• Violation

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

  I spoke on the telephone with Child A's Mother on 9/5/2023. On 8/30/2023 Child A fell off the balance beam and fractured his elbow. Program director Joni Kelley informed Child A's Mother that child care staff members did not see the fall, therefore is concerned that appropriate supervision was not provided that day. Child A's Mother also expressed concern that Joni Kelley downplayed the severity of the injury when she contacted Child A's Mother following the accident as she stated, "you can come if you want." According to Child A's Mother, Joni Kelley was not sure if he was severely injured or just upset about the fall. Joni Kelley called Child A's Mother and left a voicemail message. She later texted Child A's Mother and included a picture of Child A sleeping on a cot with an ice pack resting on his elbow. Child A's Mother could not see Child A's elbow in the picture because the ice pack was covering the injury. When Child A's Father arrived to pick him up from the center, Child A's elbow was swollen, and he complained that it really hurt. Child A was taken to the emergency room by his father where he received a soft cast. Child A is going to Bronson Hospital on 9/9/2023 to receive a hard case. Child A's Mother is uncertain if Child A will return to the child care program. I made an onsite inspection at Allegan Head Start on 9/6/2023 and spoke with program director Joni Kelley and licensee designee Sarah Skeel. Joni Kelley informed me that she was standing a few feet away from Child A while he was playing on the balance beam. She was supervising and interacting with Child A. Right before Child A fell, another child tugged on Joni Kelley's clothing to get her attention. She turned around to address the other child's needs and soon heard Child A crying. Child care staff member 1 (CCSM1) was also standing a few feet away from the balance beam and quickly reached Child A to assess the injury. At that time, Child A was able to move his arm but showed signs of discomfort. Child A was brought inside and placed on a cot with an ice pack where he soon fell asleep. Joni Kelley called Child A's Mother and left a voicemail. She then texted Child A's Mother at 10:57 a.m. At that time, Joni Kelley did not know the severity of the injury and told Child A"s Mother that it wouldn't hurt to come pick him up. After Child A woke up, Joni Kelley observed Child A's elbow to be swollen and he was unable to squeeze her hand. Child A's Father was already in route to the center and arrived at 12:00 p.m. While onsite, Joni Kelley took me outside to the playground. She showed me where she was standing a few feet away from one end of the beam and where CCSM1 was standing a few feet away from the opposite end of the beam. Child A landed away from the beam, closer to where CCSM1 was standing. The entire playground a had mulch covering. Licensee designee Sarah Skeel provided me child information records. She agreed to email the attendance record for 8/30/2023. On 9/6/2023 Sarah Skeel emailed me the attendance records for Allegan Head Start on 8/30/2023. Sarah Skeel explained that there are two Head Start classrooms located at North Ward Elementary School and that both classrooms were outside on 3 the playground at the time of Child A's accident. The attendance records for both classrooms showed that there was a total of six staff members and twenty-four children outside. I spoke on the telephone with Child B's Mother and Child C's Mother on 9/15/2023. Neither parent expressed any concerns regarding the care and supervision provided at the child care center.

Staff did not provide appropriate care and supervision on 8/30/2023 when Child A fell off a balance beam and fractured his elbow. F

Disposition: Substantiated