Disposition: Substantiated

On February 1, 2024, and February 2, 2024, two complaints regarding one incident were called into the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line and accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU). On February 2, 2024, the complaints were also sent to the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) and accepted for investigation regarding improper discipline. On February 5, 2024, IAU notified OCCL they could begin its investigation, but the IAU case has not yet closed due to pending criminal charges against Staff #1. OCCL conducted an unannounced visit on February 6, 2024, to investigate the complaint. This complaint is substantiated because Staff #1 confessed to using improper discipline with Child #1, and those actions led to injuries to Child #1. Staff #1 has been arrested and is currently in police custody. Center administration immediately terminated the employment of Staff #1 on February 5, 2024. Additional concerns observed during this complaint investigation are Staff #2 and Staff #3 were signed into Room 1 on February 6, 2024, with seven children, and neither staff member has a DEEDS Early Learning certificate. One staff member turned 18 on November 10, 2023, and there was no documentation in the staff file showing the staff member had been fingerprinted. An additional concern noted was two other items were missing from staff files observed at this visit. Non-compliance Cited: Reg #20: On February 1, 2024, Staff #1 used improper discipline on Child #1, resulting in bruising on Child #1 s face and nose. Staff #1 has been arrested and charged for the incident. Center records reflect Staff #1 s employment was terminated on February 2, 2024. Reg #27: The attendance records for Room 1 were reviewed during the complaint investigation. The attendance records for Tuesday, February 6, 2024, documented Staff #2 and Staff #3 were working in the infant classroom from 8:00 am to 9:00 am with seven children present. Neither Staff #2 nor Staff #3 have a DEEDS E arly Learning certificate. This was corrected when Staff #3 signed out of the classroom at 9:00 am and Staff #4 signed in. Reg #28: One of the six staff files reviewed was missing documentation that the staff member had been fingerprinted after turning 18 years old on November 10, 2023. This was corrected by documentation that the staff member was fingerprinted on December 6, 2023, and determined eligible on February 8, 2024. Reg #30: During the complaint investigation, six staff files were reviewed. Send the updated annual safe sleep and child abuse and neglect review with signature and release of employment for the staff members identified on the Part B issued on February 6, 2024.