Our Center
Welcome to Baby Yale Academy (BYA)!
This handbook is designed to help new and current employees understand who we are and what our expectations are for our employees. Each section addresses different aspects of Baby Yale Academy and your employment.
Being able to understand who we are and meeting our expectations helps you to embody our commitment to high quality childcare and represent the Center in a positive way. Thus, all employees are expected to read this handbook and agree to follow the policies herein.
As with any policy manual, this handbook is subject to amendment as policies change or are added. Information on revisions and changes will be available to employees as soon as possible after adoption in hardcopy supplements.
Who We Are?
Baby Yale Academy began officially in 2014. Our 2nd location opened in 4th quarter of 2018. The School Age Center opens May 2019.
The Center’s leadership consists of the following individuals and positions:
Director: Debra McAllister – Lone Tree and Freda Stowe– Harvest Park
Executive Director of Quality Improvement and Training: LiSandra Zaste
Floor Supervisor – Vacant
And last, but certainly not least, there are the teachers, teacher’s aides, Cooks, Housekeeping, etc., like you who have chosen to contribute their talents and expertise to the Center. Without dedicated individuals like you, our Center could not serve the community at large. Welcome to the Baby Yale Academy family!
Mission Statement
Baby Yale Academy’s mission is to be the Childcare and Educational Center of choice among kids and parents. We will provide daycare and preschool to diverse families within the Contra Costa County community. While our costs are slightly above our competitors, we do offer more services and a concentrated focus on academics. We are open much longer than most centers and at some point, will be open 7 days a week. We pride ourselves in being the premier league of learning and care. We provide a wide range of age-appropriate learning opportunities for children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age to develop and grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally, while also learning the physical skills necessary for day-to-day life.
Philosophy
Baby Yale Academy provides a warm and loving family environment for children with quality, individualized care to families at affordable prices. We also offer various scholarship to qualified parents to help with the overall cost of care. Many basic childcare necessities are provided at no additional cost by the Center, including wipes, as well as home-style meals and snacks and transportation for school aged children. Baby Yale Academy is committed to strong academics, use of effective educators, unparalleled services and excellence. A campus where kids are our priority. A place where a kid can be a kid, but who is prepared for higher learning.
Parent comments and suggestions are encouraged and are taken into serious consideration as we continually adapt to new challenges. The children are not the only ones who are engaged in the learning experience – all our staff and parents also learn from the children.
Goals
The following are the basic goals for the children who are in our care:
Emotional:
- to become independent and learn to be in control of their emotions
- to be able to express and deal with the emotions they have and those of others
- to develop empathy with others
Social:
- to be able to interact effectively with others, regardless of perceived differences
- to be able to respect others and the property of others
- to be able to function well in a group setting
- to be able to understand why they should cooperate with others
- to be able to develop meaningful friendships Physical:
- to develop large and small motor skills
- to learn the importance of good nutrition and good hygiene
- to develop lifelong, healthy habits Intellectual:
- to develop a lifetime love of learning
- to learn observation and discussion skills
- to build a love for reading
- to build upon natural curiosity
Baby Yale Academy strives to employ people who are the best qualified to meet the needs of the Center and the children under our care. We are an At Will Employer.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Baby Yale Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing a professional work environment free from discrimination and harassment. All employment activities will be conducted in a manner to assure equal opportunity for all and will be based solely on the individual merit and fitness of applicants, candidates, and/or employees without regard to race, color, religion, including religious dress, no religion, creed, sex, gender, age, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, civil union or domestic partnership status, genetic information, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service or other non-merit factors, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or disability. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Anyone who believes this policy has been violated, should immediately report this to their Supervisor, Director or the Business Owner.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact your supervisor.
Employees hired for positions where the primary responsibility is direct childcare must be eighteen (18) years of age and must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for extended periods of time.
Volunteers are not employees or contractors of the company, must undergo the same process as a regular employee. They have Health Screening; they must have figure printing completed prior to their volunteering with the Center and all the other requirements as a regular employee.
