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.

On 04/20/2023 I received an incident report from Licensee Deanna Williams. The incident report stated that Child A told her mother that Child B touched her vagina behind the bookshelf in the prekindergarten classroom. Child A said Child B touched her vagina over her clothing. It is believed that the incident occurred on 04/14/2023, however, it was not reported to Ms. Williams until 04/20/2023. Child A and Child B are enrolled in the prekindergarten class, and both attend full time. Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) A is the only staff member that works in that classroom. She works alone with a maximum of 12 children ages 4 and 5 years old. On 04/25/2023 I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at Wee Friends II in Commerce. I interviewed Ms. Lafferty and Ms. Williams. Ms. Lafferty said that Child A's Mother approached her while she dropped Child A off in the prekindergarten room on 04/20/2023. Child A's Mother informed Ms. Lafferty that Child A told her that Child B touched and tickled her vagina two times. Child A's Mother was upset and concerned about Child A's safety at the facility. Child A did not recall the date or part of the day in which the incident occurred. Ms. Lafferty called Ms. Williams right away. Ms. Williams arrived at the center a few minutes after the call. Upon her arrival, Ms. Williams and Ms. Lafferty interviewed Child B together in the kitchen office. Ms. Williams asked Child B if he touched Child A's vagina. Child B denied touching Child A's vagina. Ms. Williams provided Child B with a doll and asked him to demonstrate how he may have touched Child A. Child B touched the dolls shoulder and hip. Ms. Williams reminded Child B not to touch other children. Child B was sent back to the prekindergarten room. There are no cameras at the center so video footage is not available. Ms. Williams contacted Child A and Child B's parents. Child A's Mother said that Child A did not tell CCSM A because she was afraid and thought she may get in trouble. Child A's Mother asked what actions would occur and how the center would handle this situation. She said she wanted Child A and Child B to always be separated. Ms. Williams declined the request and stated she would complete an investigation. On 04/20/2023 Ms. Williams contacted Child B's Father to notify him of the incident. She asked Child B to stay home for a few days while an investigation was completed. 3 Child B's Father declined her request. He picked up Child B from the center and has not returned. On 04/27/2023 I spoke to CCSM A. She stated she did not observe Child B touch Child A in an inappropriate manner and was notified of the alleged incident immediately. She stated Child A and Child B do not generally play together and she did not recall a time they were together around the time of the alleged incident. CCSM A asked Child B if he had anything he needed to tell her and he responded that he did not. Child B was sent to Ms. Lafferty and Ms. Williams to discuss the incident. CCSM A asked Child A to show her where the incident occurred. Child A led her to a small area behind the book shelf in the book area. The book shelf is near a wall. Boxes of toys are usually behind the book shelf to block entrance to the area behind the shelf, but they were not there for a few days because CCSM A moved them. She stated that children in the class were interested in hiding plastic eggs as part of a game/play and she moved the boxes from that area so children could hide eggs there. The boxes were returned to the area behind the book shelf after children lost interest in the egg hiding game. CCSM A said she took pictures around the date of the incident during free play. She went through the photographs but did not observe Child A and B playing together or sitting near one another at any time. She did not have any pictures of children in or near the book area. CCSM A stated there was an incident a week prior. Child B pulled down his pants to be funny. CCSM A told him not to do

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.