How to Keep Parents from Messing Up Your Licenses...

[Unregistered]

I was hoping to seek advise on what is the better way to handle parents that have decided not to have shots to their child, right down to TB. As we all know it is a requirement to being licensed. Our one family has had two weeks to make the decision to take the test or not. Because they took so long my DHS worker has given me a provisional license. I personally can't stand it and have taken to not liking the parents... which is almost spilling over to her child. After long conversations on it and them going back and forth with the state about their reason's why they didn't want to, they have decided to get the shot.... WHAT the what! not right is what I say since I am left with a provisional til she sends in her child's results.
With me now stopping the venting, would you change your policy for reasons like this? I feel so stressed about it now that I have a hard time focusing.
thanks for your comments of help

[spedmommy4]

If it's a state requirement that children have certain vaccines, I do not allow them to attend until they provide proof of the required vaccines.

If you were converting from unlicensed to licensed, or in the process of receiving one, I would have termed the child pending proof of required vaccines. I would have said, "sorry, it's not personal, the state requires this. No exceptions."

Then it's on the parents to figure it out. Usually lack of childcare is a big motivation.

[NoMoreJuice!]

Vaccination records are one of the items I go over when a parent asks what paperwork I require to enroll. If a parent informs me that they don't vaccinate their child, I let them know that I will not enroll their child and I send them down the road to find a provider who will. All paperwork is completed and turned in before the child steps foot in the door for their first day, so there are no surprises.

[MunchkinWrangler]

That is really rough that their decision affected your license. What state is that, I have never heard of that. I personally don't allow anti vaxxers because I care for infants and I strongly believe in herd immunity and I think people take for granted the fact that we have a way to eradicate some of these nasty illnesses that past generations of families had to suffer with. With that said, my pediatrician also mentioned that this generation did not grow up with polio, smallpox, and the like and don't have a baseline of what these diseases are capable of. I just recently had to turn someone away from my program because her child wasn't vaccinated, she got snippy with me because I told her it was a requirement, which it is but licensing made it clear that I am allowed to make that decision on if I was going to allow it and have the correct signatures or not. I have to be careful because I can't discriminate but anti vaxxers are not a protected class. I also think about the possible immunocompromised child that could be in my care. My families are pro vax and it has been brought up at interviews as well. I personally require all vaccinations to be up to date to enroll in my program, and I don't discuss it further, unless a child is medically unable to receive them which would need a signature as well. I don't allow the conscientious objectors. I don't understand not getting the TB, it is just a simple test and isn't a vaccine. This is a hot button issue right now and people are so passionate about it.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am an anti-vaccination family and I enroll children who are not vaccinated, are only partially vaccinated, and are fully vaccinated. It is exactly the same as being out in public (the grocery store, public school, etc.). It is fully legal and will not affect your license at all so long as the family follows whatever protocol is required by your state (it's an exemption form here).

[spedmommy4]

That is really rough that their decision affected your license. What state is that, I have never heard of that. I personally don't allow anti vaxxers because I care for infants and I strongly believe in herd immunity and I think people take for granted the fact that we have a way to eradicate some of these nasty illnesses that past generations of families had to suffer with. With that said, my pediatrician also mentioned that this generation did not grow up with polio, smallpox, and the like and don't have a baseline of what these diseases are capable of. I just recently had to turn someone away from my program because her child wasn't vaccinated, she got snippy with me because I told her it was a requirement, which it is but licensing made it clear that I am allowed to make that decision on if I was going to allow it and have the correct signatures or not. I have to be careful because I can't discriminate but anti vaxxers are not a protected class. I also think about the possible immunocompromised child that could be in my care. My families are pro vax and it has been brought up at interviews as well. I personally require all vaccinations to be up to date to enroll in my program, and I don't discuss it further, unless a child is medically unable to receive them which would need a signature as well. I don't allow the conscientious objectors. I don't understand not getting the TB, it is just a simple test and isn't a vaccine. This is a hot button issue right now and people are so passionate about it.

In California, parents can no longer decline required vaccines. The child would have to get a medical exemption. There are very few states this strict.