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT
Employment in the state of California is “at-will.” The “At-will” relationship affords the employee the right to resign for any reason with the appropriate notice. We do, however, hope to provide a work environment which will encourage you to remain with our program.
Likewise, the employer may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice. It is further understood that the “At-will” employment relationship may not be altered by any written document or by verbal agreement, unless such alteration is specifically acknowledged in writing and signed by an authorized executive of Baby Yale Academy.
EMPLOYMENT AT THE CENTER
Once an applicant has been offered a position at Baby Yale Academy, or has been accepted as a volunteer at the Center, there are several additional criteria which must be met by the applicant within a prescribed time to be employed at the Center. All staff are subject to a 6-month probationary period. After the 6-month period they become a regular employee who are entitled to the regular benefits the company offers. These include health and safety screening of the applicant, along with other required documentation which must be submitted and completed during the application process or within a pre-determined span of time upon being hired.
Here is a list, but there may be others: must provide the yearly requirements as stipulated by the Community Care License such as: flu shot records (or doctor waiver) and upon employment proof of: DTAP, MMR, TB (and/or as requested if necessary), Health Screen, Fingerprint Clearance, Child Abuse Index clearance, LIC 9108 form and any other forms required by Community Care Licensing. You must take the Mandated Reporting Training. Must maintain a current First Aide card. This is at the employee’s expense. You must take any training that the Company deems to be necessary for your position.
All employees at Baby Yale Academy are subject to all Title 22 License Requirements. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in Title 22 can result in disciplinary actions up to and including termination. Additionally, there are certain requirements listed in the Quality Management Program as well as the partnership with Community Services Bureau—and Baby Yale Academy that must be adhered to as a result of the federal grant participation program. When those requirements are made know to the teachers such as: 21 hours of professional developments requirements; current permit requirements; current health screen, current TB test every 2 years, flu shot each year or decline, official transcripts; continuing education requirements if you are not a fully qualified teacher, first aid requirements, etc. the teachers must ensure that they are maintained and are current. Baby Yale Academy is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for its employees, the children under our care, and for those who visit our facility. The following health and safety checks must be completed prior to employment:
Health Screening
As you will be working with children, your physical health is very important! Staff must be free of physical and psychological conditions which might adversely affect the physical, mental, or emotional health of the children under their care. Thus, all employees must have the following health-related items on file with proper documentation before beginning employment at the Center:
- Current Physical examination
The physical must be completed and signed by a licensed health care provider utilizing the Community Care License Health Screen form. Immediate relatives of the prospective employee who are licensed health care providers are prohibited from signing the documentation. Baby Yale Academy does not compensate employees nor otherwise provide for the physical exam. Must be updated every 2 years.
- TB Test – must be completed every 2 years
- Flu Shot – must be completed yearly.
- TDAP proof
.
- Measles (MMR) immunization proof
.
If health changes occur during employment which may impact the ability of a staff member to perform the requisite duties of the position, or which may endanger or otherwise adversely affect others at the Center, an outside expert may be consulted to determine a staff member’s condition and its potential impact on children at the Center. You are obligated to inform us of any circumstances that would prevent you from carrying out the duties of your position immediately.
Safety Screening
• Criminal Background Check
State law mandates that all new employees have current clearances. Licensing regulations stipulate that the clearances show the employee has no open accusations or convictions of child abuse or neglect, nor of a felony violation of any law intended to control the illegal possession or distribution of any substance classified as a controlled substance in the California Controlled Substances Act.
While prior violations of the law will not immediately disqualify a prospective applicant from being offered employment at Baby Yale Academy, some misdemeanor and most felony convictions will prohibit the Center from employing such an individual, as per California state childcare licensing rules and regulations.
Baby Yale Academy, at its sole discretion, may require additional criminal checks during an employee’s tenure at the Center, if circumstances suggest this is necessary.
These items are all in accordance with state licensing guidelines. Prospective employees who fail to meet these guidelines or who refuse to comply with any of the items listed above will be disqualified from employment consideration. Please see also the policies later in this section addressing potential criminal violations, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse which occur after employment has begun.
