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 received a special investigation on 5/18/2022. On 5/24/2022 I spoke with program director Mr. Jacob Norman, by telephone. Mr. Norman explained that Child A (12yr old, female) left the facility shortly after programming began at 3:15pm on 05/16/2022. He stated that he and the other child care staff members were not initially aware that Child A had left the facility. I spoke with Child A's Mother on 05/24/2022. She indicated that Child A has a history of trauma and her leaving the program without permission may have been the result of a trigger. She does not like being told what to do at home and has an older sibling that has a little more freedom than her. Child A's Mother believes she left the program because of wanting freedom at home. She will not be returning to the afterschool program currently. She believes the child care staff members handled the situation appropriately and did everything they could to help find her. Child A was located by law enforcement the same night she went missing. 2 On 06/16/2022, I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection and interviewed child care staff members. Mr. Norman explained that on 5/16/2022 Child A was sitting in the cafeteria having a meal. She got up to throw her meal away. Roughly 20 minutes later, staff noticed she was not with the group. The child care staff members took turns looking for Child A at the facility. She was later found by law enforcement downtown in a park hiding. Child A has not returned to programming. I spoke with child care staff member Ms. Cecelia Hamilton. She indicated that she had three children with her coming from the office. She saw Child A standing by the gym next to the drinking fountain while the other child care children were finishing their meal. Around 3:25 pm she asked Child A if she was in programming today. Child A nodded her head. Ms. Hamilton then told Child A that they were going to Room 106 to prepare for their talent show. Child A never went to 106. Around 3:40 pm, they noticed Child A was missing. The child care staff members took turns looking for Child A inside and outside the facility. When they did not locate her, Child A's Mother and law enforcement were contacted. Child A has not returned to programming. Child care staff member Ms. Marjory Marshall also stated that when it was time to go practice for the talent show they noticed that Child A was missing. They looked inside and outside of the facility and did not locate her. She knows Child A's mother was contacted but not sure what happened after that. I spoke with licensee designee Ms. Kimberly Tufnell and informed her that due to a child going missing from the child care facility while in the care of the child care staff 1st members, I would be recommending the facility be placed on a provisional.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.