To our Families, Staff, Providers, and Valued Community Partners:
We know that many you have questions about the developing COVID-19 pandemic and the effect that it may have on operations at Today’s Family.
We have just received a communication from our local school boards in Hamilton, Halton, Haldimand and Norfolk indicating that they will be closing all school buildings to both child care and EarlyON programs effective Monday, March 16, 2020. This means that:
All Early Learning and Child Care, Camp Programs, Before and After School Programs located in schools are suspended.
At this point in time, and until further notice, our Greendale and Dundas locations and Licensed Home Child Care will remain open.
We are working diligently to understand what this will mean for Today’s Family programs and daily operations. All decisions that we make will be based on expert guidance from Public Health Agency of Canada, local health authority and/or our funders and regulators. We will provide you with an update as soon as we have more information available.
Our key strategies to prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses, including COVD-19:
- For children and staff who are ill with fever and/or infectious respiratory symptoms to stay home
- The consistent practice of good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene
- To ensure regular and routine environmental cleaning of the facility.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has recommended enhanced screening for any individual who has traveled or is experiencing symptoms. Child care centres are encouraged to connect with their local public health unit for more information on this should be implemented in their programs, but it may include requesting that families who have recently traveled internationally stay home from child care for 14 days to ensure they are not ill.
Our decisions are being based on information from our municipal, provincial and federal governing bodies:
Hamilton https://www.hamilton.ca/public-health/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
Haldimand and Norfolk https://hnhu.org/health-topic/coronavirus-covid-19/
Public Health Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
Public Health Child Care Program Guidelines https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/guidance-schools-childcare-programs.html
As information develops, we will continue to communicate as we know more.
We thank you for your support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Marni Flaherty,
Chief Executive Officer
Today’s Family
905-574-9344 Hamilton
289-288-0059 Halton
844 574 9344 Haldimand and Norfolk
