Child Development Center - Lakeview

R 400.8213(1)(a) · R 400.8213(1)(a) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP (a) Provide appropriate care and supervision o f children at all times.

According to interviews with Teachers and parents, Teacher 1 and Teacher 3 provided appropriate care and supervision to Child A.

View state record

R 400.8112(10) · R 400.8112(10) Children's records. (10) A center shall keep on file at the center an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each c hild's arrival and departure time.

According to interview with Teacher 2, the child attendance log was completed inaccurately the following day.

View state record

R 400.8112a(4)(b) · R 400.8112a(4)(b) Center records. (4) The following records must be retained and be made available to the department: (b) Staff and unsupervised volunteer documentation of qualifications must be retained for not less than 2 years after the individual leaves the c enter.

During the onsite inspection, there were no records of documentation of qualifications available for Teacher 1. 3 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP

View state record

R 400.8222(4)(a) · R 400.8222(4)(a) Capacity; ratio and group size requirements (4) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 1: (a) Infants and toddlers, birth until 30 months of age, child care staff member to child ratio of 1 to 4 , maximum group size of 12.

According to interviews with Lead Teacher 1, the classroom frequently combines groups and exceeds the maximum number of 12 children.

View state record

R 400.8152(2) · R 400.8152(2) Heating; temperature. (2) The indoor temperature must be not less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit in child use areas at a point 2 f eet above the floor.

On 11/5/2025, indoor temperatures in six classrooms ranged from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

View state record

R 400.8213(1)(a) · R 400.8213(1)(a) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (a) Provide appropriate care and supervision o f children at all times.

According to interviews with program staff and parents, appropriate care and supervision was provided to Child A when water was splashed over the heads of approximately 20 children on a hot day.

View state record

R 400.8335 · R 400.8335 Food services and nutrition; provided by center. ...................................................... ...... ............................ (1) Food and beverages provided by a center must be of sufficient quantity and nutritional quality to provide for the dietary needs of each child according to the minimum meal requirements of the child and adult care food program (CACFP), as administered by the Michigan department of education, based on 7 CFR part 226, 1-1-18 edition, (2018) of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, CACFP, and is hereby adopted by reference. A copy can be obtained at no cost from CACFP at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks. In addition, a copy is available for inspection and distribution at no cost at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, Child Care Division, 611 West Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48933.

On 06/28/2022 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Lakeview. I observed the children napping in each of the classrooms. Each classroom had a white board posted with the child's name and allergies listed. I interviewed program director, Amy Rowe, child care staff members, Darci VanValkenburg, Ashley Begley, Lauren Reed, and Mandy Franks. I obtained child information cards, the parent handbook, attendance, daily record sheets for toddlers, and the Michigan Department of Education "Request for Special Dietary Needs Accommodations" form. Ms. Rowe denied the allegation that Child A is not being fed full meals and only provided fruits and snacks due to his allergies. She reported that the center was struggling with finding foods safe for Child A to consume due to his allergies, but they were giving him food substitutions they had at the center and staff were also buying him items that were safe for him to consume and bringing them in as well, so he would have a meal that met all nutritional guidelines. The paperwork necessary for the Child Care Food Service to do substitutions and accommodations for meals was not turned into the center in a timely manner. Child A was enrolled at the center 04/25/2022 thru 06/23/2022. A written note was given to the center with the child's allergies and turned into the Child Care Food Service (approximately 05/20/2022) but it was not the required physician completed/signed form, "Request for Special Dietary Needs Accommodations" from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). This form is given to any family who reports that a child has special dietary needs/allergies and was given to Child A's family. The form is completed and returned to the center and the center then forwards the request form to the Child Care Food Service. The Child Care Food Service will then prepare substituted food according to the physician's instructions from the signed form. The food is packaged and labeled separately when delivered to the center to serve. I asked Ms. Rowe if the center was aware that Child A was going home hungry and upset and she indicated that had not been communicated to her until last Thursday, 06/23/2022, when this all occurred with Ms. VanValkenburg talking with Child A's parents. Ms. VanValkenburg has been employed at the center for many years and works as a child care staff member in the Ocean room. Child A was not in her classroom as he was in the Barn room but the Barn and Ocean rooms are close in age group and work with each other. Children are sometimes dropped off in Ocean and then move over to the Barn room. Ms. VanValkenburg confirmed she did speak with Child A's Father and Mother. She reported that she talked with them both in an effort to see what was going on with paperwork for special needs/accommodations, if it was turned in, and if they were able to bring in some extra food that is safe for their child until the Child Care Food Service substituted meals kicked in. She denied that Child A was not fed meals and reported that the center always found something for him to eat that was safe while waiting for the Child Care Food Service process to get started. Ms. VanValkenburg admitted it was a struggle at times as he has a lot of 3 allergies but they were doing everything they could in the between time. She felt Child A was getting bored with eating the same food items. Ms. VanValkenburg told Child A's parents that Child A was being fed fruits, vegetables, and anything safe for him to consume for the grain and protein portion. Some of the regular menu meals worked for him and at times they were having to find something in the center freezer that was extra from a different meal day to substitute for him. If he were not able to have that item or snack, they would feed Child A Kix cereal as it was a safe item for him to consume. I asked Ms. VanValkenburg if the center was aware that Child A was coming home hungry and she indicated she was unaware of a

