Author: Salexander

The City of Monte Vista
Kids Connection

Parents’ Packet

For More Information Contact:
Monte Vista Kids Connection
(719)852-2692 ext:119 (Office)
(719) 852-6966 (Site)
95 W. 1st Ave.
Monte Vista, CO 81144
Email: kidsclub@ci.monte-vista.co.us

The City of Monte Vista
Kids Connection
Letter To Parents

Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is our goal as the staff of the Monte Vista Kids Connection to give your child an extraordinary experience that allows your child to flourish with independence and creativity.
Our mission is to provide a safe place for the youth of the San Luis Valley. Where every young person receives a chance, especially those that need us most, to be inspired to reach their full potential and to be cared for unconditionally.
Please take a moment and read about our program, and what it has to offer. Review all policies and procedures with your child. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at 852-6966 during Kids Connection hours or at City Hall 852-2692 ext. 6 any other time of the day.
Thank you for your interest in Monte Vista’s Kids Connection. Please make sure to pick up your program calendar at the start of each month and look closely as special events often come up.
Sincerely,
The Staff of MVKC

Operating Hours: 7:30pm-5:30pm Monday-Friday (summer)
3:30-6:00 Mon-Thurs ( After School)& 7:30-5:30 Fridays
Ages we serve: 5 – 18yrs

Sign in and out Policy:

For the After School program parents are required to come into Kids Connection and sign their child out everyday. You as a parent/guardian may also give consent for your child to check themselves out of the center.

Weekly Fee:
All families who live in Rio Grande County and earn less than $75,000.00 annually, qualify for your child(ren) to come to our program free of charge. If you don't qualify for free sevice, the cost is $20.00 per week to be a member of Kids Connection. A full month advanced payment we will grant a discount of $15 per week per child. All advance payment must be paid before the first Friday of the monthPayments can be made on-line at www.cityofmontevista.com or you can fill out a self prep form at city Hall offices located at 95 W First. Ave. in Monte Vista. NO PAYMENTS WILL BE TAKEN AT KIDS CONNECTION BY STAFF.
Late Policy and Fee:
Late fees will be charged at the rate of $1.00 for every minute after 6:10 pm Monday– Thursday, and 5:40pm on Fridays. Late fees must be paid in full at the time of pick up, if you do not pay, your child will not be able to return until it is paid. If an emergency arises that will require you to be late picking up your child please call the center immediately. If no notification is made to the center by closing time and the center is unable to reach the parents, the authorities will be called and your child will be placed in their care until you pick them up.

Weather/Emergency Closures:
If Monte Vista School District is closed due to inclement weather, Kids Connection will also be closed for that day. If we are in the middle of the day and need to close for weather or other emergencies, MVKC will make every effort to notify parents and or emergency contact persons. Please make sure to update files every time something changes.
Closing Procedures:
Before a staff member closes the building all rooms including bathrooms will be checked to ensure all children have left. The staff will check to sign in/out book to ensure all children were checked out. If there are any questions while performing theses procedures staff will contact parent/guardian first then proceed accordingly.

General Policies

Release of Child Policy:
The city of Monte Vista Kids Connection will only release a child to the people authorized by their parent(s)/guardian(s) on the membership form to check out their child. A person wishing to pick up a child will be required to show ID to verify authorization. Should an unauthorized person attempt to pick up a child the staff will attempt to notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) and if needed, the local police or sheriff’s department will be notified immediately if necessary.
Concerns and Parent Conferences:
The staff at The City of Monte Vista Kids Connection strongly believes in the “team” approach to caring for children. We believe the line of communication needs to be open between parents/guardians and staff to ensure the best care and continued development of your child. If you have any concerns please bring them to the attention of MVKC Director or Assistant Director immediately to schedule a conference. We will no longer address issues at the Kids Connection center, out of respect of all involved parties. We will do our best to schedule at the earliest convenience to everyone involved.
Visitors/Volunteers:
We encourage parents or family friends to be an active part of the Kids Connection. If you would like to be present during the program your are required to sign in and sign out in our volunteer binder. If it becomes a regular occurrence we will request a background check be done to ensure the safety of every child at the center.
Child Abuse Policy:
The MVKC staff will make every effort to ensure the safety of your child. MVKC is required by law to report any suspicion of child abuse. If the need arises the staff will contact MVKC Director and/or the staff will file a report with social services and/or the local law enforcement. If your child has encountered a bump, bruise, or any other injury due to an accident outside of the center, please bring it to the attention of the staff to avoid any confusion. You may forward any complaint you have to Rio Grande County Social Services at 1015 6th st. P.O. box 40 Del Norte, CO 81132 or call DSS at 719-657-3381.

