‘SNIFFLES ‘n SNEEZES', NEWEST CONCEPT IN CHILDCARE TO DEBUT IN TREASURE VALLEY

Sniffles ‘n Sneezes' new Care Center, located at 217 East Pine Avenue in Meridian, is staffed with Nurses, Nurse's Aids and specially trained childcare providers who continue the care a mildly ill child would receive at home. The Center will be open to 30 youngsters at a time ranging in age from 18 months to 10 years. Children are screened for type of illness by a Nurse upon arrival and, pending acceptance, are separated according to illness.

"Working parents regularly face a serious dilemma if their child becomes mildly ill and cannot attend school or their regular day care," says Jared Andersen the founder of Sniffles ‘n Sneezes. "They often have to use up all their sick days to care for a child with a cold, flu or other mild illness. This creates stress for all involved – especially the parents and the companies that employ them. By providing high-quality mildly ill childcare and emergency back-up care, Sniffles ‘n Sneezes provides a much-needed solution."

CCH, Inc.'s 12th annual Unscheduled Absence Survey found an average per-employee cost of absenteeism of $789 per year in 2002. Sniffles ‘n Sneezes can help Treasure Valley companies dramatically reduce employee absenteeism due to childhood illnesses, resulting in a 20% reduction in this cost. This means a company with 100 employees could reduce their absenteeism cost by nearly $16000 annually. Sniffles ‘n Sneezes is currently offering childcare "slots" to local corporations who wish to offer this benefit to their employees.

The Care Center is bright and cheerful, with hygiene standards on a par with a doctor's office. Toys are put in the "dirty pile" after each use to be disinfected. Bedding, furniture and surface areas are washed frequently as well. Each child has his or her own crib or cot, and cubby. The staff works hard to prevent cross-infection of illnesses. Hand washing is part of the curriculum, and children are separated according to illness. Each child, upon arriving at the Care Center, is examined by a nurse and an individual care plan is prepared with the parent.

Although new to the Treasure Valley, sick care facilities in the United States are growing in number -- from about 36 in 1986 to about 200 in 1995 and more than 300 today.

The Meridian location is central to the Treasure Valley and conveniently located 1.4 miles from the I-84 interchange. Sniffles ‘n Sneezes' Care Center will be open for business Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.




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