The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on August 30, 2022, regarding concerns of improper discipline. An additional complaint was received and screened in for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IA) on September 9, 2022 regarding the same incident. OCCL received and screened in this second report on September 12, 2022. An investigation was conducted by IA, and was closed as no evidence to substantiate with concern on September 27, 2022, due to Child #1 not having injuries and IA not receiving a longer clip of video footage. IA noted the concern was improper handling of Child #1. An investigation was conducted by OCCL beginning August 31, 2022 and concluding on October 27, 2022. This complaint is substantiated for improper discipline. Video footage of the incident was viewed. Staff #1 told Child #1 to Shut the f**k up and swung Child #1 by one arm to another place in the classroom. Staff #1 also used her knee to push Child #1 from behind, causing Child #1 to fall down. An additional concern noted was in the first two minutes of the video footage, Staff #1 is seen sitting in a chair using her cellphone and not supervising or interacting with Child #1 in the classroom.

Disposition: Substantiated

On May 10, 2022, the Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint regarding lack of supervision of children on the playground. At the conclusion of an investigation conducted on May 11, 2022, this complaint is substantiated with an additional concern. A large gate has been open while children are playing on the playground. At the time of this incident, staff were not appropriately spaced out on the playground, and three children, including toddlers, were playing directly next to the open gate. This gate opens to a city street. Additional concerns were both staff members present on the playground did not yet have DEEDS qualifications certificates allowing them to be alone with children; no staff knew exactly how many children were present because their statements did not match the attendance record; and the outdoor play area was only approved for use with the gate closed, however it was used without closing the gate.

Disposition: Substantiated