• Violation

  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 complainant reported that on November 24, 2021, program director Jaime Healy took Child A (female, age 3 years) to the toddler room only dressed in either a pull-up or underwear. Ms. Healy stated that Child A kept taking her clothes off and she just left them off. Ms. Healy told the toddler child care staff member, Julia Nashif that she could put Child A's clothes back on. Ms. Nashif then took Child A to the bathroom and dressed her. Program director Jaime Healy stated that Child A is transitioning from the toddler room to the preschool room. Ms. Healy is the lead child care staff member in the preschool room and Ms. Julia Nashif is the lead child care staff member in the toddler room. Ms. Healy stated that on November 24, 2021, while Child A was in the preschool room during nap time she was crying and taking off her clothes off. Ms. Healy stated that Child A has done this many times in the past. Ms. Healy put Child A's clothes back on and Child A took them off again. After Child A took her pants off and was trying to remove her shirt Ms. Healy assisted Child A with pulling the shirt off her head. Ms. Healy stated that she took Child A over to the toddler area of the 2 room and told Ms. Nashif that when Child A was ready, she could put Child A's clothes back on. Ms. Healy thought that Child A may have had sensory issues with the clothes that she was wearing. Ms. Healy stated that she keeps extra clothes at the center, so she looked for something different for Child A to wear. After the incident Ms. Healy stated that she emailed Child A's Mother to let her know what happened. Ms. Healy stated that Child A's Mother was not upset about the incident. Ms. Healy stated that she has been looking for support from the Washtenaw County Intermediate School District to get help with handling Child A at the center. Ms. Healy stated that she would never punish or shame a child by removing their clothes. She stated that with a two- or three-year-old child, "you are never going to win a battle," so she just let Child A remove her clothes until she calmed down and was ready to have them put on again. Toddler child care staff member Julia Nashif stated that she did not witness the incident with Ms. Healy and Child A, however Ms. Healy did bring Child A to the toddler area dressed in either a pull up or her underwear. Ms. Nashif immediately took Child A to the bathroom and dressed her. Ms. Nashif stated that she believes that Ms. Healy brought Child A to her because she was frustrated with Child A. Ms. Nashif stated that she has seen Child A taking her clothes off before. Child care staff member Jodi Manny stated that she was not present at the center on November 24, 2021, but she spoke with Ms. Healy about the incident. Ms. Manny stated that Child A is a "very precocious child," she takes her clothes off all the time. Ms. Manny stated that she witnessed Child A run out of the bathroom on another occasion dressed in her underwear telling the pastor of the church where the center is located who was visiting, to look at her underwear. Ms. Manny stated that Ms. Healy would never do anything to jeopardize the center and that she is a wonderful "Christian woman." I attempted to contact Child A's Mother; however, she did not respond to a voicemail message requesting a return call.

Program director Jaime Healy was observed removing Child A's clothes out of frustration.

Disposition: Substantiated