Parent/Guardian Absence at Pick Up and Drop Off

POLICY:

NOCAC staff will ensure a child is safe when picking up or dropping off at their home/designated bus stop.

PROCEDURES:

Pick Up – If a child comes out to the bus without a parent or authorized caregiver:

1. DO NOT accept the child on the bus.
2. Ask the child where his/her parent/authorized caregiver is. If the child does not know, says the person is sleeping or the person is not home, etc the driver must send the child back into the home and park the bus in front of the child’s home.
3. If the child says his/her parent/authorized caregiver is sleeping, the bus monitor will go to the door and knock.
4. If no one comes when the bus monitor knocks on the door, the driver will call the local police department/sheriff office and report the situation. Tell the police/sheriff office it is NOCAC Agency policy to not leave the premises until they arrive.
5. The driver will call the site and request any available NOCAC staff person come to the home and wait on the police/sheriff arrival so the bus can continue on the route.
6. Once the police/sheriff arrive, the bus or NOCAC staff person will leave the home.
7. When the bus is back at the center, the bus driver must follow the steps in the Child Abuse Reporting Policy.
8. Follow up support will be made by available NOCAC staff to insure the family well-being. Support could include, but is not limited to:
   1. Phone call
   2. Home visit
   3. Family support meeting

Drop Off

1. If a child is taken home and the parent/guardian or authorized adult is not present, the driver will continue the route.
2. The bus monitor will attempt to contact the parent/guardian by phone.
3. After all the children have been taken home, the driver will attempt to take the child home a second time (when logistically possible).
   1. The second attempt to take a child home will be documented on the Bus Attendance Form.
   2. When a family has repeated issues with being on time at drop off; a second attempt will not be made.
      1. The bus monitor will contact the family to inform them of the situation and ask that they meet the bus at the center at the end of the route.
4. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the bus monitor will contact the Center Manager about the incident and the child will be returned to the center.
   1. Child being returned to the center will be documented on the bus attendance form.
   2. Parent/Guardian or authorized pick up person must sign the child out on the Classroom Sign-Out Sheet.
5. Once back at the Center, if the parent or emergency contact person cannot be located within a half-hour, the NOCAC staff must call the local Department of Job and Family Services (if it is after hours, the Sheriff/Police Department will be contacted) and file a report. The Center Manager will notify the Head Start/ECE Director of the situation.
6. If the parent or contact person is still not located, the child will be released to the Department of Job and Family Services or local police/sheriff department.
7. Staff will write a detailed account of the incident and the outcome on a Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting form.
8. Follow up support will be made by available Center staff to insure the family well-being. Support could include, but is not limited to:
   1. Phone call
   2. Home visit
   3. Family support meeting

Forms and Additional Guidance:

• Child Abuse Reporting Policy
• Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting form