressed through any of these steps, they may choose to withdraw their child. If so, the withdrawal policy is applicable.

Duty to Report Need for Protection

If you have reasonable grounds to believe that any child is in the need for protection, you must report the matter immediately... The protection of the child must be everyone's paramount concern. If in doubt, err on the side of protecting the child. The B.C. Inter-Ministry Child Abuse Handbook, 1988

Everyone who has a reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be physically harmed, sexually abused or sexually exploited, or needs protection due to the specific circumstances outlined in the Child, Family and Community Service Act, is legally responsible under that act to report the matter to a child protection social worker. In British Columbia, a child is anyone under the age of 19. The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect

A person who has reason to believe that a child needs protection must promptly report the matter to the delegate of the Ministry of Children and Families (usually an Intake Worker). The responsibility for making a report to the Ministry of Children and Families rests with the person who has reason to believe that a child needs protection. Internal reporting procedures may be in place, but the duty to report is not discharged by a complainant reporting to any person other than the delegate of a director of the Ministry of Children and Families. The Child, Family and Community Services Act

Privacy Policy

Kitsilano Area Child Care Society respects and upholds an individual's right to privacy and the protection of his or her personal information. We are committed to collecting, using, and disclosing personal information in compliance with British Columbia's Personal Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The privacy policy protects all verbal and written information about potential enrolling and former children, families and employees. It also refers to information related to “in camera” board discussion and decisions.

All employees and Board members are expected to fulfill their obligation to respect protection of privacy. Each individual will ensure that no private or personal information is revealed that may cause another individual harm. This excludes the responsibility that service providers and others have as outlined in legislation and/or when information is subpoenaed by the court.

Custody and control of the children’s records will belong solely to Kitsilano Area Child Care Society unless contractual arrangements and/or legislation alter this policy.

All information will be stored in files and kept in locked cabinets.

Contact the Administrative Early Childhood Educator if you have questions.

Termination of Services

At Kitsilano Area Child Care Society, teachers are committed to providing a caring and supportive environment for all children and families. However, termination of services may be required if:

• Fees for service are not paid according to the financial policies in the parent agreement and suitable arrangement cannot be agreed upon.
• The family does not abide by the expectations in the parent agreement and successful resolution of the difference is not achieved.
• The child is no longer in the custody of the enrolling parent/guardian and the Centre has not been informed of this change.
• A family member harasses, threatens abuse, or commits a violent act toward an employee, child, or other family involved in the child care program.
• The Centre is unable to resolve problems of late pick-up with a family.
• The child’s behaviour is severely disruptive or physically threatening to the well being and safety of the other children or teachers and additional supports to accommodate the child are unavailable.
• The staff will make observations on all the children. If a child is not adjusting well, these observations will be discussed with the enrolling parent/guardian and it may be decided that this space is not in the best interest of the child.
• The Centre has made an error in registration and is over the maximum number of children at any one time.

If either the parent/guardian or the Centre wishes to terminate service six weeks written notice is required from the 15th of the month. In order to maintain an organization with consistently high standards there are no exceptions to this rule.