TLC Early Childhood Center

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.

On 03/29/2023, I received a telephone message from Jessica Platte, program director and licensee designee of TLC Early Childhood Center regarding a situation at the center. On 03/30/2023, I conducted a telephone interview with Ms. Platte. Ms. Platte explained that Child A's Mother was concerned that Child B was hurting Child A while in care. Ms. Platte reviewed the video on an incident on 03/27/2023 with Child A and Child B. She did not observe the allegations that Child A's Mother was reporting. Child B has special needs, but Ms. Platte denied receiving any complaints about Child B. I provided technical assistance and consultation regarding appropriate care and supervision of children and meeting the needs of all the children in care. Ms. Platte would consider adding a second caregiver in the room to ensure the safety and well-being of all of the children. On 03/31/2023, I received a telephone message from Ms. Platte that Child A's Mother had filed a police report regarding the incident with Child B. On 04/03/2023, I conducted a telephone interview with Ms. Platte. Ms. Platte explained that on 03/31/2023, Detective Neil Stafford from the Clinton Township Police Department was at the center and reported that a police complaint had been made. Detective Stafford interviewed Ms. Platte and viewed the video footage of the 03/27/2023 incident. No further action was taken by the police. I informed Ms. Platte that she needed to submit an incident report and I would open a special investigation. On 04/03/2023, Ms. Platte emailed the written incident report and a special investigation was opened. 3 On 04/03/2023, I conducted a telephone interview with Child A's Mother. Child A's Mother stated she pulled Child A from care and he will not be returning. Child A began care at the center in September 2022, without any issues. In October 2022, Child B began attending at the center and on Child B's first day in care, he bit Child A. The bite did not break the skin, but Child A had a mouth print and bruising around the bite. On 03/27/2023, Child A's Mother dropped off Child A and left. She went back to the classroom after realizing she had forgotten something and when she was back in the classroom, she observed Child B grab Child A by the neck and he "threw my child to the ground." Child A's Mother yelled at Child B to stop. Child A's Mother explained that since October 2022, Child A has been bitten, hit, and kicked by Child B. Child B has also hit other children in the classroom including a little girl who hit her head after Child B hit her. Multiple parents expressed concerns because the children in the class were saying "Child B did this. Child B did that." Child A's Mother brought her concerns to the school's attention, and nothing was done. Child A's Mother was told that "children fabricate issues" and the center would not discuss Child B's behaviors and needs with Child A's Mother. Child A's Mother was aware that Child B has special needs and stated that although she is sympathetic to Child B's needs, she was concerned that the needs and safety of Child A and the other children were not being met. Child A's Mother confirmed she made a police report after not getting a satisfactory response from the center. She indicated she felt she had nowhere else to turn to. On 04/03/2023, I conducted an onsite inspection at TLC Early Childhood Center. I interviewed Ms. Platte regarding the incident. Ms. Platte confirmed that Child A was bitten on Child B's first day in care. The skin was not broken, but a mark was left. Ms. Platte stated that was the only incident report she had regarding Child A and Child B. A few weeks after Child B started, he tried to bite Child Care Staff Member 1, but she pulled away in time to avoid being bitten. Regarding the 03/27/2023 incident, Child A's Mother dropped off Child A and left. She forgot something in the car for Child A so she went to the car and came back to the classroom. Child A's Mother and Child Care Staf

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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.

On 09/01/2020, I received a call from Licensee Designee. Karen Pitters, self-reporting an incident involving Child A. An on-site inspection was made on 09/0312020 along with We arrived at the center at 1:00 PM and met with Licensee Designee. Karen Fitters. Assistant Director/Assistant Caregiver, Jessica Platte, was also present for the discussion. Ms. Fitters reported that on Friday, 08/28/2020, she received a telephone call from Child A's Father who was very upset to learn that Child A had food thrown at■ by Assistant Caregiver, "ica on 08/27/2020. Ms. Fitters agreed that this was not a ropriate and , that she had spoken to and put a note in file regarding this. Ms. Fitter's thought the issue was"resoed and Child A's a er seemed pleased when the call ended. Ms. Pitters stated that she then left for the day. However, a short time after she left, Child A's Father called back and left a message with receptionist, Alice Liva, and stated that Child A was also grabbed by the arms. Ms. Pitters indicated that since she had already left for the day, Ms. Platte, attempted to call Child A's Father back, but the call went to voicemail and the mailbox was full. Ms. Platte reported that Child A's Father did not call back. Ms. Pitters reported that Child A's Father then sent an email to her, which came at 6:21 PM on 08/28/2020 and she did not see it until Monday, 09/01/2020. Ms. Pitters stated that she spoke with Assistant Caregiver. regarding Child A's Father's concerns and■ did admit to throwing a corn dog at 0 Child A. however denied that had grabbed Child A in any way. Ms. Fitters stated that explained tha during lunch, was making rounds to verify that all the children were all set with their lunch and th there were extra tater tots and corn dogs. then was playing a game with the kids and if they got the answer correct, they qot a tater tot or corn doq. When Child A answered, Ms. Pitters indicated that denied grabbing Child A by arms. Child A's Father indicated that this allegedly occurred on 08/28/2020 around 1:25 PM in the cafeteria/community room after lunch. Ms. Pitters indicated that nowhere in the video footage that she viewed did it show grabbing Child A. Ms. Fitters reported was never alone with any group of children during the day and that ftrhoma tmo on 08/28/2020, was making and serving _ snow cones. Ms. Pitters indicated that she spoke with the other assistant caregivers ci who worked with on 0812812020 and no one recalls the incident that is being described. Ms. Pitters reported that Assistant Caregiver, ■ ; is a E ,h and this is workingRwith them. She stated that as not had any disciplinary actions taken against.. She descriredOM s "one of the nicest. is stellar and always aoorooriate. nas a gooc rapport win me cniiaren ana tnatE ana t. nila A naa a great relationship, told her that does not understand where this allegation would be coming from, Ms. Pitters also indicated that Child A never came to an staff member to say that something had happened between and nor did Child A appear to act any differently or appear upset. and I then privately interviewed Assistant Care iver, Haley Eversole, Rw oore"poed that she has worked at the center for . She reported that she was present during the incident involving throwing the corn dog to Child A. She stated was giving out he extra corn dogs and if the children answered thteh qaless n correctly, they would get one. Ms. Eversole described to `toss" the coin dog and that it was not done in an effort to hurt ChildR, uTm=ore o f a playful and "oking around manner. She stated that Child A laughed and never mentioned that was injured. Ms. Eversole stated that she has never witnessed be inappropriate with any of the children. We then asked her if she witnessed grab Child A by the arms, and Ms. Eversole stated that she did not. and I then privately interviewed Assistant Caregiver Kelsey Sochocki, who worked at the center and then came back in . Ms. Sochocki stated that she too witnessed th

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