Toileting Support Resources for Schools

Frequent inquiries from the field about how to support children who need toileting support has prompted the creation of this resource document for schools. Ultimately, a public school district cannot refuse to enroll or serve a child who has toileting needs, nor should there be any punishment associated with soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. Each School Administrative Unit (SAU) is encouraged to adopt sanitation and hygiene procedures for assisting with toileting and/or diapering that adequately protect the health and safety of all children and staff. The determination of which school personnel within a school setting can be asked to assist with toilet training/toileting support is a local employment and collective bargaining matter.

Transitioning into public school can be a time of trepidation and anxiety for many children and their families. Providing support, understanding, toileting routine, and consistent communication with the family will aid in a child becoming more independent.

Foundational Support

Consider using direct instruction on healthy toileting expectations for school in early elementary grades. Teach the behaviors that are expected; practice and reinforce the behaviors with all students. Establish a classroom routine and practice the routine with all students. Resources for providing direct instruction are included at this end of this document.

Keep in mind that there are cultural differences in how children are toilet trained. Building knowledge and understanding of these cultural differences is important as the expectations of school personnel may not be the same as a child’s family.

Provide visual directions in all bathrooms and stalls.

Targeted Support

Some students may need more targeted intervention in addition to the foundational support provided to all students.

If possible, work with the family to create a home and school plan that acknowledges the goals and desires of both parties regarding the child’s individual development towards independent toileting. A home-school liaison, teacher, school nurse, or representative(s) from an outside agency that is supporting the child may work directly with the parent to develop a plan for toilet training at home and school. If the child attends another out-of-home care setting, in addition to public school, be sure to include all teachers and family providers in the conversation. Build communication between parties as well as regular review to revise a plan that may not be effective.

Depending on the needs of the student, consider the following in building independence:

Adaptive equipment (PT or OT)
Visuals or social stories to teach steps in the routine
Reinforcers (star/sticker chart, screen time, adult 1:1 attention, peer activities, etc.) can help students with the motivation to persist in learning bathroom skills

Communicate with the family to establish whether there are any medical needs or physical limitations involved. If there are medical needs, work with the family using an individual health plan of care to support the child and possibly a 504 plan if indicated.

The parent/legal guardian will need to supply clean clothes, underwear, pull-ups, and diapers (as appropriate).

Sanitation and Safety

Child size toilets or modified toilet seats with step stools are recommended. Potty chairs are not recommended for use in schools.

Children in soiled or wet clothing and/or diapers that require full assistance due to medical condition or disability shall be changed on a washable vinyl table or mat that is cleaned and sanitized after each use or has a disposable single-use cover.

All staff members must wash hands with soap and running water after assisting with toileting and/or diapering.

Any materials used for cleaning/changing (including any diapers and diapering materials) must be discarded in a covered, lined, foot-pedal-operated step can separate from other trash or must be tied up in a separate bag and removed to a covered garbage location.

Toileting and diapering areas shall be separated from areas used for cooking, eating or children’s activities.

Guiding Principles

Bathroom independence is a fundamental skill for independent living and dignity. We want each student to be as independent as possible in the bathroom.

Assume that students are capable of learning new skills and routines.
Adults should model boundaries by telling students when and why they are touching the student’s private areas.
Assume the student is listening to everything you say.
Students who are not yet independent in the bathroom may be vulnerable.

For the protection of both students and staff, it is highly recommended that two adults be present in the bathroom assisting the student with clothing removal, changing, or wiping.

Consider using a bathroom that is in sight and/or audio vicinity of other adults

In many early childhood classrooms, the bathroom might have a cloth curtain as a door, or a half-door as opposed to a full closing door.

Other students should never be involved in the changing routine.

Staff should protect themselves by using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.

Toileting in Schools Resources

Autism Adventures: Toilet Training in the Classroom
J of Autism and Developmental Disorders Classroom Based Intensive Toilet Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
4.21 NY Guidance for Supporting Toilet Learning for Prekindergarten & Kindergarten Students
Bathroom Routine Visual – Indiana University Resource Center for Autism (docx)
Going to the Bathroom Visual – Indiana University Resource Center for Autism (docx)
Going to the Bathroom Step by Step – Indiana University Resource Center for Autism (docx)
Soiling (Encopresis) from Kids Health
U Can Poop Too

Virtual Lab School Trainings

The Watson Institute, Toilet Training: Developing a Toileting Routine

Sample Procedure

Consider the environment and what is the least restrictive setting. A student bathroom is more typical/less restrictive than staff bathroom.

