Bay City ECC

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.

On 10/23/2020, I attempted to contact the complainant source by telephone and was informed by the answering service that the office was closed for lunch. A message was left requesting a return phone call. On 10/26/2020, I attempted to contact the complainant source by telephone and was transferred to the complainant source's voice mail. A voice mail message was left requesting a return phone call. On 10/26/2020, I contacted the assigned consultant Stacy Tomczak via telephone to gather additional information. On 10/27/2020, I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection at Bay City ECC. I met with lead caregiver Barb Panasiewicz. Ms. Barb is a caregiver in the Head Start GSRP room. Ms. Barb reports that the children are not forced to nap. The caregivers do require children to lay down on their cots and use quite voices. The caregivers provide activities that the children can do while on their cots. Those activities include reading books, fidget toys, puzzles and small figures. Ms. Barb is familiar with the incident involving Child A (female, age four) as the behavioral therapist contacted the center last week. Child A told her behavioral therapist that she was laying on her tummy and rolled over and bumped into Ms. Sherry's arm. The behavioral therapist contacted the center and questioned the center's methods during nap time with the staff regarding Child A. The behavioral specialist suggested the caregivers use fidget toys as Child A has a difficult time staying still during nap time. Typically, Child A does not go to sleep during nap time. Ms. Sherry used to sit with Child A during nap time, however she is no longer employed at the center due to accepting another position closer to her home. Currently Ms. Barb now sits with Child A during nap time. Child A also has trouble using her quiet voice and often wakes up the other children. The caregivers moved Child A's resting spot far away from the other children to prevent her from waking up the other children. Ms. Barb showed this consultant where Child A rests. The area has a book shelf next to Child A's cot. There is another shelf with games, connectable letters, fidget toys and a doll on it. Ms. Barb reports she sits next to Child A and talks to her in a quiet voice to encourage Child A to also use her quiet voice. Ms. Barb reports that Ms. Sherry 3 used to do the same thing with Child A. Child A never complained that Ms. Sherry hit her on her back. There has never been a complaint by any child that Ms. Sherry hit any child. It appears that Ms. Sherry was reaching for Child A's blanket when Child A flipped from her stomach onto her back and Child A's back made contact with Ms. Sherry's hand/arm however it was not intentional. Ms. Barb reports that Child A's behaviors have improved as they also use a timer as a visual reminder of when nap time is over. Child A is being quieter with less getting up and running around during nap time. The only time Child A is getting up is when she thinks Ms. Barb is not giving her enough attention. At times she still must redirect Child A as she still thinks she should be allowed to sleep in the baby doll crib. Child A's mother has not expressed any concerns with the quality of care provided. Ms. Barb provided Child A's child information card as this information was not provided by the complainant source. Ms. Barb also provided contact information for Ms. Sherry as she is no longer employed at the center. I then met with and interviewed caregiver Jean Schumacher. Ms. Jean does not recall any incidents involving Ms. Sherry and Child A. Ms. Sherry is no longer employed at the center as she got a job closer to her home. Child A does have some behavioral problems which tend to be more noticeable during nap time. Ms. Barb is working with Child A and there has been some improvement since they introduced the fidget toys. Ms. Barb also reads quietly to Child A during nap time and that also seems to keep her from running around and being too loud. On 10/

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