Child Care Reopening Information

At The Gateway Family YMCA, the safety of our children, members and Y staff continues to remain our highest priority.  We are offering a phased approach to reopening based on state and local government and health agencies.

We are open for Child Care services at the newly renovated Youth Development Branch, 16-20 Jefferson Avenue in Elizabeth, which is a stand-alone facility providing only child care services at this time.  During this time, we have combined both Child Care programs and staff at the Youth Development Branch.  We are also open, with limited availability, at the Five Points Branch, 201 Tucker Avenue in Union.  If you are in need of Child Care services, CLICK HERE TO CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR

In accordance with new procedures and guidelines, it is important to note that our program will operate in a very different manner for the foreseeable future and we have focused on this location as it is a stand-alone facility providing only child care services at this time.  Under the new state-imposed restrictions, our child care classes are limited to 10 children who must remain with the same staff members throughout their program day.  Because of required limitations, we began initially operating child care out of our newly renovated Youth Development Branch in Elizabeth, combining the Five Points child care operations into this YMCA facility.  Child Development staff team members from both centers have been integrated in our programs at the Youth Development Branch.  At this time, we have also began offering Child Care services at the Five Points Branch, which is open only for child care programs.

Due to current guidelines for social distancing, program capacity and interaction restrictions, as well as the results of our recent child care survey, we are accepting a limited number of children as we reopen.  Child Care space will be available on a first come, first serve basis until a maximum enrollment is reached and a waiting list will begin.  To secure a space in our program, please contact your Director.

We feel confident in our staff members and the cooperation of our families to be able to provide service and education in a safe and effective way, while providing the excellent care that our YMCA Child Development Centers are known for.

Procedures

Our Child Development Center will operate and look different. Here are some necessary precautions we are taking to keep our children and staff safe:

• Masks: Anyone entering the facility will be required to wear a mask. Staff, parents and guardians will be required to wear face masks during all interactions with program participants and other staff.  Children over the age of two will be required to wear cloth face coverings within the center, except while eating or sleeping.
• Gloves: Staff will be required to wear gloves whenever possible in accordance with CDC and licensing guidelines.
• Health Checks: All staff and children will be screened daily for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms prior to entry to the program facility each day. Children and staff with a temperature in excess of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or exhibiting other symptoms of COVID-19, shall not be allowed to enter the facility, nor will persons that have exposure to persons known to have COVID-19 during the preceding 14 days. Children’s temperatures will be monitored throughout the day.
• Entering the building: Parents and guardians will drop off and pick up their children off where designated.  Parents and Guardians will no longer be able to enter the building or classrooms.  Children will be required to wash their hands upon entry to our program and frequently throughout the program day in accordance with CDC and licensing guidelines.

Other safety protocols that will be followed:

• Sanitizing and disinfecting: Our center has created a schedule to clean multiple times daily in addition to on-demand cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectants.
• Hand washing: Staff members will wash their hands before handling any child’s bottles, cups or food. All staff members are also required to wash their hands each time they pick up a child and/or they come into contact with a child’s bodily fluids. In addition, staff members will change their clothing if it becomes soiled with a child’s bodily fluids.  Children will practice frequent hand washing in accordance with CDC and licensing guidelines.

We thank you for being a member of our YMCA and for your patience during this time. We know that if we work together we’ll be able to keep our families and staff healthy and our facilities a safe environment for everyone.