Originally Posted by
Inspired by Reggio
I hear ya Jec ... releasing a child to someone other than the parents is a risk ... this is why having them choose upon enrollment at least TWO emergency contact people their child can be released to if that child needs to be picked up and neither parent can get to them in time is required by the Day Nursery Act ... my enrollment form has place for two emergency and two 'anytime' people as well...if a family needed more I would just add more lines for them to their contract.
However even with that plan in place - I can tell you that in my 20 years in the field there are MANY family emergencies that arise where both parents are unable to make it to pick up - a car accident, parent has a serious workplace accident, parent has a heart attack or other emergency hospitalization for example where one parent goes rushing to be by the side of their spouse in that moment ... and if the two emergency people are not available for some reason the parents might have no choice but to arrange for a neighbor or family friend as a 'one time back up' in that case because it is hard in that crisis to choose to LEAVE your spouse in crisis even to go get your child :(
This is why I do the extra step of the 'family password' for giving verbal directions over the phone if they want their child to be brought to them ASAP so they can be together as a family ... however in reality in a true emergency like that were no one could come I would be willing to just keep the child in care until all the kids were gone and than TAKE the child to the hospital or other parent if need be.
Sometimes until you have been 'faced' with a true family emergency like that you do not even stop to reflect how you would 'handle' it ... either the parents or the provider.