Personal belongings:
It is the intent of Monte Vista Kids Connection to make the children as responsible for their belongings as possible. We believe this is an important life skill to have. You can help by labeling your child's belongings for easy identification.
What To Bring:
Please provide you child with something to hold his/her belongings that can be easily carried. An extra change of clothes may be needed for some children.
What Not To Bring:
Do not allow your child to bring expensive items or violent items such as knives or weapons; i-pods; i-pads; cell phones; hand held video game devices; pets; or money unless specified in schedule. If items are found with your child and they become a distraction the staff may choose to confiscate the item and not give it back until the end of the day. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD BRING ANY ITEM YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE! MVKC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS.
Dress Code
All children are expected to come prepared to spend time outside. In the summer and winter months.. Please label all items!
We do not allow inappropriate logos and graphics to be worn while at the center.
We ask that all girls that wish to come in dresses or skirts wear shorts underneath, and tank tops have a strap of at least 1/2 inch width. NO spaghetti straps!
NO FLIP FLOPS!!! If your child arrives with flip flops on we will have you take them home for a more appropriate pair of shoes!
Please send your child in play clothes. We do like to get messy!

Meals
Summer Program: Your child will receive a breakfast and lunch provided by Kids Connection. Lunch is scheduled for 12:00pm.
After School Program: Monday—Thursday MVKC will provide an after school snack. On Fridays you will need to send a ready to eat lunch (sack lunch) for your child.
If your child has any food allergies please state those on your child’s health form as well as notify the staff on the first day of care. All meals and snacks provided will follow federal nutritional guidelines. Please do not send SODA or Junk food or food that needs to be PREPARED OR HEATED by staff.
If you do not send a meal with your child, MVKC will provide one to them, but you will be charges $7.00 for us doing so. Children will no longer be allowed to make phone calls to find out where their lunch is, it should be dropped off with them.

Membership Policies

A complete membership form and the back pages of this packet must be filled out and signed in order for your child to begin membership.
Denial of Services: If the behavior of the child endangers the health or safety of the staff or other children, MVKC Director has the authority to handle the situation as she/he deems most appropriate for the Kids Connection.
Dismissal of Membership: In the event that the Kids Connection ever finds it necessary to end membership a two week notice will be given out, except for the reasons listed below; these situations will be grounds for immediate dismissal.
* Destructive, uncontrollable, or violent behaviors
* Habitual tardiness in picking up your child
* Lateness of payment or non-payment
*Lack of parental cooperation
*Failure to maintain required supplies for child(ren)
*Failure to comply with required enrollment and health forms
Withdrawal of Membership Policy: If you wish to end your child’s
membership a two week notice must be given and all past due accounts are required to be paid in full on the day that the notice is given.

