Angels of Essence Child Care Centre

R 400.8110 · ..................................... R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (5) The actual number and ages of children in care at any time must never exceed the number and ages of children for which the center is licensed. .............

On 12/16/2022, I interviewed the complainant over the phone. She reviewed attendance records and saw the concern. She said she would send me the records she has for my review. On 12/19/2022, I conducted an unannounced inspection. I interviewed child care staff members (CCSM), Antonesa Chambers, Sherron Thomas, and Justise Williams. The licensee and program director, Betty Henderson, was not present but I was told that she was in route. CCSMs were aware of the center's capacity being 19. They all spoke of the split day program, indicating that children either come the first shift of the day or the second. They denied that there are any children that currently stay for both shifts. When asked about times when they are over capacity, they all said they just know how many they have, and they were not over capacity in their rooms. They 2 never felt the need to go around to see how many other children were in the other classrooms. When Ms. Henderson arrived, she was told the allegations and stated that the issue maybe that the complainant wasn't aware that she has a half-day program and is open 24 hours, seven days a week. When you add all the children up in one day, she would then have over 19 per day. I asked about her sign in/out process that they currently use. She said there are two ways parents can sign in. Parent can use pen and paper sign-in sheets, as well as the electronic system. Parents or guardians, at time of drop off and pick up, will either use the barcode scan system to note the times of service, or they are to sign in on the clipboard. She is aware of her capacity and expressed her desire to always comply with licensing rules. She said if at any time her attendance record shows the center over capacity it would have had to be an attendance record issue. Ms. Henderson said moving forward she would use only one or the other sign in methods so that this would not be an issue to in the further. While at the center, I observe the electronic system outside of the center as well as the clipboard hanging at the entry door. On 12/19/2022, I spoke with a complaint again over the phone. I made her aware that the center operates a split day program which may impact the attendance sheets. She stated that she would be forwarding over a spreadsheet that shows what was submitted during a two-week billing cycle that she was reviewing. On 12/20/2022, attendance records for the weeks of 9/11/2022 through 9/24/2022 were received via email and reviewed. Per the record: • Monday between 3:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. the center was over capacity when they serviced 24 to 26 children. • Tuesday, the center service between 24 and 30 children from 3:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. • Friday from 3:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. the center serviced between 24 and 30 children. • Thursday between 3:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. the center serviced between 24 and 29 children. • Wednesday the center serviced between 24 to 30 children between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. The following week had similar attendance with there being written evidence of overcapacity every day of the week. On 02/16/2023, an exit conference was held with Ms. Henderson over the phone. She was told that the department would be citing her in relation to her operating over capacity based on the attendance records that she submitted. She denied operating over capacity at any time but understood that the attendance records indicated differently. She understood that attendance records must be current and accurate. She said from this time forward, she would be using a sign in and out sheet to accurately track attendance. She believes that some of the parents who are not as computer savvy, would do better with this new process. 3

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (11) A center shall maintain an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each child's arrival and departure time. Electronic records may be used. If electronic attendance records are used, then they must be available to the department at the time of an inspection. If the electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, then the center is in violation of this rule.

The center fails to maintain accurate daily attendance logs. Ms. Henderson believes her record keeping caused her attendance log to show that she was operating over her licensed capacity during the weeks of 9/11/2022 through 9/24/2022.

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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 03/25/2022, I completed an unannounced inspection at Angels of Essence Child Care Center. I spoke to licensee/ program director, Betty Henderson and child care staff member, Sherron Thomas. I observed the toddler class. There were five children, ages 18 months to 36 months, present with one CCSM. The following information was provided for review: incident report, daily attendance record and video footage from 03/22/2022. According to Ms. Henderson, the incident with Child A occurred in the toddler classroom on 03/22/2022. There are six children enrolled in the toddler class and Ms. Thomas is the lead caregiver. Child A should be in the 3-year-old classroom, but he is very active and not ready to transition yet. On 03/22/2022 around 8:15 a.m. Child A was jumping on a beam bag and hit his head on the window ledge. Ms. Thomas left the room to answer the door and child care staff member, Charles Williams, was standing in the classroom doorway when the incident occurred. Child A had a one-inch gash over his left eye that was bleeding. Ms. Thomas call Child A's Mother immediately after it happen and asked her to pick up Child A due to the bleeding gash. Fifty minutes went by, and Child A's Mother had not picked him up, Ms. Henderson called Child A's Mother a second time. Child A's Mother told Ms. Henderson she was trying to get off work. Child A's Mother arrived two hours after the incident. She took him to receive medical treatment and he received stiches. Ms. Henderson was unsure how many stiches Child A received. She stated that she maintained contact with Child A's Mother by text on 03/22/2022 and 03/23/2022 after speaking with her by the phone, 03/22/2022. Ms. Henderson stated that a video of the incident was sent to Child A's Mother and an ouch report was provided at pick up to Child A's Mother. Ms. Henderson contacted LARA and reported the incident and sent a written incident report on 03/22/2022. According to the incident report, on 03/22/2022 at 8:15 a.m., "Child A was running back and forth, jumping on a bean bag and hit his head on the edge of the windowsill." At 8:16 a.m., Ms. Thomas treated Child A's injury with peroxide and a band aide was put over the gash. The incident report was written by Ms. Henderson on 03/23/2022. Child A has not returned to the child care center since the incident. Ms. Henderson was surprised that an investigation was being open regarding the incident. She thought she had a good relationship with Child A's Mother and had been providing care to the family since 2020. Ms. Henderson stated that recently there were some issues due to her having to decline some of Child A's Mother requests (i.e., open the center 15 minutes earlier, late pick up after closing, and past due balance). According to Ms. Thomas, she is the lead caregiver of the toddler class. Child A has been in her class for the past two years. On 03/22/2022, Mr. Williams came into the toddler room. All the children get excited when Mr. Williams arrives, and they will 3 get up to greet him. Child A was sitting at the table when Mr. Williams came into the room. The doorbell rang and Ms. Thomas went to answer the door. While she was at the door, she heard Mr. Williams call her name and he stated, "We have an accident." Child A was crying and standing at the door with Mr. Williams. Ms. Thomas stated that she could see the white flesh above Child A's eye. Mr. Williams stated that he was jumping on the bean bag. Ms. Thomas took Child A to her desk and got the first aid kit. She put peroxide on the gash to clean it and then she put a band aide on it. Ms. Thomas called Child A's Mother and informed her that Child A was injured, bleeding and that he needed to be picked up. Child A's Mother stated that she was at work, and she would have to see if she could leave. She would call them back. Child A's Mother did not call back to the child care center and Ms. Henderson called her. About 15 to 20 minutes later, Child A's Mother texted that she was

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (11) A center shall maintain an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each child's arrival and departure time. Electronic records may be used. If electronic attendance records are used, then they must be available to the department at the time of an inspection. If the electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, then the center is in violation of this rule.

The center's daily attendance was not accurate for 03/22/2022. It did not include each child's last name for 16 children present and the departure time was missing for four of the children signed in.

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400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of caregivers to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, shall be the following: (a) For infants and toddlers, there shall be 1 caregiver for 4 children and a maximum group size of 12.

On 03/22/2022 and 03/25/2022, the toddler room was out of ratio. There were five toddlers, ages 18 months to 36 months, C: with one child care staff member. There should have been two child care staff members present. ..........

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