Health and Safety Practices

COA maintains stringent health and safety practices. Our health and safety policies and practices are based on the National

Health and Safety Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education; and the National Resource Center for Health and

Safety in Child Care and Early Education.

Staff members undergo a thorough screening and hiring process, including a COA background check and state-required

background check. Staff members who are certified in first aid, CPR, are present in the center at all times. Comprehensive

health and safety checklists are completed and routine fire and emergency drills are conducted on a regular basis. In addition, each center has an individual emergency response plan in place. If an emergency requires the center to evacuate and leave the premises, families can call an emergency hotline number to receive information about the safety and location of their children.

Families of enrolled children are welcome to visit at any time during the day; however, this “open door” policy may not be

used to supplement a custody or visitation schedule. In addition to security measures promoting indoor and outdoor safety

on the facility grounds, COA provides its own security keypad system and secured access at most centers, ensuring that

access is available only to parents/guardians and authorized personnel. To make certain that the center is kept as secure

as possible, we ask that you not allow others to “piggyback” on your entrance or enter the center upon your departure.

School management will review your center’s security program with you upon enrollment.