Medical Policies

By the first day of service, a copy of your child's immunization records must be submitted.
In compliance with health department license regulations we cannot admit children into the program who have a fever or yellow discharge coming from their eyes or nose. Please do not send you child if they have had a fever within the last 24 hrs. If your child is diagnosed with a communicable illness, please contact the center so that we may contact other parents whose children may have come in contact with your child.(Communicable illness include, but are not limited to: hepatitis, measles, mumps, meningitis, diphtheria, rubella, salmonella, tuberculosis, Giardia or shigella.)
Illness or Injury Policy: If your child becomes sick or injured while at the center we will notify you immediately, as well as fill out an incident report to go home with you. If your child gets a fever of 99° or higher while at Kids Connection they will be sent home.
Medication Administration Policy: To ensure every child's safety we ask that if you need to leave medicine at the center to be administered by the staff to your child that you give it directly to MVKC Director to be placed in a locked box. All medication must be accompanied by a written order by the prescriber and kept in it’s original container. Specific order forms can be obtained through MVKC Director.
Special Conditions Policy: If your child has any type of allergy, disorder, or medical condition. Please make sure you note that on your childs health form as well as make staff aware of it to avoid incidents from occurring.
Special Needs Policy: As mandated by the ADA( American Disabilities Act), this child care center will provide equal access to children with disabilities by allowing children to be fully integrated into regular activities.

Program Policies

Staffing: The quality and effectiveness of MVKC services for children are directly related to the skills and personal characteristics of staff. Recruiting, selecting, training and supporting staff are an essential, interrelated process in insuring the success and integrity of MVKC. The leaders are required to have experience in working with children, a knowledge of recreational activities, and must possess certain qualities in order to serve as role models to children. They receive training in many areas including but not limited to; safety, child/adult communication, numerous activities including arts and crafts, games, etc. MVKC staff are first aid and CPR certified. Background checks are conducted on all staff prior to employment. This includes record background checks, finger print check along with reference checks.
We have designed our program to ensure an adequate ratio of staff to child is met according to Colorado’s regulations and to ensure staff always know where a child is.
Arrival & Leaving Policy: We are a drop-in drop-out service. This allows children to come and leave anytime during camp. When you bring your child in please sign them in. If you are picking them up please tell the staff, wait for your child to come, and then sign them out. In order for your child to check his/her self out MVKC MUST have prior approval.
Field Trip & Outing Policy: All field trips will be on your event calendar which will be posted at and available at the center. Field trips are always optional as long as staff to member ratio can be maintained. On the occasional times when staff members cannot come to work we will notify you if children need to attend the field trip to maintain our ratios. The staff may choose to walk the kids to the local park, or on a bike ride. If you come to pick up your child while they are away a staff will call and confirm a place in town where you can meet and pick up your child. If you need your child to be at the center during specific times you may make the request with the staff to ensure your child is close by.
Video Policy: Movies will be shown occasionally during the program. We watch all movies previously to showing them to the children. The movie will be offered as an option and will be a G rating( or PG rating with written parent approval). NO PG-13 or Rated R movies will be shown in our program.

Discipline Policy

Please go over this policy with your
child more than once to ensure they understand what is expected of them.
Misbehavior will be dealt with in a four step procedure.
Known to our kids as our stop light.
Each child begins the day on green, as their behavior becomes an issue they will have their names moved up from green, to yellow, then orange and finally red, where a write up will follow.
The children are given the opportunity throughout the day to move their names down with good behavior. If they reach red and have been issued a write up, the write up will stick, but they will still have to opportunity to move their name down and it will be noted on the write up.
Fighting, leaving the building without permission, possession of a weapon, destruction of property, stealing, Use of illegal substances or actions will result in automatic 1 week suspension for the first offense. The suspension will become more severe after the first offense and can lead up to permanent removal from the program.
MVKC will allow up to two write ups in a one month period, the third write up in the same month will result in suspension.
At the beginning of the each month the student will start over for the new month, but MVKC may use the write up as reference for continued behavioral issues
Monte Vista Kids Connection Director reserves the right to skip any and all steps in deciding each individual disciplinary action (meaning your child may be suspended even if it is not his/her third offense of the month).
Age, severity of offense and frequency will be taken into consideration when considering discipline. Discipline will never consist of corporal punishment, humiliation, excessive periods of “time out”, or inordinate amount of yelling at the child(ren).