View state record

R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. 7

On 02/28/2022 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Lakeview. Child care staff member, Katie Everett, answered the door and reported that program director, Amy Rowe, was off for the day and not present at the center. I observed three children and one child care staff in the Butterfly (infant) room. Two children were eating and one child was sleeping. The other four classrooms of children were either outside or in the classroom having free choice time. I interviewed child care staff, Kennedy Rupe, and Bella Gross. I spoke with program director, Ms. Rowe, per telephone. I obtained child information cards and the parent handbook. Ms. Rowe confirmed that there was an incident on 02/23/2022 where Child A was bitten/scratched on her face/head multiple times by another child. She reported that it happened in the Butterfly (infant) room and the child care staff present were Ms. Rupe and Anita Castleberry. Nichole Cook is the lead child care staff in this room but she was on break at the time the biting occurred and Ms. Rupe was covering in the room for her. Ms. Rowe reviewed the video footage from the date/time that it occurred. Ms. Rupe was diapering a child and Ms. Castleberry was cleaning up lunch. Child A was laying on the floor under a play gym and Child B was next to her giving Child A "kisses, "which were bites that left marks on her face and head. Ms. Castleberry is then seen coming over and quickly moving two children away and picking up Child A. Ms. Castleberry brought Child A to the office after it happened. They took photos and sent them to Child A's Mother on the child care/education management application, Class Dojo. Child A's Mother called Ms. Cook and then 15 minutes later, Child A's Father came up to the center to check on Child A. He went into the room and looked at Child A, did not interact with staff, and then left. About an hour after that, Child A's grandmother picked her up. Child A has not returned to the center since that day. Ms. Rowe did see the marks on Child A's face/head and described them as multiple red marks that looked like the child had sucked really hard on her face but no visible teeth marks. The biting policy for the center is in the parent handbook. Any time a child is bitten, the children are separated and the bitten child is treated for the bite. A notice is sent home to the parents of the bitten child 3 and to the parents of the child who was biting. I asked Ms. Rowe if she had any concerns with any child care staff and she reported that she did not. Ms. Rupe is an assistant child care staff in the Barnyard (toddler) room regularly and has been employed at the center for approximately two years. She confirmed that she was working in the Butterfly room the day of the incident and that she was covering for Ms. Cook while Ms. Cook went on break. The children had just finished eating lunch and she was at the changing table diapering a child. The other children were on the floor and in equipment. Ms. Castleberry was cleaning up the mess from lunch. Child A was laying on the floor with a play gym and Child B was nearby but not right next to Child A. Very quickly Child B moved next to Child A, so Ms. Rupe said, "Child B, be careful baby." Ms. Castleberry went over to the children and said, "oh my god!" She moved Child B and picked up Child A to take her to the office to look at the marks on her face and contact Child A's Mother. Ms. Rupe reported that she did not see/hear Child A cry. Ms. Rupe observed that Child A had approximately five red marks on her face/head but was not sure if they were teeth marks. She indicated that Child A's Father came to the center shortly after the incident and came in the room and peek at Child A sleeping in her crib. He did not say anything and left. Ms. Rupe reported that she did not know that Child B has issues with biting others or else she would have never placed her on the floor with other children. She is not the regular

