Adrian Head Start at Drager

R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On 3/9/23, I made a telephone call to the complainant to gain further information regarding the allegations. On 3/9/23, I reviewed the incident report submitted to the department. The incident report stated that on 3/9/23 at approximately 11:00 a.m., CCSM 1 could be heard yelling at Child A while he was in the calming area stating that "you cannot leave the clam down area, I told you to stay here." She also said, "you're not allowed to lay down, you need to sit." CCSM 1 was using the calming space punitively as a time out area. CCSM 1 was also heard yelling at the class using threats to call their parents to control unwanted behaviors. On 3/14/23, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to the center and interviewed Ms. Christine Scott, licensee designee. I informed Ms. Scott of the allegations. Ms. Scott confirmed the allegation indicating on 3/9/23 around 11:00 a.m., another CCSM overheard CCSM 1 yell at Child A while he was in the calming area stating that "you cannot leave the clam down area; I told you to stay here." She also said, "you're not allowed to lay down, you need to sit." CCSM 1 was using the calming space punitively as a time out area. CCSM 1 was also heard yelling at the class using threats to call their parents to control unwanted behaviors. According to Ms. Scott, this was not the first incident they have had with CCSM 1 yelling at the children. Ms. Scott said CCSM 1 has been working at the center since June of 2019. Since that timeframe, Ms. Scott said CCSM 1 had some previous concerns with behavior control and the tone of voice she sued with the children. CCSM 1 was on a performance improvement plan in May of 2022 for having a negative climate, teacher sensitivity, behavior management and regard for student perspective. The performance improvement plan made the following expectations for CCSM 1: • CCSM 1 will not make any sarcastic or disrespectful comments towards the students. She will be aware of her tone of voice and will not display irritability or negativity towards the children. • The children will become comfortable seeking support from, sharing ideas with, and responding freely to CCSM 1. • CCSM 1 will effectively redirect misbehavior by focusing on positive and making use of subtle cues. Behavior management will not take away significant time from learning. Ms. Scott said CCSM 1 has been provided with administrative support since partaking in the performance improvement plan that included classroom role modeling, ratio support, visuals, and coaching. CCSM 1 was also provided trainings that support social and emotional wellbeing of the classroom. Ms. Scott said classroom observations have taken place since CCSM 1 went on the 3 performance improvement plan. Ms. Scott said CCSM 1 works in the preschool classroom 206 with CCSM 2 on 3/9/23. Ms. Scott also provided me with CCSM 3's information who also works with CCSM 1 in the classroom. I reviewed the centers discipline policy. The center discipline policy indicates that their discipline policy follows both the Michigan Child Care Center Licensing Rules and Head Start Performance Standards regarding discipline. Ms. Scott said all the CCSMs are trained to utilize curriculum appropriate conflict resolution techniques, Handle with Care behavior management and crisis intervention techniques, and Conscious Discipline principles to promote social-emotional learning, discipline, and self-regulation. The discipline policy states that staff at no time will inflict, physical punishment, verbal punishment that includes screaming, teasing, humiliating, intimidating, shaming, insulting, blaming, threatening, frightening, laughing, or discussing behavior in front of children. Ms. Scott acknowledged all the CCSMs, to include CCSM 1 receiving training on the centers discipline policy at the time of hire and annually thereafter. On 3/14/23, I interviewed CCSM 4 at the center. CCSM 4 has worked at the center for approximately three months as the mental health and

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (4) A written policy must be developed and implemented regarding the age appropriate, non severe discipline of children. The policy must be provided to staff and parents. 7

On 3/9/23, CCSM 1 did not implement the centers discipline policy correctly when she used the calming area punitively to control unwanted behaviors from Child A. While Child A was in the calming area, CCSM 1 yelled at Child A saying "you cannot leave the clam down area, I told you to stay here." CCSM 1 also said, "you're not allowed to lay down, you need to sit."