If physical transfer of student is necessary, ensure that staff doing transfer have been trained by the Physical Therapist on appropriate transferring procedure.

Have clean clothes available and a bag for wet/soiled clothes.

Waste disposal:

Disposal should be in a covered can and appropriate bagging that minimizes odor.

Work with your building custodial engineer to ensure that appropriate trashcan and bags are accessible and being removed from the building on a daily basis.

Personal Care Routine to be developed by a team, which may include OT or PT

Training on Personal Care Routine provided and documented

Basic procedure for full change (Remember, the goal is for the student to take over performing tasks as they are able):

Inspect the designated changing area and make sure that all of the necessary equipment and supplies are available in the area (i.e., gloves, wipes, etc.)
Bring student to changing area
Prepare table/surface where student will be changed by wiping with a sanitized cloth and/or by placing protective paper on the table surface
Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment — gloves (sleeves and apron if necessary)
Talk to student about what you are doing and why (i.e., “I’m going to use the wipes to clean your buttocks now.”)
Transfer student to changing table (per PT training) or standing position if able
Remove soiled diaper and place in a covered waste receptacle
Clean student using wipes
Dispose of soiled gloves and put on clean pair of gloves
Place clean diaper on student
Transfer student from changing area
Remove paper and clean surface with wipe
Wash hands with soap and running water

Procedure developed from NYC United Federation of Teachers Safety and Health Department http://www.uft.org/files/attachments/uft-diapering-toileting-procedure.pdf

References

Maine Department of Education, Public Preschool Toileting Policy. Available from: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/earlychildhood/publicpreschool/health

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education,
Caring for Our Children, Chapter 3.2 Hygiene. Available from: https://nrckids.org/CFOC/Database/3

New York City, United Federation of Teachers Safety and Health Department, Para Protocols, Diapering and Toileting. Available from: http://www.uft.org/files/attachments/uft-diapering-toileting-procedure.pdf

Virtual Lab School, Staying Healthy: Diapering and Toileting. Available from: https://www.virtuallabschool.org/infant-toddler/healthy-environments/lesson-3

Virtual Lab School, Changing Soiled Clothing. Available from: https://www.virtuallabschool.org/infant-toddler/healthy-environments/lesson-3/act/14126

CISA Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is hosting a 2-hour Security Webinar to enhance awareness of, and response to, an active shooter incident.

Objectives

Discuss the elements of active shooter incident response planning with guidance from expert instructors.
Describe common behaviors, conditions, and situations associated with active shooter events.
Discuss how to recognize potential workplace violence indicators.
Provide information about best practices, communications protocols, and resources that will assist stakeholders to develop or enhance their emergency planning, preparedness, and response to active shooter incidents.

Building Emergency Planning Capabilities

The event will also describe how to incorporate key elements of successful incident management into planning efforts including:

Communication and Incident Planning for employees
Emergency Action Plan Development
Recognizing Behavioral Indicators
Coordinating with First Responders

Who should Participate?

Corporate and facility security professionals from the private and public sectors
Supervisory first responders
Human Resource managers
Community Response and Liaison officers
Health organizations
Faith-based leaders
School administrators and security officers
Homeland security representatives

Registration is free and participation is based on a first come, first served basis with a limit of 1,000 participants. Registration will close as soon as the event reaches capacity or no later than October 18, 2022 at noon (12:00 p.m.) EDT.

Register here. (Eventbrite will email you a link to access the AS Webinar the evening prior to the event.)

For more information email CISA-Active Shooter Preparedness at ASworkshop@CISA.DHS.GOV or visit cisa.gov/active-shooter-preparedness.

Webinar Announcement: Bullying Prevention Awareness Month: Resources for K-12 Schools (Oct. 13)

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on October 13 at 2:00 PM EDT for an informational webinar on bullying awareness and prevention resources along with guidance to help create safer school environments. This session will provide information and resources designed for the kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) school community.

The session will feature guest speakers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention and Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The event will provide an overview of what bullying is and how to identify it, key strategies and actions schools and school personnel can implement to prevent and address it, and the tools and resources available from the government to support schools in these efforts, including StopBullying.gov.

