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Immunization Tracking Made Easier . . .but SIgn UP SOON!Child cares are required to track children's immunizations and submit an annual immunization report to the Washington State Department of Health (WaDOH) each November. The Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS) has a web-based School and Child Care Immunization Module that is free, secure, and easy to use for child care providers. Previously, this module was only accessible if you contracted with a nurse, but now it is available to all child cares. Once you are granted access, you can see the immunization records that are entered by health care providers for the children in your care. This module: - is a tracking system for childhood immunizations and exemptions,
- allows child cares to access provider-verified immunization data,
- saves staff time in entering data and finding missing immunizations, and
- gives child cares access to a roster showing each child's immunization status, out-of-compliance reports, printable parent letters for children missing immunizations, and allows quick identification of vulnerable children during a disease outbreak.
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Providers who are using this system do not need to fill out the annual immunization report for WaDOH. Due to a decrease in staffing, WaDOH will pause onboarding new child cares for a period of time from mid-August through December of this year. If you are interested in signing up for access, the deadline to do so is August 15, 2025. You can find more information and instructions on how to sign up and complete the information sharing agreement form at www.doh.wa.gov/SchoolModule.
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Meet our new Child Care Health Outreach Program NurseWe’re excited to welcome Parris Thompson, our new CCHOP Public Health Nurse, to the team! Parris brings a rich and diverse background in maternal and public health, with experience that makes her a powerful advocate for the well-being of children, families, and care providers in our community. With a foundation as a labor and delivery nurse, Parris has supported countless families through some of their most meaningful moments. She later transitioned into public health, where she played a key role on a county-wide vaccine outreach team—supporting efforts in community health promotion, managing mobile clinics, and working at the population level to improve vaccine access. In addition, her work in substance use prevention included launching a county-wide fatality review initiative aimed at addressing root causes and improving outcomes. Parris’s unique blend of hands-on clinical care and systems-level public health work positions her to support child care providers with expertise, compassion, and a deep understanding of the challenges families face today. Please utilize her as a resource for childhood immunization questions, medication management, special health care needs, general health and illness information, or other related questions or information that you are interested in learning more about! You can get a hold of Parris or the other Child Care Health Outreach Team members by email at childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or by calling 425-252-5415. Please leave us a message and someone will return your call shortly. For more information about the types of services we offer, check out our program brochure.
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Summertime remindersAs the school year wraps up and the warmer weather starts, there are a few things to remember to keep kids safe as they enjoy the summer weather. You can find even more summertime tips in a recent Snohomish County Health Department news flash article. These are great pieces of information to share with families on bulletin boards or in newsletters. |
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Prevent Window FallsWith nicer weather, windows are opened more often. If your child care space is above the ground floor, make sure that you are careful to prevent falls. Last year, in Snohomish County, we had a record number of window falls, including two deaths. Remember that screens are meant to keep bugs out. They are not strong enough to keep children inside. You can learn more from this flyer from Safe Kids Snohomish County. |
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Be ready for wildfire smokeIn recent years, summertime also occasionally brings wildfire smoke to our area. Keep track of the air quality in your area and make sure you are signed up to receive the health alerts from Snohomish County Health Department by going to www.snohd.org/notifyme. When deciding if children or those with health conditions such as asthma should stay indoors, the Washington State Department of Health has a Children and Youth Activities Guide for Air Quality that has excellent information. |
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Beware of BatsIn Washington State, a small number of bats carry the rabies virus. Occasionally bats show up on child care properties. If you notice a living or dead bat, make sure that children (or you) don't touch the bat. If there is a chance a child may have had exposure to the bat, contact the health department for guidance. |
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Bleach Alternatives HandoutThe Child Care Team at Public Health Seattle-King County created a new resource to assist child cares who would like to use sanitizing and disinfecting products other than bleach. Their new handout, "5 Steps to Take if You Don't Want to Use Bleach" is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. It covers WAC requirements, how to use re-usable cloths, and what to look for when choosing safer cleaning products, including sanitizing and disinfecting wipes. |
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We appreciate your patience as we continue to update our courses to enhance your learning experience. Classes are being offered AT NO COST at this time. For questions about our online classes, contact our team at ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or via phone at 425.252.5415. |
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This Month's Featured Classes
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Septic Care Class for Home Child Cares in Snohomish County This course is specifically designed for Snohomish County child cares with a septic system. Please make sure this course is appropriate for your situation before registering. Child cares with septic systems are responsible for protecting the health and safety of children in their care from potential risks. Learning how to best care for your system will help create a safe child care environment. This self-paced course will cover topics including how your system works, how to find your septic system records, best practices for care and maintenance, signs of a failing septic system, how to find septic contractors and what to expect, and financial assistance options for septic systems. Register Here |
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Injury Prevention: Toy Safety
In addition to providing children with fun and enjoyment, toys help them develop skills, test their abilities, engage their imagination, and learn. Unfortunately, many children are injured every day from toys that are supposed to be fun. This course will focus on preventing injuries from toys in child care settings. Register Here |
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Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Lead remains a problem in Washington State and Snohomish County. This course is designed to educate child care providers and staff on how to keep children and families safe from the harmful effects of lead. Did you know there is no safe level of lead? In this course you will learn where lead was historically used, where it is currently still found, and simple steps you can take to protect children and families from the effects of lead poisoning.
Register Here |
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Contact InformationSnohomish County Health Department
3020 Rucker Ave., Ste. 202, Everett, WA 98201
Email: ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us
Program Phone: 425.252.5415
Website: http://www.snohd.org/childcare
Received this as a forward? Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
The Child Care Health Outreach Program staff are available to consult with you on these and other health, safety, and nutrition topics by phone, by email, or at your child care facility. |
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