• Violation

  R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

  On 11/19/2021 I received email notification from YMCA chief executive officer Jill Hinde that there was a reported incident of child care staff member Amy Craig spanking Child A on the butt for discipline. Ms. Hinde later sent the detailed incident report and notified me that Ms. Craig was placed on temporary leave. On 11/22/2021 I completed phone contact with Child A's Mother. Child A (male, 4 years) has been enrolled at the child care for approximately one week. She stated that on 11/17/2021 she received a message from Child E's Mother asking her if Child A had reported anything to her about being spanked. Child E's Mother stated that Child E (female, 4 years) old her that on that day during nap time, child care staff member Amy Craig spanked Child A on the butt and back for crying Child A's Mother stated that she works for the Department of Health and Human Services, and she used non-leading questions to ask Child A about his day at the child care. She stated that during the questioning, Child A stated that Ms. Craig is "mean" and then reported that she spanked him on his butt for crying. Child A stated that Ms. Craig spanked him with her hand. Child A's Mother stated that Child A does not have any bruises or marks from the reported incident. She expressed that she was upset about the incident but did not want to overreact. She waited until drop off the next day to talk to Ms. Craig about the concern. She asked Ms. Craig if she spanked Child A, and Ms. Craig denied any 3 incident of physical discipline. Ms. Craig stated that she did not have any idea why Child A would report that he was spanked. Child A's Mother stated that Child A has always gone to child care during the day, but is new to this program. Child A has always been happy to go to child care. Since he started at this child care, he has begun crying and asking to not go. She is not sure if this is related to Ms. Craig, but feels it is strange and concerning. Child A's Mother agreed to allow me to interview Child A at the child care. On 11/22/2021 I completed an unannounced onsite inspection and interview with child care staff member Maliya Frost and Child A. Ms. Frost reported that she is normally the assistant staff member in the classroom with Ms. Craig. Ms. Frost indicated that she was made aware of the reported allegations. She was told that Child A reported being spanked by Ms. Craig during nap time. She was also told that Child E witnessed the reported spanking. Ms. Frost stated that she has never observed Ms. Craig spank or otherwise physically discipline a child. She has observed Ms. Craig become upset and raise her voice, but nothing physical. Ms. Frost reported that she goes on break during nap time, so it is possible that Ms. Craig spanked a child while she was not in the classroom. During the onsite inspection, I interviewed Child A down the hall from the classroom in a private area. Child A was cooperative and developmentally capable of answering questions. Child A reported that he likes going to school. He indicated that he likes to play with the cars and coloring. He expressed that his teacher Maliyah is "nice" and he likes to color with her. He stated that his teacher Jennifer is "nice" but he does not really like the book she is reading. Child A stated that he "doesn't like" his teacher Amy. He reported that one time Amy spanked him on the butt. He described that he was crying, and Amy spanked him one time on the butt and stated he was being a "baby." Child A demonstrated that he was spanked with an open hand. He reported that was the only time he was spanked. He expressed that he told his momma about the spanking. On 11/22/2021 I completed phone contact with Ms. Craig. She denied knowledge of the specific allegations. I described the allegations, and she responded, "I have never spanked a child." Ms. Craig stated she has no idea why Child A would state he was spanked. She stated that Child A was crying at nap time. Child A was saying that he hat

Child care staff member Amy Craig spanked Child A for discipline.

Disposition: Substantiated