Parent Committee Meetings
Home Away From Home Family Day Care Agency
1472 Stoney Island Road, Stoney Island NS BOW 3JO
(902) 745-3663
Jennifer Sears, Director (902) 630-0877 (cell),
Michelle Swaine, Consultant (902) 635-0902 (cell)
PAC Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm. We were late starting as there were new parents joining the meeting group page.
In attendance there was Jennifer Sears, Director, Michelle Swaine, Consultant, Amy Frost, Ashley Whynot, Emily Swim,
Courtney Atwood, Care Providers and Maureen and Patrick Ross, Jody Fitzgerald and Courtney Franzen, Parents.
The meeting followed the agenda that is set forth through the Department of Community Services. Parents, Care Providers and
Agency staff discussed the topics on the agenda.
1. Safety- Jennifer started the meeting with a safety discussion. Everyone was pleased with the safety of the children
in the homes. There were no issues. Jennifer noted that the safety of the children is the number priority of the
agency. Maureen had commented "that it showed".
2. Status of the Agency License- Jennifer started this discussion by letting everyone know that the Agency's license is
up-to-date with no problems/violations. The Agency had its unannounced inspection in October 2013. It was cited
that there was one home without proper documentation of insurance at the Agency. This was resolved during the
time span offered by Department of Community Services.
Jennifer made parents and care providers aware that the Department of Community Services has now been taken
and put under the umbrella with the Department of Education. The new title is the Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development.There was a little bit of discussion on this, but where it is new, Jennifer didn't have a
whole lot of information.
Jennifer also made parents and care providers aware that you can look up day cares and family home day care
agencies on a website. This allows parents to find information out about these places. The link to the site is:
http://www.ednet.ns.ca/earlvvearslfamilies/.This site has lots of current information and is accessible by anyone.
3. Programs offered by the Agency- Discussion was around playgroups. Digby play groups go well and are well
attended. Barrington playgroups are well planned, but poorly attended. Yarmouth does not have playgroups due to
travelling arrangements and numbers of children. We have tried in the past to have playgroups in Yarmouth, but
cannot seem to get them to work.
Maureen mentioned that her care provider was unsure about getting the children to playgroup due to lack of car
seats. Jennifer said that she would remind the care providers that the Agency has care seats that they can borrow to
transport the children.
Jennifer and Michelle mentioned that in the Barrington area, care providers seem to forget about the plavgroups.
The consultant will begin issuing reminders of the playgroups in the new year.
4. Equipment and Materials- Everyone was pleased with the toys and materials the Agency provides to the care
providers and for the children. There was a bit of discussion regarding outdoor toys. Due to the increasing number of
homes, Jennifer will be purchasing more outside toys in the Spring. Care providers will be asked for their input. Some
suggestions were larger picnic tables for the bigger children and scooters and other toys for older children. Jennifer
will keep this in mind when purchasing new toys. 5. Staffing- Jennifer brought up the Michelle will be finished her Maternity Leave Position at Christmas and Warner will
be returning in January. We will all certainly miss Michelle. Hopefully she will pop in to visit when she has some extra
time.
6. Other-It was brought up by Ashley if there were any more workshops available in the Yarmouth area. Jennifer will
check with Donna Barrett to find out.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15.
Jennifer Sears
Director, HAFHFDCA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1472 Stoney Island Road, Stoney Island NS BOW 3JO
(902) 745-3663
Jennifer Sears, Director (902) 630-0877 (cell),
Michelle Swaine, Consultant (902) 635-0902 (cell)
PAC Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm. We were late starting as there were new parents joining the meeting group page.
In attendance there was Jennifer Sears, Director, Michelle Swaine, Consultant, Amy Frost, Ashley Whynot, Emily Swim,
Courtney Atwood, Care Providers and Maureen and Patrick Ross, Jody Fitzgerald and Courtney Franzen, Parents.
The meeting followed the agenda that is set forth through the Department of Community Services. Parents, Care Providers and
Agency staff discussed the topics on the agenda.
1. Safety- Jennifer started the meeting with a safety discussion. Everyone was pleased with the safety of the children
in the homes. There were no issues. Jennifer noted that the safety of the children is the number priority of the
agency. Maureen had commented "that it showed".
2. Status of the Agency License- Jennifer started this discussion by letting everyone know that the Agency's license is
up-to-date with no problems/violations. The Agency had its unannounced inspection in October 2013. It was cited
that there was one home without proper documentation of insurance at the Agency. This was resolved during the
time span offered by Department of Community Services.
Jennifer made parents and care providers aware that the Department of Community Services has now been taken
and put under the umbrella with the Department of Education. The new title is the Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development.There was a little bit of discussion on this, but where it is new, Jennifer didn't have a
whole lot of information.
