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Youth Commission
About Us
The Youth Commission (YC) is a private, nonprofit corporation serving the Fargo-Moorhead area since 1972 and operating after school childcare programs since 1986. We provide safe, convenient and affordable care for children ages 5 to 12; an important need throughout the elementary years. We know that flexible childcare can be hard to find and transportation even more difficult to arrange. That’s why the YC, in cooperation with the local school districts, offers the convenience of a childcare program at or near your child’s school.
Our Goals
Our Philosophy
The Youth Commission provides opportunities for each child to utilize styles through structured play, hands-on experience, natural discovery and community activities. The working principle of the YC is to create an environment of choices that promotes healthy decision-making skills and increases self-esteem.
Our Staff
Our childcare staff is enthusiastic and full of ideas that will delight your child. A large majority of our Site Supervisors and Youth Workers are college students majoring in fields such as education or child development. All of our staff members are thoroughly screened and highly trained. Among the training requirements are First Aid and CPR certification and age appropriate child management techniques.
Policies
Social Services
The regulations are to establish minimum standards for licensed school-age childcare centers and to ensure that those standards are maintained.
Child Abuse and Neglect Law
The YC recognizes each individual’s basic human and legal rights. Any staff member, care giver or volunteer who has knowledge of abuse (physical, verbal or emotional) or neglect of any individual or has reasonable knowledge of abuse or neglect of an individual MUST report this information to Social Services as required by North Dakota Century Code 50-25.1 and Minnesota Statues, section 626.556. If a report is made to Social Services the Program Director is responsible for completing an internal review of the policies and procedures. The internal review will be documented and reviewed by the administration and kept on file. In the event the Program Director is absent the Program Coordinator will be responsible for the internal review.
Where to Report
All reports concerning suspected abuse or neglect of children occurring in a licensed facility should be made to the following agencies:
Reports regarding incidents of suspected abuse or neglect of children occurring within a family or in the community should be made to the local county social services agencies:
If your report does not involve possible abuse or neglect, but does involve possible violations of state licensing regulations that govern our facility, you should call the following agencies:
Health Regulations
The Youth Commission abides by the guidelines set by North Dakota and Minnesota Health Services. Animals are not allowed in any YC site without prior approval of YC Administration. An animal notice sign will be posted in advance to notify families that animals will be present.
Fire Regulations
The YC has annual inspections completed by local or state authorities. Fire and tornado drills are performed at the sites in accordance with the school fire and tornado drills as recommended by local authorities.
Transportation Regulations
The current busing company is responsible for liability insurance when transporting the children and staff. When the Youth Commission’s vehicles are used during transportation, the YC assumes liability.
Field Trips
Parents are required to sign their child up for any scheduled field trip activities that may take place during the YC afternoon program. Sign up sheets are posted at each site and are available at least on week prior to the activity. One staff member will supervise 8-10 children on field trip activities off of the school grounds. Parents are asked not to pick up their child while attending the out activity due to safety precautions. The YC does not charge parents for children to attend the field trip activities and strongly recommends that children do not bring money with them when going on these field trips. In the event a field trip is cancelled parents will be notified.
Pick-Up & Sign-Out
It is the policy of the Youth Commission that a child will not be released to any individual who is not named on the registration form as a Parent/Guardian or indicated as an authorized pickup. Verbal permission by the parent is not permitted. Any changes must be made to the administration office in writing by the Parent/Guardian. A photo ID is required at time of pickup. It is also our policy that if a child is not picked up by 7:00pm and every attempt has been made to locate Parent/Guardian, the YC will contact the local Police Department for assistance.
Parents must sign their child out from the site when removing them from YC care. This is a liability release and safety issue requirement. Parent cooperation is greatly appreciated. The site sign out sheets are for YC liability and billing purposes. YC administration may reference these documents to resolve any billing discrepancies. Due to the confidential information contained on these documents, they are not available to any Parent/Guardian for purposes of information gathering. Dropping children off and/or picking children up from off-campus activities on a regular basis is strongly discouraged.
In the event that you must drop off or pick-up your child during off-campus activities, advance notice to the YC Administration is required in order for a safe and appropriate exchange. A child pick-up waiver will be required to be signed. Please understand that having children dropped off and/or picked up during off-campus activities is in direct opposition to the YC safety practices.
Research & Public Relations Permission
The Youth Commission will ensure that written permission is obtained from a parent before each occasion their child is involved in experimental research or public relations activity. A copy of the permission form will be maintained in the child’s file.