The discussion will also feature additional school safety-related resources on topics like school climate and mental health access and support and a Q&A session for participants.

When: October 13, 2022, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT
Where: Webex (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
For: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; Counselors and Mental Health Practitioners; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Resource Officers; Parents and Guardians; Students
Registration: https://2022schoolsafetybullyingpreventionwebinar.eventbrite.com

We hope you can join us for this special event during National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. If you have any questions, please contact the School Safety team at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health: Calling Maine’s Anti-Hunger Advocates

Join other educators and advocates to learn about the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and review federally recognized innovations & data-driven solutions. Then, join with local multidisciplinary teams to collaborate on opportunities specific to your region and make a commitment to eliminating disparities.

Date: September 28, 2022
Time: 3:30pm
Facilitator: Rebekah Sousa

Outcomes:

You will be able to define food security
You will consider the 5 Pillars of the conference and apply them to the State of Maine, Counties, and/or Local Communities.
You will have models for strengthening food security within communities
You will network with like-minded individuals across sectors and specialties to create more holistic and thoughtful approaches for the specific challenges in Maine.

Audience: School staff, administration, and school stakeholders

For further questions, reach out to Rebekah Sousa at Rebekah.Sousa@maine.gov.

TRAINING: On Any Given Day – Leadership Lessons from Columbine and Beyond

Sponsored by Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, the Maine Department of Education’s Maine School Safety Center, and the US States Attorney.

Retired Principal of Columbine High School Frank DeAngelis will provide a training designed and intended for school administration, educators, law enforcement and public safety personnel who have the responsibility for building and executing safety plans for school related events.

Date and Time
Tue, October 18, 2022
3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Location
Mt. Blue High School
129 Seamon Road
Farmington, ME 04938

Register here – Given the sensitive nature of this topic, the training is open only to those with an authorized role in school safety planning. Attendance is subject to verification. Registration information will be confirmed.

Download a printable flyer

For further information or questions contact Sara Bickford at SBickford@franklincountymaine.gov and or 207-860-4277.

Presentation (In-person and Virtual): U.S. Secret Service Research and Recommendations on the Prevention of Targeted School Violence

Maine’s education workforce is invited to join the U.S. Secret Service and Maine Department of Education’s Maine School Safety Center for a free presentation by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) addressing strategies to prevent targeted school violence.

Date: October 5, 2022
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: UMA–Jewett Hall in Augusta or Virtual
Intended Audience: Education Administrators, Teachers, School Psychologists/School Counselors, Law Enforcement, Crisis Intervention Units, Counselors & Mental Health Specialists, Social Workers, Anyone who may potentially be involved in risk detection/management position

This presentation will focus on past events of school violence, averted attacks of targeted school violence, and discuss how schools and communities can utilize a multidisciplinary approach to school safety with specific focus on identifying, assessing, and intervening with students who exhibit concerning behavior as early as possible. This is NOT active shooter response training.

Register here – This event is offered both in person and virtually. In-person attendance is limited, so please register asap to ensure your attendance.

Please reach out to Karen Barnes at karen.a.barnes@maine.gov with any questions.

WEBINAR: The Role of School Nutrition Directors in School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a Webinar on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of school nutrition directors in school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness activities, including emergency operations plan (EOP) development.

The objectives of this 60-minute Webinar are to

Demonstrate the importance of a collaborative planning team, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
Discuss the role that school nutrition directors play in implementing the National Preparedness System mission areas before, during, and after an emergency.
Reinforce how school nutrition directors can enhance EOP development and serve as key stewards in the efforts around food contamination outbreaks, continuity of operations, recovery, and more.
Share relevant resources to be used by school nutrition directors and core planning teams.

Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!

Presenters:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
- Charlsia Fortner, Chief, Food Safety Branch
- Brian McCall, Director, Office of Emergency Management
REMS TA Center
- Alison Curtis, Director of Information and Product Management

Web Chat

Immediately following the Webinar, you are invited to participate in a Twitter Chat where presenters will continue to answer your questions. No Twitter account is necessary to view questions, only to pose questions and engage in tweets. Follow @remstacenter and tune in at 1:00 p.m. ET on September 13.

Questions

Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Can’t make the live event? This Webinar will be archived on the REMS TA Center’s Website within 7 business days.