Jennifer also made parents and care providers aware that you can look up day cares and family home day care
agencies on a website. This allows parents to find information out about these places. The link to the site is:
http://www.ednet.ns.ca/earlvvearslfamilies/.This site has lots of current information and is accessible by anyone.
3. Programs offered by the Agency- Discussion was around playgroups. Digby play groups go well and are well
attended. Barrington playgroups are well planned, but poorly attended. Yarmouth does not have playgroups due to
travelling arrangements and numbers of children. We have tried in the past to have playgroups in Yarmouth, but
cannot seem to get them to work.
Maureen mentioned that her care provider was unsure about getting the children to playgroup due to lack of car
seats. Jennifer said that she would remind the care providers that the Agency has care seats that they can borrow to
transport the children.
Jennifer and Michelle mentioned that in the Barrington area, care providers seem to forget about the plavgroups.
The consultant will begin issuing reminders of the playgroups in the new year.
4. Equipment and Materials- Everyone was pleased with the toys and materials the Agency provides to the care
providers and for the children. There was a bit of discussion regarding outdoor toys. Due to the increasing number of
homes, Jennifer will be purchasing more outside toys in the Spring. Care providers will be asked for their input. Some
suggestions were larger picnic tables for the bigger children and scooters and other toys for older children. Jennifer
will keep this in mind when purchasing new toys. 5. Staffing- Jennifer brought up the Michelle will be finished her Maternity Leave Position at Christmas and Warner will
be returning in January. We will all certainly miss Michelle. Hopefully she will pop in to visit when she has some extra
time.
6. Other-It was brought up by Ashley if there were any more workshops available in the Yarmouth area. Jennifer will
check with Donna Barrett to find out.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15.
Jennifer Sears
Director, HAFHFDCA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home away from Home Family Daycare Agency
1472 Stoney Island Road, Stoney Island NS BOW 3JO
(902) 745-3663
Jennifer sears, ECE, Director (902) 630-0877 (cell)
May 21, 2013
The home away from home PAC meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. The meeting was held via Facebook chat on a private grou created for the PAC committee members only. There were 5 care providers, 2 parents, the consultant and the Director present for the meeting.
Issues that we discussed pertained to the outlines areas of concern in the Daycare Regulations.
1. The safety, Care and Well-being of the children
The main topic discussed was around car seats. Jennifer took a Car seat Safety Technician's course and learned some valuable information. In Jan. 2012, new regulations were introduces around borrowing, lending and selling car seats. If the car seat DOES NOT meet the new 2012 compliance regulations, it is illegal to borrow, loan and sell the car seat. After some looking, phone calls and emails, Jennifer found out that only 1 of the agency's car sears meets the 2012 compliance regulations. DCS was notifies and will be offering financial help to replace the car seats. This should take place within the next couple of weeks. It is OK to continue to use the agency car seats until the replacement ones are available.
It was talked about that Jennifer should put on work shop for the parents and care providers in each area to ensure that they are aware of proper use of their car seats and which car seat is best for their child. Jennifer will look into scheduling something in the upcoming months.
Talk of a "Safety week theme (Based on the car seat safety) came up. All participating in the meeting thought it was a good idea. Jennifer talked about making certificates for the children in the homes that would help the parents understand what is the best car seat for their child.
Fences were brought up. Everyone needs a fenced in area...Decks or fenced in play space. Care providers still able to take the children on a field trip, a walk or outings. Jennifer is looking into purchasing more fencing materials then have fences made. There are a select number of homes that are still requiring fence panels. This should be resolved within the next month.
2. The status of the Agency's license
The agency was in non compliance during the annual inspection, Michelle's certificate for her first aid had not been mailed out. It was received and the compliance date was met. It has not been removed from the DCS website as of yesterday afternoon. This should be removed quickly.
There will be no more visits from Licensing or the DCS Consultant into the homes. DCS looked into this in further detail and it was a legal issue to be entering a "non licensed" home. The agency can invite the Department into the homes or to the Agency activities, but they cannot invite themselves. Care providers felt more comfortable with this.
3. The programs provided by the Agency
Jennifer brought up the play groups that are currently being offered by the agency. Play groups are held monthly in Barrington and Digby. Jennifer and Michelle will be looking into being able to have play groups in Yarmouth as well. It will take some juggling, but it should work. This will be looked at being implemented in the summer.
4. The equipment and materials available to the children
Jennifer asked about the equipment that the agency had to offer. Care providers felt tat there are lots of things available to them. There was mention of outdoor toys for older children. Jennifer will do some looking to see what is available. Cribs and fencing are needing to be purchased as well.
