Between March 26, 2024, and April 2, 2024, four complaints were received, three of which were called into the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line and were not accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU). The first three complaints were sent to the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) and accepted for investigation on March 26, 2023, and the fourth complaint was associated with this complaint on April 2, 2024. All four complaints received were regarding concerns of improper discipline and lack of respectful communication with a parent. This complaint is substantiated for lack of respectful communication based on the verbal altercation LS Daffern heard on the phone between Ms. Sampson and Parent #1, including use of vulgar language in front of a child. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper discipline based on in-person staff interviews conducted and a telephone interview with one staff member. Staff members interviewed stated Staff #1 was redirecting Child #1 and Child #1 went limp, causing Staff #1 to accidentally scratch Child #1 as she fell. Ms. Sampson and Staff #1 stated an accident report was filled out regarding the incident and a meeting was offered to Parent #1. Non-Compliance cited: Reg # 18: Ensure a licensee and staff members teach by example by always being respectful when communicating with families.

Disposition: Substantiated

On March 22, 2024, a complaint was called into the Child Abuse and Neglect Report line and not accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU). The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received the complaint on March 22, 2024, and accepted it for investigation regarding improper discipline, not following transportation policies, lack of respectful communication with a parent, and not following meal requirements. An investigation was conducted on March 26, 2024. This complaint is substantiated for improper discipline based on interviews conducted. Ms. Sampson stated she grabbed a child and used a strong tone with the child to redirect them while transporting them. This complaint is substantiated for not following transportation policies because formal contracts for transportation arrangements with signed parent s permission were not completed prior to beginning transporting children to and from the facility. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of respectful communication with a parent based on staff interviews conducted. Staff members interviewed stated all staff use respectful communication when speaking with families. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not following meal requirements based on staff interviews, observation of food in the kitchen, and observation of the menus from the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation. Non-Compliance cited: Reg #18 A licensee shall ensure yelling, frightening, or grabbing children is prohibited, and staff members shall give directions in a clear, non-threatening manner. Ms. Sampson stated she grabbed and yelled at Child #2 when transporting Child #2. Non-Compliance cited: Reg#46 A licensee shall document transportation arrangements with the parent or guardian including the pickup and drop-off times when driving a child to and from the child's school. Children were being transported to and from the facility without written transportation arrangements.