Health & Safety Program
Child Care ProvidersBananas offers a variety of Health & Safety Classes required to obtain and maintain your California Child Care License. Please visit the workshop calendar to register for Health & Safety Classes.
For more information about the BANANAS Health & Safety Program, please contact Gabriela Meneses. Se habla español.

Gabriela Meneses
BANANAS Health & Safety Classes
CPR/First Aid
This course meets the 8-hour California State regulations for child care providers. You will practice life-saving, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and care for choking on manikins. First Aid teaches injury prevention and how to respond to emergencies and accidents. This class covers ages birth to adult, though the emphasis is placed on pediatric ages cared for in child care programs. This is a 2-year certification.
Preventive Health
This course meets the 8-hour California State regulations for child care providers. It includes preventive health practices and management of communicable diseases, childproofing, immunization information, preparing for emergencies and evacuation, safe food handling, nutrition, and identification and reporting of child abuse. Currently, this course certification has no expiration date.
NEW Lead Poisoning Prevention Class
This class is required for all licensed child care providers who completed their Preventive Health Class before July 1, 2020. Scholarships are available during registration for Child Care Providers in Northern Alameda County. If you take Preventive Health after July 1, 2020, this class will be incorporated into the Preventive Health course.
The purpose of this one-hour training is to educate child care providers about the dangers of childhood lead poisoning. You will:
- Understand the danger of lead poisoning.
- Practice simple routines to reduce the possibility of lead exposure in their environment.
- Share this information with families and encourage them to have their children tested for lead poisoning.
NEW CA Integrated Pest Management / Integrated Germ Management
This class is required for all licensed child care providers who completed their Preventive Health Class before July 1, 2020. Scholarships are available during registration for Child Care Providers in Northern Alameda County. If you take Preventive Health after July 1, 2020, this class will be incorporated into the Preventive Health course.
This class will help you create a healthy and safe ECE environment and provide information on the California Healthy School Act AB-2865 and why children are at higher risk for pesticide exposure and poisoning. You can use integrated pest management to keep pests out and manage pest problems, use safe practices and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides.
Health & Safety Events

Health Heroes for Child Care Program
Under the supervision of a Registered Nurse Supervising Faculty Member, Two (2) Samuel Merritt University student nurses will be assigned per center or family child care.
SMU student nurses will support child care providers and staff with current best practices regarding: infection control, CDC and Public Health guidelines, social distancing, and health practices.
Details about the Health Heroes program:
- The program runs in Cohorts
- Each Cohort runs for 3-4 weeks
- Onsite support visits 1-2 days per week (sites may also choose remote support via teleconferencing, phone, etc.)
- 3-4 hours per visit