[MunchkinWrangler]

In California, parents can no longer decline required vaccines. The child would have to get a medical exemption. There are very few states this strict.

Oh ok. There was s a medical/allergy sign off and then there is a religious sign off. Licensing was clear though that there are a number of required vaccinations and I have to be vigilant, especially with that whole Disneyland Measles outbreak. The vaccines are required before children go to school as well so either way. I heard exemptions can be hard to get unless you find the right Dr. I don't appreciate people who will lie about religion being their cause as that's corrupt so I just require it and that's it. Sorry to hijack the thread.

[DaveA]

I was hoping to seek advise on what is the better way to handle parents that have decided not to have shots to their child, right down to TB. As we all know it is a requirement to being licensed. Our one family has had two weeks to make the decision to take the test or not. Because they took so long my DHS worker has given me a provisional license. I personally can't stand it and have taken to not liking the parents... which is almost spilling over to her child. After long conversations on it and them going back and forth with the state about their reason's why they didn't want to, they have decided to get the shot.... WHAT the what! not right is what I say since I am left with a provisional til she sends in her child's results.
With me now stopping the venting, would you change your policy for reasons like this? I feel so stressed about it now that I have a hard time focusing.
thanks for your comments of help

As for it holding up your license, probably the only solution is to tell DCPs "This is the requirement. Have it done and to paperwork to me by X date or I can no longer provide care."

[LysesKids]

In California, parents can no longer decline required vaccines. The child would have to get a medical exemption. There are very few states this strict.

I can name at least one other.... West Va; Even with medical waivers, I had problems getting the public schools to accept 2 different ones - sorry but if my child had severe seizures on the first round & Dr's are afraid she could have worse reaction, inc death if she gets it again, yeah, I'll go back to homeschooling (and I did until she graduated High school)

My kids had medical waivers for live vaccines of any kind too because I was the caretaker for 2 cancer patients (my parents - I lived in the house before I did daycare).

[Thriftylady]

I agree you options are to get whatever paperwork the state allows for exemptions or term. Since you are feeling angry about it, I would probably term. The relationship is broken.

In the future, don't allow anyone without the required paperwork, either shot records or whatever paperwork the state allows not to do them. I used to be one of those that said kiddos need the shots no matter what. Then a few years ago I got a flu and pneumonia shot and got very sick. They told me I could never have another of either. I will likely never get another vaccination. I was so sick. So, I would allow a medical exemption now in daycare, but would require the proper paperwork.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I am an anti-vaccination family and I enroll children who are not vaccinated, are only partially vaccinated, and are fully vaccinated. It is exactly the same as being out in public (the grocery store, public school, etc.). It is fully legal and will not affect your license at all so long as the family follows whatever protocol is required by your state (it's an exemption form here).

it is not the same.

In my state it is not legal. I may not have unvaccinated kids here.
Do you inform parents that you enroll unvaccinated kids?

[childcaremom]

If it is a requirement for your license, I would not let them attend until you had the required documentation saying that he had the shots/test/whatever.

If it has gotten to the point where it would affect your license and your business, I would term if parents aren't willing to get it done.

[kidsandchicks]

Yep. What childcaremom said. Without jumping into the vaccine debate, if it is a requirement of licensing, and no waivers or exceptions are available, then providing documentation of immunizations is a must.

So your worker won't change your license now that the family is in compliance?

In the future, and this is what I did when I had to have either proof of vaccination or waiver, children could not attend without it. So, first day of care I required ALL signed paperwork, monies due, personal items requested, all that. That way I did not have to chase a family down since it was my license on the line if they didn't come through with promised paperwork.

[LysesKids]

it is not the same.

In my state it is not legal. I may not have unvaccinated kids here.
Do you inform parents that you enroll unvaccinated kids?

That means you turn away Medically waivered kids? Not sure thats legal considering a Medical waiver is accepted & a given for all 50 states. A medical waiver is different than choosing the religious option

[Rockgirl]

That means you turn away Medically waivered kids? Not sure thats legal considering a Medical waiver is accepted & a given for all 50 states. A medical waiver is different than choosing the religious option

We were told we can turn them away (Texas).