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

On 03/17/2023 — I left a voicemail requesting a return call to the complainant. Emails exchanged with Witness 1o n 3/17/2023 to arrange a day and time for a phone call. I made an unannounced visit to the center on 03/20/2023. I interviewed Danielle Desano-Smith, Program Director and Licensee Designee to the center. Child A is in the little adventures classroom and sometimes attends the happy hoppers classrooms in the morning. There are three child care staff members in the little adventures room, CCSM 1, CCSM 2 and CCSM 3. She is aware that Child A had disclosed that a [CCSM 4] hit her, however there is no child care staff member with that name or has a name that could be shortened to match that name. Child A's Guardian said that Child A made similar allegations at her previous child care, but then Child A told her she had lied about the disclosures. Ms. Desano-Smith said she has observed interactions between CCSM 1 and Child A and CCSM 1 is very consistent with Child A, uses firm words when needed and Child A often sits on her lap, happy. Child A tends to run towards all of the child care staff members in her classroom for hugs. For discipline, natural consequences are used, positive reinforcement and child care staff members give children opportunities to feel successful by giving them classroom jobs. Ms. Desano-Smith recently installed cameras into the classrooms, but they do not always work. If Ms. Desano-Smith notices a challenging situation arising, she goes into the classroom to offer support with that child's behavior. She has no concerns with the way CCSM 1 interacts with Child A, she has never seen her hit any children or be aggressive with any children. Child A is easily redirected and isn't a child who has difficult or challenging behaviors. Ms. Desano-Smith has observed CCSM 2 and Child A's interactions as well and CCSM 2 is very gentle with her. CCSM 2 uses redirection, natural consequences and positive reinforcement. She has never observed CCSM 2 to be aggressive or inappropriate with any of the children. She has never seen her hit a child and she 3 has never observed any type of corporal punishment being used. CCSM 3 also works well with Child A and Child A seems to "love her." CCSM 3 was absent from the classroom last week due to an illness and has not been working this week. The numbers in the classrooms have been low and CCSM 3 floats around all the classrooms. CCSM 3 also uses natural consequences and redirection for discipline. Ms. Desano-Smith has never observed CCSM 3 to be aggressive towards any child or using any types of corporal punishment. None of the child care staff members in Child A's classroom have received disciplinary action. No parents or child care staff members have complained to her about child care staff members being aggressive towards any children either. I interviewed CCSM 2. She said she works in the happy hopper classroom but often splits classrooms with little adventures. Therefore, she is familiar with Child A. Her primary child care staff members are CCSM 1 and CCSM 3 who help in the classroom with Child A from time to time. She said there is no one who comes inside the classroom named [CCSM 4] or something similar. For discipline, if there is an escalating situation between two children, CCSM 2 helps the children walk away and reminds them to use gentle hands. If there is a child making bad choices, she tells them they are making "red light" choices and helps them figure out how to make better choices by talking it out with the child. She has never used physical discipline as a form of punishment. She has never observed any child care staff member hitting Child A or any other child. She has never hit Child A. No child care staff member or parent has complained that child care staff members were hitting children or using any forms of physical discipline with children. She has never seen anyone be aggressive with Child A or any child. Sometimes Child A has emotional outbursts, lik

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

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.

Child care staff members reported using positive methods of discipline through redirection, positive reinforcements and helping children find their words to communicate issues. ............

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 1 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment. C~

There is insufficient evidence to show that corporal punishment was used to Child A by child care staff members. All child care staff members reported using positive methods of discipline.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.