R 400.8280(3)(a) · R 400.8280(3)(a) Discipline (3) Time out must only be used in combination with instructional approaches that teach children what to do in place of the behavior problem. (a) Time out must not be used for children under 3 years of age.

According to interviews with teachers and parents, time out has been used for children under the age of 3 years old.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

Discipline (3) Time out must only be used in combination with instructional approaches that teach children what to do in place of the behavior problem. (b) The program staff or volunteer shall remain calm when placing the child in time out.

According to interviews with teachers and parents, teachers remain calm when placing children in time out.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8161(1)(e) · R 400.8161(1)(e) Emergency procedures. Crisis management including, but not limited to, intruders, active shooters, bomb threats, and other man-made events. Bureau

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8143(1) · R 400.8143(1) Children's records. At the time of a child's initial attendance, a center shall obtain a child information card, using a form provided by the department or a comparable substitute, that is completed and signed by the child's parent. The center shall keep it on file and accessible in the center. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8170(8) · R 400.8170(8) Outdoor play area. The outdoor play area must be protected from hazards, when necessary, by a fence or natural barrier that is at least 48 inches in height.

A fence needs to be installed around the outdoor play area to protect the children from external hazards.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8113 · R 400.8113 Program director qualifications; responsibilities. ...................................... ...... (2) A program director shall be present in the center in the following manner: (a) Full time for programs operating less than 6 continuous hours. (b) At least 50% of the time children are in care but not less than a total of 6 hours per day for programs operating 6 or more continuous hours.

On 03/03/2023 I received a complaint that the center did not have a program director as the program director's employment had been terminated, and the staff member that served as an assistant to the director was also no longer employed at the center. The program director was Angel Crites. Complainant was concerned for the center as following the program director's termination, two classrooms were closed abruptly at the center. It should be noted that I did receive an email from the CDC-Forest email address from former program director, Angel Crites, on 02/28/2023 that said, "Just wanted to let you know I got fired." On 03/07/2023 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Forest. I observed eleven children present with two child care staff. Ten of the children were napping and one child was quietly reading a book. After the children woke up, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 1 read to children and used puppets to animate the story. I interviewed CCSM 1, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 2, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 3, and Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 4. CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, and CCSM 4 all confirmed that there is no current program director for the center. They reported that Angel Crites was the program director, and her last day at the center was the beginning of last week either Tuesday 02/28/2023 or Wednesday 03/01/2023. CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, and CCSM 4 also confirmed that two of the rooms closed down, Dragonflies and Ladybugs. The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) and before/afterschool program are currently open still. On 04/05/2023 I spoke with licensee designee, Dr. Norman Peterson. Dr. Peterson confirmed that the center does not currently have a program director, but that they are interviewing for a new director. The principal of Forest Academy, Angela Smith, is overseeing the center in the interim until a new director is hired. It should be noted that Forest Academy is in the same building as CDC-Forest. On 04/13/2023 I spoke with Child A, Child B, Child C, and Child D's Mothers. The parents interviewed were all aware that the center no longer has a program director and indicated the center does not yet have a new director, but they were told the 3 center is interviewing for a new one. The parents were told that the principal of Forest Academy, Ms. Smith, is in charge of the center until a new director is hired. On 04/18/2023 I conducted a second unannounced onsite inspection to CDC-Forest. I spoke with CCSM 1, CCSM 2, and CCSM 3 who reported that a new program director has not been hired as of yet, but they were aware that there have been interviews and someone interested in the position. I spoke with Ms. Smith from Forest Academy. She confirmed that she is overseeing the GSRP and before/afterschool program in the interim until a new program director is hired.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