Child Drop-Off
For the safety of your child, it is your responsibility that your child arrives at the Youth Commission programming area either by escorting them into the programming area and notifying the site staff of their arrival or by contacting the site staff by cell phone. Parent cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Impaired Person Policy
The safety of the children enrolled in the YC programming is of paramount concern to our organization. Therefore, no person who appears to be affected by, or under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drugs shall be allowed to pick up any child from YC programming sites. This policy shall apply with equal force to all persons including a child’s parent and/or guardian. If a parent or guardian is under the influence and insists on taking the child, the local Police Department will be contacted immediately.
Inclement Weather/Closings/Natural Disaster or Utility Failure
The Youth Commission will follow the weather-closing schedule of the school district of each program site. If a school opens late due to weather, YC morning programs will not be held. If the school closes midday and the YC programs have not begun, NO YC services will be provided. The Executive Director will decide during site operating hours if an early closing is advisable. For programs that are held at the YC Youth Centers, YC Administration will decide on weather related closings and early dismissals. At that time, the closing will be announced on KFGO and WDAY. All YC supervisory staff will remain on site until all children are picked up. Children will not be transported by the YC during inclement weather.
In the event of a natural disaster or utility failure children will be bussed to the nearest Youth Center or operating Youth Center. Announcements would also be made on our website, radio and television. Personal Belongings
The YC discourages children from bringing personal items. (Example: Game Boys, Game Boy games, CD players and collectible cards). The YC will not be responsible for children’s lost personal items while at the YC sites, although we will make every effort to insure the children go home with all of their personal belongings. Please notify the site supervisor or call the administration office of the YC if your child has lost an item while attending YC programming.
Accident Procedures
In the event of an accident or dental emergency, we will make every attempt to immediately reach you at home or at work. If you cannot be reached, we will use the emergency numbers listed on your registration form. If you or any other individual listed cannot be reached and we feel your child’s condition is severe, we will call 911 and have the child transported to the hospital listed on the registration form. We will then continue to make every attempt possible to contact you. Please make sure all of your emergency phone numbers listed are current and correct. This is extremely important for the safety and care of your children. For emergency purposes, parent’s cellular phone numbers are extremely helpful and should be indicated on the registration forms.
Walking Home or Going to Another Child’s Home After Programming (North Dakota residents only)
Any child may walk home as indicated on the registration form. Any changes must be made to the administration office in writing with parent’s signature, the date and specific time the child can walk home. Verbal permission by the parent is not permitted due to liability conditions.
Dispensing of Medication
At all sites, children requiring medication must have a Release of Medication Form signed by the parent to be kept on file at the Youth Centers. All medication will be kept inside a locked medication box at the site of attendance. Please indicate if the medication needs to be refrigerated, as not all sites have refrigeration available. A staff person at the site will be designated to dispense the medication.
Parents must provide a current prescription of a one week supply of medications if the medication is taken on an on-going basis during YC programming hours. Please do not exceed a one week supply at a time. Short-term medications, such as antibiotics, may be brought in daily. Medication bottles must have the child’s name, name of the medication and specific dosage with time of day to be given. At the end of the week, the empty bottle will be returned to the parent for re-fill. It is extremely important that good communication exists between parents and staff in order to ensure proper medication dispensing. Sick Children
For the well-being of the children and staff, please do not send children to the sites if they are ill. If a child arrives ill, or becomes ill while attending the YC, parents will be contacted immediately and asked to take their child home. Basic first aid will be administered to the child until a parent arrives.
Any contagious illness or conditions must be reported immediately to YC Administration. An exposure notice will then be posted to let families know their child has been exposed. If your child becomes sick over the weekend you will need to contact YC Administration on Monday morning. If your child is home ill and not attending school, or you are having a family emergency, please notify the YC office. Tuition charges are waived for all sick days, as well as family emergencies, in the event that YC administration is notified the morning of that day.
Exclusion of Sick Children
A child with any of the following conditions or behaviors is a sick child and must be excluded from the Youth Center. If the child becomes sick while at the Youth Center, the child must be isolated from other children in care and the parent called immediately. The sick child will be supervised at all times.
The Youth Center must exclude a child:
Filing a Complaint
At the Youth Commission we strive to provide quality services, but if you feel there are areas we could improve in please contact the Program Coordinator for the site. If the Program Coordinator cannot assist you we ask that you contact the Program Director, and, if necessary, the Executive Director. If you feel you have contacted the appropriate people and have given them sufficient time to implement change or correct action and still are not satisfied the next step would be to contact the Department of Human Services, Division of Licensing in North Dakota at 701/328-2310 or Minnesota at 651/296-3971.
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