3.2.A. NAA Standards for Quality School-Age Care
NAA Standards establishes program standards for assuring quality, holistic programming and identifies minimum standards to assure that programming takes place in a safe, clean, secure environment that is in good repair. Teen REACH sites are expected
to adhere to these standards.
The standards indicate that policies and procedures be written and implemented to assure the safety and well being of participants including standards for: Discipline and Conflict Resolution Among Participants and Emergency Procedures for Illness and
Injury. These must be developed for each program site and appear in Appendix Z Customized Teen REACH Operations. (See Appendix)
NAA Standards for Quality School-Age Care is available from:
- National AfterSchool Association
1137 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
http://www.naaweb.org
3.2.B. Serving Snacks/Meals
Each day, Teen REACH programs must offer nutritious snacks to the participants. All food must be served in accordance with relevant local and state health standards for food preparation and handling and meet the standards of the National Afterschool
Association. For more information, please refer to this organization's website, found at http://www.naaweb.org.
While program funds may be used to purchase food, programs must demonstrate that they researched and applied for assistance through the food programs sponsored through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found at
http://www.usda.gov; the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), found at http://www.isbe.state.il.us; or through America's Second Harvest, found at
http://www.secondharvest.org.
3.2.C. Dispensing Medication
Teen REACH programs are discouraged from administering over-the-counter medications to participants. If the Teen REACH program decides to handle and dispense prescription drugs, a protocol must be added and adhere to the Illinois Licensing Standards
for Day Care Centers Section 407.360 Medications. The protocol must include:
- Prescription medication shall be accepted only in its original container.
- Prescription medications shall be labeled with the full pharmacy label.
- Medication shall be administered in a manner that protects the safety of the child.
- A specific staff person shall be designated to administer and properly document the dispensation of the medication each day.
- Prescription medication shall be administered as required by a physician, subject to the receipt of appropriate releases from parents which shall be on file and regularly updated. Prescription medication shall be used only for the child named on the
label.
- The program site shall maintain a record of the dates, times administered, dosage, prescription number, and the name of the person administering the medication.
- Medications shall be safely stored.
- Medication containers shall have child-protection caps whenever possible.
- All medication, whether refrigerated or unrefrigerated, shall be kept in locked cabinets or other containers that are inaccessible to children and that are designated and used only for this purpose.
- Medications shall be kept in a well-lighted area.
- Medications shall be kept out of the reach of children.
- Medications shall not be kept in rooms where food is prepared or stored, unless refrigerated in a separate locked container.
- Medication shall not be used beyond the date of expiration.
- When a child no longer needs to receive medication, the unused portion or empty bottle shall be returned to the parent.
- Any topical products, such as sunscreen, or insect repellant, whether supplied by the parent or by the program site, shall be approved by the parent in writing prior to use by the child.
3.2.D. Head Lice
Each Teen REACH program site must have a protocol for addressing infestations of head lice in the Teen REACH population. The protocol must include:
- Frequency of regular head checks.
- Informing families of those affected with head lice.
- Referrals for treatment.
- Exclusion of those affected with head lice and program re-entry procedures.
- Informing all other families in the program about the infestation.
- Ensuring the cleanliness of the Teen REACH participants and decreasing incidents of shared hair grooming products and head gear.
- Parent education on head lice: identification, treatment of the children, and household extermination of head lice.
- Teen REACH funds cannot be used to purchase prescription or over-the counter pediculosides to treat lice.
3.2.E. Asthma
Asthma and its management has become a critical feature for the health of young school age children and teens. Each Teen REACH program site is required to have a protocol that addresses asthmatic participants and the management of asthma. Protocols
should include:
- Written Parental Consent form that identifies health issues that may keep a participant from fully participating in physical sports and recreation.
- Staff training on environmental triggers for asthma.
- Staff training on early signs of asthma episodes and appropriate interpersonal responses.
- All participants who are identified with asthma must have a written Asthma Action Plan before participating in the program. This action plan must include what to do in case of mild, moderate, and severe episodes, as well as who to call. These
contacts should include: doctor, hospital, ambulance or paramedic service used, and family member.
- Agency protocol must also include what staff will do the intervention during an asthma episode.