WEBINAR: The Role of Public Health Officials in Supporting School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a Webinar on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of public health officials in supporting school safety efforts at the local level.

The objectives of this 60-minute Webinar are to

Demonstrate the importance of developing a collaborative planning team to support emergency operations plan (EOP) development, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
Discuss the role that public health officials in the local community play in implementing the National Preparedness System mission areas — prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery — at K-12 schools as well as their role in the before, during, and after phases of a potential emergency at a school or an emergency that involves a school.
Share resources to support education agencies in preparing for all hazards and all threats during National Preparedness Month and beyond.

Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!

Presenters:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lisa Barrios, Senior Advisor for School Preparedness

REMS TA Center: Janelle Hughes, Project Director

Web Chat: You are invited to participate in a Web chat, immediately following the Webinar, on the REMS TA Center’s Community of Practice (CoP) where presenters will continue to answer your questions. Create a CoP account now, and tune in at 1:00 p.m. ET on September 6.

Questions About the Event? Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Can’t make the live event? This Webinar will be archived on the REMS TA Center Website within 7 business days.

WEBINAR: Preparing for a Safe School Year – Back-to-School Safety for K-12 Schools

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on August 30 at 2:00 PM EDT for an informational webinar on back-to-school safety featuring guidance, best practices, and resources for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.

The session will be held in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education and the Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety.

The webinar will provide an overview of various topics that school personnel should consider when welcoming students back to school while looking to support the safety, security, and wellbeing of all students.

The discussion will feature additional school safety-related resources available through SchoolSafety.gov, as well as a Q&A session.

When: August 30, 2022, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT
Where: Webex (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
For: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Counselors and School Psychologists; Emergency Managers; Parents
Registration: https://FSSCbacktoschoolwebinar.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions, please contact the School Safety team at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

U.S. DOE Opens Applications for $6 Million Project Prevent Grant Program Grant to Support School Safety

The U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE or Department) has posted a Notice Inviting Applications for the Project Prevent Grant Program, which will award more than $6 million to local educational agencies (LEAs) – this includes Maine school administrative units (SAUs) – impacted by community violence. As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader commitment to school safety and addressing youth mental health the Department will provide schools the necessary resources to combat community violence and ensure a safe learning environment for students, families, and educators. Following the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Department will be announcing additional resources for schools in the weeks ahead.

Project Prevent grants will expand the capacity of LEAs to implement community- and school-based strategies to help prevent community violence and mitigate the impacts of exposure to community violence. With these funds, LEAs can increase their capacity to identify, assess, and serve students exposed to community violence, helping LEAs to (1) increase student access to mental health services; (2) support conflict management programs; and (3) implement other community- and school-based strategies to help prevent community violence and to mitigate the impacts of exposure to community violence. As the Department works to address opportunity and achievement gaps, Project Prevent will deliver more resources for communities in need.

“When our students are exposed to community violence and experience trauma, their learning, their mental health, and their overall wellbeing are affected. We must do everything in our power to prevent and address community violence and wrap our children in the supports and services that can help them overcome any barriers to their success,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The availability of these new federal dollars will be transformative for our children and our communities. Together, we can give every student—especially students who need the greatest supports—what they need to learn, grow, heal, and thrive.”

Research has demonstrated that community violence is a risk factor for facing an adverse childhood experience (ACE), such as abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, or having a family member who is incarcerated, and has an impact on future violence and victimization in a community. ACEs can increase risk among children and youth to experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorders; have difficulty in, or disconnect from, school and the workforce; and engage in delinquency or violent acts, potentially perpetuating the conditions that contribute to a cycle of community violence.

Community violence is a significant public health, public safety, and community infrastructure concern nationwide and is a leading cause of death, injury, and intergenerational trauma for people in the United States. Community violence imposes enormous human, social, and economic costs, including disruption to employment and hindering a community’s social and economic development.

The FY22 Project Prevent Grant Program has a focus on partnerships with community-based organizations to mitigate the impact of community violence on students and families implementing community and school-based strategies. Local educational agencies, or consortia of local educational agencies are eligible to apply for these grants. The Department is especially interested in programs that support children and youth from low-income backgrounds. With the right investments and supports, the impact of these experiences can be mitigated in ways that help our children and youth thrive.

The Notice Inviting Applications is available here. For further information/questions contact ProjectPrevent@ed.gov.