Hygine

[firstbloomdc]

Hello All,
I have a Group Family Day Care in the Bronx . I work with low income family and family who live in shelters . Incurrently have one family who three children are very smelly and clothes are dirty . The smell for the older children becomes very bad after they arrive from schools we are forced to open windows. I wanted to think at one point is was neglect but the childs parent ( both mom and dad ) are also a bit smelly and clothes look dirty , so for me this is just hygine problem.

I need help addressing this issue with the mom and dad about the children hygine. I dont know what to say or how to say it without seeming judgemental or discrimatory against them. There are days the smell is ok but other days is really bad and I am scared that the kids will get bullied because of it. Please help me

[Cat Herder]

Is it possible they don't have access to daily bathing or a way to do the childrens laundry often enough?

You can assist them with finding family services for a long term solution. You could offer to assist them short term with the childrens bathing and laundry, yourself.

I do full care, so that would be very easy for me to accommodate, but if I could not I would direct them to a community service that could.

[Cat Herder]

http://www.institute.org/bronx-health-reach/about/

http://www.institute.org/health-care/services/health-care-for-the-homeless/

http://www.institute.org/health-care/services/school-based/

A good start

Good luck. This is a delicate situation, but can make such a huge impact on a kids life. :hug:

[firstbloomdc]

Is it possible they don't have access to daily bathing or a way to do the childrens laundry often enough?

You can assist them with finding family services for a long term solution. You could offer to assist them short term with the childrens bathing and laundry, yourself.

I do full care, so that would be very easy for me to accommodate, but if I could not I would direct them to a community service that could.

They are currently living in a Family shelter which is providing them with SNAP ( food stamps) and cash assisstance . Dad also works so personally I dont think is a financial problem .
As part of my policy when parent enroll they receive a folder with listing of local resources from food to clothing items they can receive for free or at low cost.
To be honest I dont believe it has anything to do with their economic standards.

[Cat Herder]

They are currently living in a Family shelter which is providing them with SNAP ( food stamps) and cash assisstance . Dad also works so personally I dont think is a financial problem .
As part of my policy when parent enroll they receive a folder with listing of local resources from food to clothing items they can receive for free or at low cost.
To be honest I dont believe it has anything to do with their economic standards.

Awesome, it sounds like you are way ahead of the bar.

Have you begun a Wellness Policy Program? I just started one this year, it is off to a bumpy start, but fingers crossed. It's part of QRIS, it is something they are beginning to recommend. It may help your program. Here it is still viewed as a little invasive, but I need the points

http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/wwwv2/filebox/service/healthy-living/growuphealthy/Child%20Care%20Wellness%20Policy%20Workbook.pdf