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 03/07/2023 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Forest. I observed eleven children present with two child care staff. Ten of the children were napping and one child was quietly reading a book. After the children woke up, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 1 read to children and used puppets to animate the story. I interviewed CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, and CCSM 4. CCSM 1 denied there being an issue with care and supervision in the GSRP classroom. He indicated that at the beginning of last week the program director was let go, and then child care staff from two other classrooms were called to the office Thursday, 03/02/2023, and told their classrooms were being closed, and they were 4 offered to move to work at one of the other CDC's. CCSM 1 and CCSM 2 were given letters to give out to parents of the children affected by the room closures. On Friday, 03/03/2023, the GSRP classroom was fielding phone calls from parents who did not know what was going on with the closed classrooms, and parents were coming in and asking what was happening. This day was chaotic due to everything that had happened that week. CCSM 1 reported that the GSRP classroom does follow a daily schedule and routine, but that the room was definitely a different environment the end of last week as they allowed more free choice time while dealing with the distractions from the closed classrooms. CCSM 1 maintains supervision in the classroom by interacting and playing with groups of children. There is also always another child care staff working alongside him, and also interacting with the children. CCSM 2 reported that as of last week the center no longer has a program director or assistant director, and the principal of Forest Academy, Ms. Smith, is supervising the GSRP program until a new program director is interviewed and hired. Last Thursday, 03/02/2023, around 3:30-3:45PM, CCSM 1 and CCSM 2 were given letters about the two room closures to give to parents at pick up. A letter was placed in each child's mailbox and all parents that picked up were told to check their child's mailbox. Ms. Smith sent emails to parents. CCSM 2 also emailed several parents she had email addresses for. The next day, 03/03/2023, CCSM 2 indicated that a couple parents came to the center to drop off their children and others called wanting clarification of what was happening at the center and why the rooms were closed. CCSM 2 indicated this day was a little off schedule as they were trying to field questions from parents about the closed rooms, but that the GSRP classroom normally follows a daily schedule with planned lessons and activities, today for example, children worked on basic addition and tallying. CCSM 2 did not recall any children crying or toys being all over. The toys are all over during free choice time, but then get picked up during "clean up" time. CCSM 2 reported that supervision is maintained in the classroom by walking around the room and observing the different areas of children playing and breaking off into groups and interacting with the children for activities. CCSM 2 indicated there is always two child care staff in the room. CCSM 3 denied that the GSRP classroom is chaotic, and the children are "watching themselves." She indicated that the staff in this classroom follow a curriculum and schedule with the children, but that it may appeared chaotic to someone last week as the Dragonflies and Ladybugs classrooms were closed down and many parents were upset. Child care staff and the principal of the academy handled a lot of questions. CCSM 3 maintains appropriate care and supervision by counting the children often and involving herself in the activities with the children. CCSM 4 has not observed the GSRP classroom or her own classroom as being chaotic and a mess. She reported that children do have toys all over during free choice time, but they do get picked back up at "clean up" time. CCSM 4 maintains care and supervision by

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 11/18/2021 I received an incident report from program director, Alexandria (Andria) Lyster reporting that she received a phone call that morning from Kalamazoo County (KC) Ready-4's that Child A's Mother had told them Child A hurt his arm at the center and received no notification of injury from the center. Ms. Lyster was unaware Child A had been injured at the center as she and the other staff had not observed any issues with either of his arms and Child A never told anyone his arm hurt. Ms. Lyster included a timeline of Child A's day that included him eating, playing, and resting which is a normal day for him. The only things they noticed different that day was that Child A cried and wanted to be hugged on the way to gym time and then cuddled in Ms. Lyster's lap and almost fell asleep during the children's gym play. Child A also slept for two hours during rest time. On 11/22/2021 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC) Forest. The doors were locked upon my arrival, so I tried calling the center and no one answered the phone. I called the early childhood coordinator/licensee designee, Malia DePriest. Ms. DePriest informed me that the center was closed due to there being positive Covid-19 cases at the center but that the program director, Ms. Lyster, was present somewhere at the center. On this same day I spoke with program director, Ms. Lyster, per telephone as she was not present at the center. Ms. Lyster reported that she first heard about the situation from a phone call with KC Ready 4's on 11/18/2021. She was shocked to hear that Child A had a broken arm and that it allegedly happened at the center 11/17/2021 as she was with Child A all day and he never complained about his arm to her, and used both arms all day while playing, eating, and doing yoga. Ms. Lyster reviewed center video footage for the day to see if there was something she had missed. She indicated that Child A used both arms all day on video and even participated fully in yoga with the other children at the end of the day before he left. asked Ms. Lyster if there was anything different about the day of his injury and she reported that the only thing was him being cuddly and sleepy at gym time and just wanting to be on her lap and that he slept during nap time. She indicated Child A normally is verbal and tells child care staff if he doesn't like something, doesn't feel well, or has a "poopy" diaper. The three child care staff members present the day of 3 the incident were herself, Amber Harshbarger, and Joyce Etts and there were 12 or 13 children. I asked Ms. Lyster how and when the center notifies parents of an incident. Ms. Lyster reported that she has great communication with the parents and always shares with them when something happens with their child. There is an incident form that they write up and give to parents at the end of the day if it is minor, and if there is an injury parents are notified immediately. It should be noted that this center has been closed off and on the past month due to positive Covid-19 cases and having to quarantine, and holidays. On 12/21/2021 I conducted a second unannounced onsite inspection to CDC Forest. There were four children present with one child care staff member and program director, Ms. Lyster. I interviewed program director, Ms. Lyster, and child care staff member, Amber Harshbarger. Ms. Etts is currently off the schedule as she had a family member pass away. I did not interview her because of this. I obtained child information cards, the center parent handbook, and the center staff handbook. I requested the attendance be emailed to me but did not receive it during the investigation. The older attendance records are kept at the CDC Foundation for Behavioral Resources. Ms. Lyster confirmed that Child A no longer attends the center and has not been back since the day of the incident. I asked if I were able to view the video footage that Ms. Lyster had mentioned during my

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.