The agency was given a nutrition Grant to purchase items that supported the |Nutrition regulations. Jennifer has already purchased kitchen, play food and dishes, puppet, felt foods, tables and chairs. It was brought up that the care providers could contribute recipes that work for them and we could make a cook book. Jennifer and Michelle will be working on that this week with the help of the care providers.
5. Staffing patterns and Qualifications
Michelle has been with the agency since March 2013 filling in for Warner's maternity leave. Warner is undecided when she will be returning Her return was slated for June 2013. Michelle will stay with the agency until Warner returns.
Jennifer brought up having a monthly "chat" meeting between care providers to keep up on the new information and to vent frustrations. This was thought to be a good idea and the care providers were interested. Jennifer will try to get something arranged for June 2013.
There were no other Questions or concerns.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. Jennifer felt that this method of meeting was a success. We will try it again.
Jennifer Sears, Director.
1472 Stoney Island Road, Stoney Island NS BOW 3JO
(902) 745-3663
Jennifer sears, ECE, Director (902) 630-0877 (cell)
May 21, 2013
The home away from home PAC meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. The meeting was held via Facebook chat on a private grou created for the PAC committee members only. There were 5 care providers, 2 parents, the consultant and the Director present for the meeting.
Issues that we discussed pertained to the outlines areas of concern in the Daycare Regulations.
1. The safety, Care and Well-being of the children
The main topic discussed was around car seats. Jennifer took a Car seat Safety Technician's course and learned some valuable information. In Jan. 2012, new regulations were introduces around borrowing, lending and selling car seats. If the car seat DOES NOT meet the new 2012 compliance regulations, it is illegal to borrow, loan and sell the car seat. After some looking, phone calls and emails, Jennifer found out that only 1 of the agency's car sears meets the 2012 compliance regulations. DCS was notifies and will be offering financial help to replace the car seats. This should take place within the next couple of weeks. It is OK to continue to use the agency car seats until the replacement ones are available.
It was talked about that Jennifer should put on work shop for the parents and care providers in each area to ensure that they are aware of proper use of their car seats and which car seat is best for their child. Jennifer will look into scheduling something in the upcoming months.
Talk of a "Safety week theme (Based on the car seat safety) came up. All participating in the meeting thought it was a good idea. Jennifer talked about making certificates for the children in the homes that would help the parents understand what is the best car seat for their child.
Fences were brought up. Everyone needs a fenced in area...Decks or fenced in play space. Care providers still able to take the children on a field trip, a walk or outings. Jennifer is looking into purchasing more fencing materials then have fences made. There are a select number of homes that are still requiring fence panels. This should be resolved within the next month.
2. The status of the Agency's license
The agency was in non compliance during the annual inspection, Michelle's certificate for her first aid had not been mailed out. It was received and the compliance date was met. It has not been removed from the DCS website as of yesterday afternoon. This should be removed quickly.
There will be no more visits from Licensing or the DCS Consultant into the homes. DCS looked into this in further detail and it was a legal issue to be entering a "non licensed" home. The agency can invite the Department into the homes or to the Agency activities, but they cannot invite themselves. Care providers felt more comfortable with this.
3. The programs provided by the Agency
Jennifer brought up the play groups that are currently being offered by the agency. Play groups are held monthly in Barrington and Digby. Jennifer and Michelle will be looking into being able to have play groups in Yarmouth as well. It will take some juggling, but it should work. This will be looked at being implemented in the summer.
4. The equipment and materials available to the children
Jennifer asked about the equipment that the agency had to offer. Care providers felt tat there are lots of things available to them. There was mention of outdoor toys for older children. Jennifer will do some looking to see what is available. Cribs and fencing are needing to be purchased as well.
The agency was given a nutrition Grant to purchase items that supported the |Nutrition regulations. Jennifer has already purchased kitchen, play food and dishes, puppet, felt foods, tables and chairs. It was brought up that the care providers could contribute recipes that work for them and we could make a cook book. Jennifer and Michelle will be working on that this week with the help of the care providers.
5. Staffing patterns and Qualifications
Michelle has been with the agency since March 2013 filling in for Warner's maternity leave. Warner is undecided when she will be returning Her return was slated for June 2013. Michelle will stay with the agency until Warner returns.
Jennifer brought up having a monthly "chat" meeting between care providers to keep up on the new information and to vent frustrations. This was thought to be a good idea and the care providers were interested. Jennifer will try to get something arranged for June 2013.
There were no other Questions or concerns.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. Jennifer felt that this method of meeting was a success. We will try it again.
Jennifer Sears, Director.