Eco-Healthy Child Care

Our Journey to Becoming an Eco-Healthy Child Care

The Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) created the Eco-Healthy Child Care program in 2005 to support child care providers in creating child care settings that are as environmentally healthy as possible. In 2010, after five years of success, Eco-Healthy Child Care became a national program led by the Children's Environmental Health Network. Helping Hands Childcare has joined the Eco-Healthy Child Care program in hopes to become a more eco-healthy child care program.

Here is what we do now:

Pesticide & Pest Prevention

We use pest prevention practices like eliminating food and water sources and blocking off pest entryways.
When possible we use non-toxic options for pest control, such as cinnamon mixed with water as ant repellant etc.
We notify families and staff 48 hours in advance of any pesticide application. A licensed professional applies the least toxic pesticide product. At a minimum, there is a 12-hour window between the application of pesticides and the time children are in the area (or what the manufacturer’s instructions say if longer than 12 hours).
I thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables to avoid possible exposure to pesticides, and I take the opportunity to educate children about the importance of doing so.

Air Quality

We use fans that vent to the outside in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area. Water leaks are repaired and humidity is kept below 60%.
We maintain adequate ventilation, especially during cooking, cleaning, and art activities. We ventilate by using screened windows and doors and a mechanical ventilation system.
Cars & other vehicles are not allowed to idle in our designated parking areas.
We do not use scented or unscented candles, air fresheners, or other products with artificial fragrances.
We are a non-smoking household. We do not permit smoking anywhere on the property or in sight of children during operating and non-operating hours. This includes the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping.

Household Chemicals

Cleaning products are stored where children cannot access them.
We use fragrance-free chlorine bleach as recommended by state and local authorities. It is used prudently and never used more than necessary. We always follow the product label instruction to assure proper use.
We use cleaning products with pump, pour or spray bottles. We avoid aerosol cans.
We use house paints that are APE free, have low VOC content (<10g/L), and low VOC emissions, and avoid paints marked as antimicrobial. We do not paint when children are present and prevent children from using freshly painted rooms for 3 days.

Lead

We use only cold water for drinking and cooking, especially when baby baby formula.
We test our water for lead every 3 years and, even if not necessary, use a water filtration system which reduces lead exposure. If ever needed, we will use additional water filtration devices that have been certified to remove lead at the point of use.
Our home was built in the year 2000 (before 1978 when lead paint was banned) but we keep the building free of flaking or peeling paint.
The child care provider has taken a course which includes instruction in the prevention of lead exposure (as required by CA Health & Safety Code Section 1596.866.
To reduce possible exposure to lead-contaminated dirt, we use a commercial rough mat at the entrance of the daycare home and encourage the wiping of shoes before entering.
We cover any bare soil in or around our child care facility with mulch or ground cover.

Mercury

We do not use any mercury-containing thermometers or thermostats in the home. Instead we use digital options.
We securely store and recycle all used batteries and do not use fluorescent or compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Furniture & Carpets

We ensure furniture, carpet padding, nap mats, crib mattresses, and other foam items are in good condition, Ripped foam items are disposed of. To avoid possible exposure to flame retardants, before buying upholstered furniture, we verify that they have not been added.
When purchasing furniture or renovating, we choose solid wood products and avoid pressed or composite wood items. If we must use products with composite wood we will choose those with No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) or Ultra-Low-Emitting Formaldehyde (ULEF) designations.
We do not have wall-to-wall carpeting where daycare children are present.
We choose area rugs that are free of stain repellants and harmful fluorinated chemicals. We vacuum area rugs daily with a high-efficiency-particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum cleaner and clean them at least twice a year (or as needed) using fragrance-free, 3rd party certified cleaners. We keep dust levels down by damp mopping and dusting hard floors and surfaces regularly.

Art Supplies

We use only non-toxic art supplies approved by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). Look for ACMI non-toxic seals: AP at www.acminet.org.

Plastics

We look for products (toys, food containers, dinnerware etc.) labeled PVC-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free. We avoid soft vinyl plastic, hard clear plastic, and Styrofoam products.
We never heat or microwave food or drinks in plastic containers, plastic wrap or plastic bags.
We use glass baby bottles (with silicone sleeves for protection) or milky, opaque plastic bottles and sippy cups labeled "BPA free".

Playground Surfaces

We do not have playground equipment made of CCA-treated wood.
We use safer materials in our outdoor play areas including organically managed natural grass, mulch, or engineered wood fiber. We do not have artificial turf or crumb rubber (recycled rubber) in our play areas.

Radon

We test our facility for radon every 2 years.
If elevated levels of radon are found, we will take action to mitigate such hazards. We have visited www.epa.gov/radon for resources, and have researched state requirements and guidelines to learn more.

Recycling & Garbage Storage

We recycle all paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic bottles.
We keep our garbage covered at all times, indoors and outdoors, to avoid attracting pests and to minimize odors.

Safe Site

We regularly consider the environment around the location of our family child care home and whether our home is in close proximity to environmental hazards which may impact drinking water impact drinking water or indoor and outdoor air quality.