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment. 4

On 2 to-face conta tt with Child A and Child A's Mother. hiRsRi Merrep orted that she observed a bruise on Child A's arm on either December 14, 2022, or December 15, 2022. She is not exactly sure of the date because Child A had not been in her care for one or two days prior to seeing the bruise. She asked Child A how she got the 2 bruise and Child A said on the playground. A few days later Child A's Mother told Child A that she didn't get the bruise on the playground and asked her again how she got the bruise. Child A reportedly told Child A's Mother that her `teacher" grabbed her arm. Child A's Mother asked Child A if the "teacher" was helping her or if she was being mean. Child A responded that the "teacher" was being mean. Child A's Mother stated that Child A reported that the "teacher" that caused the bruise was Child A's Mother did not have any further details about when or in what circumstances .was being mean to Child A and grabbed her arm causing the bruise. Chi 's Mother did not speak to anyone at the center about Child A's injury until December 19, 2022, when she contacted licensee designee Christine Scott. Ms. Scott told Child A's Mother that she would speak with the child care staff members in the classroom. Child A's last day at the center was December 16, 2022. attempted to complete a forensic interview of Child A (female, age 4 years). Child A was able to accurately demonstrate the difference between the truth and a lie but consistently guessed at questions she did not know the answer to and was unable to successfully establish the forensic interview protocol. Child A stated that her "teachers" are nice. She stated that she never gets hurt at school or on the playground. showed Child A a picture of herself with a bruise on her arm taken by Child A's Mother. Child A stated that she did not know how she got the bruise on her arm. At the time of the face-to-face contact Child A no longer had the bruise on her arm. Child care staff member is a lead preschool caregiver in Child A's classroom, has been employed at the center for almost 20 years. stated that Child A is a"sweet little girl", and she has never had any behavioral stated that she has never had to physically grab Child A by the arm. ted that she last saw Child A the week before Christmas breakis swuitehs .Wvwee nding on December 16, 2022. stated that she is required to document any injuries to children whetheRe minor or otherwise. never saw any marks or bruises on Child A. She stated that there were no issues or incidents with Child A being hurt on the playground. Child A RPMny is child that would report to if she hurt herself or if she was hurt by someone else, Child A did such report to her. Child care staff member has been employed by the center since October 2022. stated thatshe has interacted with Child A daily since October 2022. She stated that Child A never has any behavior issues. She never requires redirection and is always well behaved stated that she does not have any recollection of Child A ever getting or having any problems on the hurt playground. stated that she enjoys working with has never had any concern with interacts with children. o` Child care staff member stated that she worked in Child A's classroom on December 16, 2022, as a substitute because was not at work. ■ =stated that she is not familiar with the children in classroom however she stated that she did not recall any issues with anyone or any incidents where a child was hurt. stated that was very professional and worked well with the children. Licensee designee Christine Scott stated that on Monday, December 19, 2022, Child A's Mother called and reported that Child A had a bruised on her arm that looked like a fingerprint or thumb print. Child A's Mother said that Child A originally said that she fell on the playground. Child A's Mother thought about it for a few days and asked Child A about the bruise again. Child A reported did it and that she was "being mean." Child A's Moth

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R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On 11/9/22, I reviewed an incident report submitted to the department from the center. According to the incident report, on 11/9/22 at approximately 1:00p.m., Ms. Tangi Merillat, child care staff member could be heard yelling at the child care children and was observed shoving an unknown female child during transition time from the second to first floor, to the vestibule. Ms. Christine 2 Scott, licensee designee, reviewed the cameras video footage and spoke with the child care staff members working in the classroom. There was nothing that came of concern from reviewing the video footage and speaking with the child care staff members. On 11/15/22, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to the center and interviewed Ms. Christine Scott, licensee designee, regarding the allegation. Ms. Scott said the center was made aware of the allegation on 11/9/22. After reviewing the camera video footage and speaking with the child care staff members working in the classroom, Ms. Scott said she did not see an incident where Ms. Merillat yelled at any children or shove a child. Ms. Scott said that Ms. Merillat has been employed at the center for three years and no previous discipline issues involving her ability to provide the children with optimum care and supervision. She also recently completed a training on working with children during busy transition times. On the day of the alleged incident, Ms. Scott was located in the office area adjacent to the vestibule where the alleged incident occurred. Ms. Scott said Ms. Merillat has a loud tone to her voice when speaking and at no time, did she hear anything that was concerning when Ms. Merillat was taking the children outdoors for playtime. Ms. Scott said in the video footage, she can be seen standing at the corner of the desk when the children were entering the vestibule area. At no time did Ms. Scott turnaround from hearing Ms. Merillat yell or shove any child care child as she was aware of Ms. Merrillat's loud speaking tone in her voice. Ms. Scott and I reviewed two separate camera video footages from 11/9/22 around 1:00p.m. Ms. Merillat and Ms. Sarah Suydam, child care staff member, were present. While observing the video footages, I observed both Ms. Merillat and Ms. Suydam leave the classroom with their children, walk down the hallway to the stairwell, walk down the stairway to the first floor, then open the doorway to enter the vestibule leading to the outdoor play area located on the eastside of the center. During the transition walk time, Ms. Suydam was in front of the line while Ms. Merillat walked at the back of the line. There was no time during the transition time did I observe Ms. Merillat shove a child. When the children first entered the vestibule area located at the entrance of the center, I observed Ms. Merillat place her hand onto Child A's (age 4 years female) shoulder to reposition her in line. It did not appear as Ms. Merillat was yelling at Child A and Child A was smiling in the video footage and walked next to Ms. Merillat as they exited the center. Ms. Scott said if anyone was being yelled at, she would have heard it in the adjacent office located next to the vestibule area as she was standing over the counter area in the video and did not even look backwards toward the children as they transitioned to the outdoor play area. Ms. Scott identified the two female children who were present in the video footage Child A (age 4 years, female) and Child B (age 3 years female); neither child displayed any signs of being upset during the transition time nor did they exhibit any hear or hesitation toward Ms. Merillat as Child A held Ms. Merrillat's hand and was smiling as they walked outside of the center. Ms. Scott informed me that Child A has a non-diagnosed hearing impairment. When she is being spoken to, the child care staff members have to speak loudly and repeatedly toward her at face level in order to acknowledge that she hears them. 3 On 11/15/22, I interviewed Ms. T

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R 400.8140 · ........................................ R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (d) Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliating, shaming, or threatening a child.

The center uses positive methods of discipline with the children; they do not inflict mental or emotional punishment, such as shaming or threatening a child. Ms. Merillat was not yelling at the children but rather had to speak loudly to assure the non- diagnosed hearing-impaired child to hear her directions.

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