• Violation

  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. 1

  On June 13, 2023, I spoke with licensing consultant Juli Gohl. She had received an email the day before from licensee Priscilla Clish regarding some of the information in the complaint. The email stated that on April 7, 2023, Child A was supposed to attend daycare. Because he hadn't shown up, she texted Relative 1 to see if he was coming. Relative 1 indicated that they had taken him to the doctor the previous day for a re- check on possible ringworm. Child A's Mother had taken him to a different doctor during his visitation with her. The doctor had cleared him of ringworm but noticed he seemed bloated and said he was constipated. The doctor interviewed him because constipation can be a sign of sexual abuse. The doctor asked him who touched his bottom, and he said Child B. Relative 1 was aware of Child B attending the center but did not have any concerns of sexual abuse. Relative 1 planned to keep him home to treat it. The doctor indicated that they would make the appropriate referrals based on his disclosure. No one else ever contacted the center about the concern. Child A has attended the center for after-school care since May 2023 when preschool ended. He will attend the summer program starting on June 12, 2023. Over this past weekend, Child 3 A's Mother contacted her and indicated that she had recently received Child A's medical records and it said that Child B had touched his private parts and that this child attends daycare. On June 13, 2023, I contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). They indicated that they are not investigating this matter. On June 16, 2023, I interviewed Child A's Mother. She stated that she has joint custody of Child A, but he lives with his father most of the time. Often times she is left in the dark about her child. On June 06, 2023, she finally received medical records that she had been requesting. The records indicated that Relative 1 took him to the doctor on April 06, 2023, where he was treated for a yeast infection, constipation and leaking from his anal area. His symptoms included a "rash on his bottom and itching his butt for the last four days." The doctor felt it was abnormal for a child to have those symptoms. During the medical visit Child A told the doctor that Child B (from the center) had "touched him." As a result, DHHS was contacted. His father then withheld Child A from seeing her Easter weekend because he had to stay with him and receive medical care. When asked if Child A is around any other caregivers, she stated that he is often at his paternal grandparent's home. In fact, when she picked Child A up from his paternal grandfather's house the last time, he told her that Child A's stepbrother, Child C (male, age 10), "is messing with Child A." She had no idea what that meant and didn't ask any other questions. It was "a bit shocking to her and she blocked it out." She didn't tell Child A's Father or ask him. Her pediatrician advised her not to ask him anything. In regard to Child A's personal care, he has had yeast infections before. He "doesn't know how to clean up after himself. He will ask her to clean his bottom. He will reach for his butt a lot and put his hand there and scratch at it." He doesn't show any other signs of sexual behaviors that she is aware of. He is very insecure. He doesn't want her or anyone else to touch him. He likes to dress privately. He was showing behaviors of self-harm the last time he had to go back to this father's house. He was clawing at the carpet and digging his nails into his palms. He is scheduled to come to her house July 09-16th. She cannot say "100% that she thinks that Child B did anything to Child A." She has only been to the center one time and didn't have any concerns, but she doesn't know the program at all. On June 16, 2023, I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at the child care center from 12:10pm to 1:30pm. I observed Child A after lunch. He was preparing to rest with the other children during quiet time

Child A (male, age 5) was touched inappropriately by Child B (female, age 5) at the center two months ago. There is concern that he is still attending school with the child that touched him.

Disposition: Substantiated