Texas Administrative Code › Title 26 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › Part 1 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION › Chapter 744 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL-AGE AND BEFORE OR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS › Subchapter B - ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION › Division 4 - OPERATIONAL POLICIES › Section 744.501 - What written operational policies must I have?

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
You must develop written operational policies and
						procedures that at a minimum address each of the following:
(1) Hours, days, and months of
					 operation;
(2) Procedures for the
					 release of children;
(3) Illness
					 and exclusion criteria;
(4)
					 Procedures for dispensing medication or a statement that medication is not
					 dispensed;
(5) Procedures for
					 handling medical emergencies;
(6)
					 Procedures for parental notifications;
(7) Discipline and guidance that is
					 consistent with Subchapter G of this chapter (relating to Discipline and
					 Guidance). A copy of Subchapter G may be used for your discipline and guidance
					 policy, unless you use disciplinary and training measures specific to a
					 skills-based program, as specified in §
											744.2109 of this chapter (relating
					 to May I use disciplinary measures that are fundamental to teaching a skill,
					 talent, ability, expertise, or proficiency?);
(8) Suspension and expulsion of
					 children;
(9) Meals and food
					 service practices;
(10)
					 Immunization requirements for children, including tuberculosis screening and
					 testing if required by your regional Texas Department of State Health Services
					 or local health authority;
(11)
					 Enrollment procedures, including how and when parents will be notified of
					 policy changes;
(12)
					 Transportation, if applicable;
(13)
					 Water activities, if applicable;
(14) Field trips, if applicable;
(15) Animals, if applicable;
(16) Procedures for providing and applying,
					 as needed, insect repellent and sunscreen, including what types will be used,
					 if applicable;
(17) Procedures for
					 parents to review and discuss with the director any questions or concerns about
					 the policies and procedures of the operation;
(18) Procedures for parents to visit the
					 operation at any time during your hours of operation to observe their child,
					 program activities, the building, the premises, and equipment without having to
					 secure prior approval;
(19)
					 Procedures for parents to participate in the operation's activities;
(20) Procedures for parents to review a copy
					 of the operation's most recent Licensing inspection report and how the parent
					 may access the minimum standards online;
(21) Instructions on how a parent may contact
					 the local Licensing office, access the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and
					 access the HHSC website;
(22)
					 Emergency preparedness plan;
(23)
					 Procedures for conducting health checks, if applicable;
(24) Information on vaccine-preventable
					 diseases for employees, unless your operation is in the home of the permit
					 holder, the director, or a caregiver. The policy must address the requirements
					 outlined in §
											744.2581 of this chapter (relating
					 to What must a policy for protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases
					 include?);
(25) If your operation
					 maintains and administers unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors to use when a
					 child in care has an emergency anaphylaxis reaction, policies for maintenance,
					 administration, and disposal of unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors that
					 comply with the unassigned epinephrine auto-injector requirements set by the
					 Texas Department of State Health Services, as specified in 25 TAC Chapter 40,
					 Subchapter C (relating to Epinephrine Auto-Injector Policies in Youth
					 Facilities) and Texas Health and Safety Code §
											773.0145; and
(26) Procedures for supporting
					 inclusive services to children with special care needs. The policy must address
					 the requirements outlined in §
											744.2009 of this chapter (relating
					 to What are my responsibilities when planning activities for a child in care
					 with special care needs?)