If you are seeking childcare settings for your child, I highly recommend that you look into The Goddard School if one is located nearby.
My husband and I looked into TGS almost 5 months ago and have been impressed to the nth degree with the way they have "embraced" my son's pa. Not only did the lead teacher in his room read the big binder of info that we provided, but the director, assistant director, office manager, etc. "took a number" and also read it!!!
THEY insisted on a brief visit from Alan's pediatrician to instruct the staff on how to use the epipen and to discuss the allergy.
THEY decided to install a phone in Alan's classroom with an emergency profile of Alan (with his picture - the copy FAN provides) beneath it.
THEY set up a wonderful system for lunchtime whereby Alan eats at a little table designated for non-peanut lunches only - it has actually become a daily privilege for a child to sit with him! And the children are asking their parents not to pack peanut products so they can sit with Alan! Of course lunches with peanuts are in the room and this would be unsuitable for airborne-allergic children. Alan is severly allergic and reacts to touching, but so far he has been fine at TGS. They take many precautions (including calling food manufacturers to ask about ingredients). When I think of their management of the allergy, I think "impeccable." I realize an accident could still happen, but I feel so confident that at least the staff is completely aware, educated, and "gets it!" Alan was at a peanut-free preschool before this (no reactions there, but other problems that made us decide to make a change), and I can honestly say I feel just as comfortable in this situation due to the interest they've all shown in learning more and taking the pa VERY seriously. I'm not saying this would be the best center for everybody (airborne pa, for instance, wouldn't be able to consider it an option unless your branch of the school decided to implement a stricter management system). But I have a hard time with trusting Alan to caregivers and TGS' response has been a wondrous surprise!
But the best part of all is their recent parent newsletter. A corporate staff member interviewed me over the phone and wrote a full page article for the parent newsletter - not just the newsletters given to the parents in my branch of TGS, but it's distributed to ALL branches nationwide!!! The wonderful lady who interviewed me even took the time to research the allergy through this website and the FAN. Her article was very well-written, and when I first read it I was overcome with emotion.
If only all daycares would take the time to educate their staff and parents... If you are lucky enough to live near a branch of TGS, give it a thought. [url="http://www.goddardpreschool.com"]www.goddardpreschool.com[/url]
Another idea is to have your daycare contact TGS to request a copy of the article to reprint with permission in their own newsletters.
[This message has been edited by ColleenMarie (edited March 25, 2000).]
HI:
I would be really interested in reading the article, do you know if they would post it on their website?? Maybe a good promotions thing for them too.