• 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. 7

  On December 22, 2021, child care licensing consultant Shelly Naples was contacted by licensee designee Brenda Bradbury, who informed her that Child A's parents may be contacting licensing because they are accusing their staff of leaving Child A (female, age 3) in soiled (diarrhea) pants for over 3 hours on December 13, 2021. Allegedly Child A told her mother that she had asked for help, but the staff said they were too busy. The staff do not recall the child asking for help, nor did they smell or see any soiled pants. Ms. Bradbury indicated that the center is closed until January 04, 2022, due to the holidays. On December 22, 2021, Ms. Bradbury emailed a written timeline of the contacts that the center staff made with Child A's Mother and Father. It documented that Family Service Advocate Traci Kroetsch, and program director Jennica Odle had contacted the parents and provided them with an explanation of why they did not think Child A had soiled pants from that day. After much back-and-forth discussions, they all attended a Zoom meeting with the parents on December 22, 2021. Ms. Odle explained that they had no evidence at all to believe that Child A had soiled herself while in their care. When Child A is dismissed each day, she is walked down to Child A's Mother, who works in the same building. It wasn't until after she was dropped off to her mother that Ms. Odle was stopped in the hallway by Child A's Mother and confronted that she was extremely soiled and that the staff must have left her that way since nap time. During the meeting, no resolution was made, the parents remained upset, threatened legal action, and wanted the staff fired. On January 04, 2022, I interviewed Brenda Bradbury, licensing coordinator and designee for the center. Ms. Bradbury indicated that Child A has not been back to the program since the holidays and the parents do not plan to return her to the center. They are still very upset and would like to see the staff terminated. Ms. Bradbury stated that she has spoken with all the staff involved and no one has corroborated seeing, 3 smelling, or having any knowledge of Child A having an accident while at the program. They even checked the blankets, cots, and carpeting where she napped that day and there was no signs of stains, smells, or soiling. In addition, Child A is potty trained and did not require assistance with toileting. If she had a severe accident, as the parents believe she did, then a staff member or even a child would have smelled it. Ms. Bradbury indicated that Ms. Odle and child care staff worker Amanda Junga, who was working that day as well, have had no prior disciplinary issues and are great workers. On January 04, 2022, I interviewed Ms. Odle. Ms. Odle stated that she was very upset to hear the allegations from Child A's Mother's regarding Child A. Child A never approached her or Ms. Junga on December 13, 2021, to ask for help or assistance due to having an accident. She is very independent, self-sufficient, and routinely uses the bathroom by herself. Staff do not need to check on her unless she asks for help. Ms. Odle had no idea why Child A would say she asked for help when no one was aware of this. That particular day was a normal day. They got ready at the end of the day, as usual, and Child A walked with her and Ms. Junga to dismiss the children. Child A was dropped off at her mother's classroom and they actually had a short discussion about Child A not having her boots. Child A was acting normal and not crying. Child A's Mother was also fine at that time, she said that's ok, and they said goodbye without any issues. As Ms. Odle was walking through the hallways shortly thereafter, she was confronted by Child A's Mother, who was upset and yelling. Child A's Mother was yelling that Child A had diarrhea all over her bottom, legs and the staff let her sit in for hours. Ms. Odle indicated immediately that she did not see anything or smell anything and she could not believe that it had ev

On December 13, 2021, Child A (female, age 3) was neglected by the staff when she was left in soiled pants for at least 2 hours. She had diarrhea stuck to her and no one bothered to supervise or monitor her using the restroom.

Disposition: Substantiated