The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on July 1, 2024, regarding not following infant feeding statements from parents, not having an understanding of and respect for children and their needs, and unqualified staff alone with children. An investigation was conducted on July 11, 2024. Based on documentation reviewed and interviews with staff, this complaint is substantiated for not having current infant feeding statements from parents for all infants in care. Based on interviews with staff, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for a lack of understanding of and respect for children and their needs. All staff interviewed denied that any staff kissed children on the mouth. Based on interviews with staff and observation of classrooms, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for unqualified staff alone with children. A staff member goes to the infant room to visit and breastfeed their own child but is not caring for other children.

Disposition: Substantiated

The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on November 28, 2023, regarding improper discipline, staff-to-child ratios, staff working alone without having DEEDS certification, staff sleeping in classrooms, staff not assigned to specific infants or toddlers, and not following DELACARE food requirements. An investigation began on December 1, 2023, and ended on December 6, 2023. Based on interviews conducted this complaint is substantiated for improper discipline. Although the licensing specialist did not observe improper discipline at the time of the visit, staff stated they have seen yelling by Ms. Girgis and observed Ms. Girgis bop a couple of children not hard but not appropriately. This complaint is also substantiated for incorrect ratios based on documentation that showed the infant room was out of ratio with one staff and five infants on November 27, 2023, from 9:30 10:15 am. This complaint is substantiated for not following food regulations because the posted menu for the day of the visit did not accurately reflect the food being served that day, There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for unqualified staff working alone, staff sleeping in classrooms, or staff not assigned to specific infants or toddlers. The specialist observed DEEDS certificates for all staff except one who was never alone with a group of children during the visit. All staff interviewed denied having seen staff sleeping in classrooms. Licensing specialists observed the staff who were identified as assigned to rooms to be working in the rooms identified and the administrator confirmed specific staff are assigned to infants and toddlers. Additional concerns noted were the licensee or administrator did not notify OCCL within one business day of closing the center due to repairs needed to the heater and a staff member was working at the facility before eligibility or provisional eligibility had been determined.