View state record

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment. 5

On 05/21/2021 I received a telephone call from program director, Nicole Chervanek, reporting an incident that occurred the evening before during outdoor play. On this same day I received an incident report from the licensee designee, Malia DePriest. The incident report stated that Ms. Chervanek received a message on Facebook from Child A, Child B, and Child C's Mother about Child A being choked by a child care staff member, Miss Chelsea (Sutherland) and that Child B and Child C saw it happen. Child A, Child B, and Child C's Mother indicated Child A had no marks. The other staff present outside during this time were Sarah Buschlen, Alora Winstone, Morgan Tobey, and the principal at Arbor Academy. The incident occurred between 4:00-6:OOPM during afternoon/evening outdoor play. On 05/24/2021 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Lakeview. The children were finishing up lunch and laying down for rest/nap time in each of the classrooms. I obtained child information cards, attendance records, copies of the messages between Child A, Child B, and Child C's Mother and Ms. Chervanek, and the parent handbook, including the discipline policy. I interviewed program director, Ms. Chervanek, and child care staff members, Ms. Sutherland, Ms. Tobey, and Ms. Buschlen. Ms. Winstone was not present at the center. Ms. Chervanek reported that on the evening of 05/20/2021 she received a phone call from Ms. Buschlen letting her know that Child E's Mother had called the center to report that she overheard Child B and Child C telling their mother that Ms. Sutherland choked Child A, and that her own child, Child E, had said Ms. Sutherland slapped Child A that same evening during outdoor play. Ms. Chervanek then began talking to the other child care staff that had been present during the evening outdoor time. She also received messages on Facebook from Child A, Child B, and Child C's Mother regarding the incident. After interviewing the staff involved, Ms. Chervanek told Child A, Child B, and Child C's Mother that what had happened was Child A was having some behavior issues outside and was asked to sit on the fence for a break. Ms. Sutherland did put her hand on the back of his shoulder/neck area when guiding him to the fence but never choked or squeezed him. Ms. Sutherland denied slapping him and had no idea where that accusation would have come from. Ms. Chervanek did say that Child E and Ms. Sutherland "butt heads" because Child E has some behavior issues and Ms. Sutherland is firm with the children when they are having issues controlling their behaviors. Ms. Chervanek has no concerns with Ms. Sutherland and indicated she knows her well and that is not in her character to ever physically discipline or put her hands on a child. She indicated Ms. Sutherland is great with the children. Ms. Sutherland worked for the center from May 2015 thru February 2018 and then left. She returned in January 2021 as a floater child care staff member. She has primarily been working in the school-age classroom the past few weeks. On 3 05/20/2021 Ms. Sutherland reported all classrooms were outside together along with their child care staff members as it was a very nice day out. The staff were squirting the children with water for fun as it was very warm out and the children loved it. Ms. Sutherland saw Child A run by and another child care staff member running after him. Child A had one of the squirt bottles of water and was asked several times to return the bottle to staff. He repeatedly would not listen, so Ms. Sutherland asked him to take a time-out on the fence. During this time, he was also spitting at other children. Ms. Sutherland came over to guide him to the fence as he would not listen. Her hand was flat on his upper back/between his shoulder blades and her other hand was flat on his upper arm/shoulder. She denied ever squeezing him during this time and did not choke him. Ms. Sutherland indicated she used to work at Star

View state record

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 12/15/2020 I receive a phone call from program director, Nicole Chervenak. Ms. Chervenak wanted to report an incident that occurred the previous evening at pick-up time at the center. She reported that a child in the Ocean room, Child A, woke up from her nap and had an indentation on her cheek due to falling asleep with her pacifier. Child care staff member, Darci VanValkenburg was changing Child A's diaper and noticed the mark and said to another staff member, "look how hard she slept," and showed the mark to the other staff. Ms. VanValkenburg left at 2:00PM and Child A's Mother 1 picked her up around 4:00PM. Child care staff member, Katie Everett, brought Child A to the door and Child A's Mother 1 asked what happened to her child's face. Ms. Everett explained that the mark was due to Child A falling asleep with her pacifier and sleeping on it. Child A's Mother 1 went out to the parking lot and called Child A's Mother 2. Child A's Mother 2 came to the door when she arrived and demanded to know what happened to her child and asked for all of Child A's belongings. The parents then called the police. The police arrived around 4:45PM. Ms. VanValkenburg was called and she came back to the facility to try to talk with the parents about the situation. The police interviewed Ms. VanValkenburg and then allowed Ms. VanValkenburg to try and talk to Child A's parents. Child A's parents were very upset and escalated. Ms. Chervenak indicated that Ms. VanValkenburg did not write up an incident or notify the parent of the mark on Child A's cheek as it is common for children to wake up with "sleep marks" from a cot, pillow/blanket, pacifier, etc. The police told the facility and Child A's parents that they would not be doing anything with the incident as they did not find malicious intent and felt Ms. VanValkenburg's explanation was reasonable for what had happened. On 12/16/2020 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC) Lakeview. I observed each of the classrooms of children eating their lunch and then they went down for naps. I obtained child information cards, attendance records, the center discipline policy, and written statements from child care staff members. I interviewed program director, Ms. Chervenak, assistant director, Amy Rowe, child care staff members, Ms. VanValkenburg, Katie Everett, Kearson Neiman, and Ashley Begley. Ms. Chervenak reported that Child A had been with the center since October 2019 and has not returned since the incident on 12/14/2020. I asked her if children regularly sleep with their pacifiers in the Ocean room. She indicated that the children are allowed to sleep with a pacifier if needed but Ms. VanValkenburg is usually a "stickler" for phasing children out of using them and puts their pacifiers in their cubbie shelves unless needed. Child A was still getting acclimated to the facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and would often cry very loudly for her parents, so she was still given a pacifier during naptime. Ms. Chervenak did not have any concerns 3 with Ms. VanValkenburg and her interactions/discipline methods with the children in her classroom. She indicated Ms. VanValkenburg has worked at the center for a number of years and is great with the children. Ms. Rowe is the assistant director and a child care staff member in the Barnyard classroom. On the day of the incident, Ms. Rowe was doing paperwork in the office and then worked in the Barnyard classroom from 2:30PM to 6:00PM. She did not see Child A as she was busy with her own class in the afternoon. Ms. Rowe reported that Ms. Everett brought Child A to the door when Child A's Mother 1 arrived and that Child A's Mother 1 was upset about a red mark on Child A's cheek. Ms. Everett explained it had happened during naptime as Child A had fallen asleep with a pacifier and must have slept on the pacifier. Child A's Mother 1 called Child A's Mother 2 and when Child A's Mother 2 arrived, they called the police as they d

View state record