Keeping Current!

www.cityofmontevista.com

“Like” the Monte Vista Kids Connection page for updates.

How to File A Complaint with the Division of Child Care : Complaint about Licensing Violations
Call 303-866-3755 Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM.
Complaints must be made by a witness or someone that has first-hand knowledge of the abuse.
It is Division policy not to accept anonymous complaints except for unlicensed provider complaints. Please be prepared to give your name, telephone number and mailing address to the complaint intake person. This information is required for the following reasons:
The Division will keep all information about parents and children in care confidential.

Transportation Permission Slip

I _______________ guardian/parent to _________________
understand that my child will be participating in The City of Monte Vista Kids Connection activities . I understand that my child may take part in activities such as: games, sports, walking and transported fieldtrips, and other activities consistent with the purposes of the program.
All vehicles and drivers being used during transportation of
children will meet the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles requirements. All children will be obligated to follow the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles requirements for seatbelt use.
I agree that my child can be transported in a City of Monte Vista vehicle to and from any Kids Connection Activity.

Parent/guardian signature Date
Emergency Contact Phone Number
Emergency Contact Phone number

The City of Monte Vista
Kids Connection

Parent & Child Agreement

I acknowledge that my family has received the parents’ packet for Monte Vista Kids Connection membership. I confirm that I have read over the policies and procedures with my child. By signing below I state that my family and I will comply with the policies and procedures of The City of Monte Vista Kids Connection. I also, understand that if my child or I breach any part of this agreement it may result in possible revocation of my child’s membership with this center.

Please sign and return this packet to the center.

__________________________________________ ________________
Parent/ Guardian’s Signature Date
__________________________________________ ________________
Child’s Signature Date

_______________________________________________
E-mail Address

Emergency Contact and Medical Information for a Child (Field Trip)
									M	F
Child’s Name				Date of Birth					Sex
Parent’s/Guardian’s Name				Parent’s/Guardian’s Name
Home Phone		cell Phone		Home Phone				cell Phone
Address				Address
City, ST ZIP Code				City, ST ZIP Code
Alternative Emergency Contacts
Primary Emergency Contact				Secondary Emergency Contact
contact Phone		cell Phone		contact Phone				cell Phone
Address				Address
City, ST ZIP Code				City, ST ZIP Code
Medical Information
Hospital/Clinic Preference
Physician’s Name						Phone Number
Insurance Company						Policy Number
Allergies/Special Health Considerations
I authorize all medical and surgical treatment, X-ray, laboratory, anesthesia, and other medical and/or hospital procedures as may be performed or prescribed by the attending physician and/or paramedics for my child and waive my right to informed consent of treatment. This waiver applies only in the event that neither parent/guardian can be reached or in the case of an emergency.
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature						Date
In Consideration of my child’s membership and participation in the Monte Vista Kids Club. I as parent/guardian of the above named minor I do hereby release the MVKC from all liability to me, my child, and my child’s personal representative, assigns and heirs for all claims and damages which my child of I may have against the MVKC and/or its sponsors resulting from participation in or connection to a MVKC related activity. I hereby authorize the MVKC, as my agent, to secure medical treatment as is deemed necessary, and will, on behalf of said minor, assume and pay all expenses associated with such treatments in the event of accident, illness of other incapacity. I will ensure that my child is fit and sufficiently trained to participate in the programs of the MVKC. I permit the MVKC to utilize surveys/testing to evaluate the effectiveness of MVKC programming. I permit the MVKC to utilize photographs of my child taken of his/her involvement in MVKC programs and hereby waive all rights of compensation for said use. I understand that the MVKC is not responsible for the time or manner in which my child arrives or leaves the MVKC and I also understand that the MVKC is not responsible for lost or stolen Items or personal belongings.
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature						Date
Witness Signature						Date