R 400.1911 · 1 R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On 11/04/2022 after receiving the complaint, I contacted the complainant regarding the allegations. The complainant said she was driving through the neighborhood on Tuesday, 11/01/2022 and saw two little children who looked about 3 years old on Briarcliff and Pembroke standing alone. She immediately stopped her car and looked around for the adult that the children could have possibly been with. She did not see an adult. The complainant then saw two more children, then 2-3 more children, then she saw a woman walking and struggling to push two strollers and more children walking in front of the stroller. She also saw that the woman was trying to catch a dog. She observed that the children were running and crossing over driveways. The complainant pulled over to the woman and asked her if she could help her. The woman declined the help. The complainant said she pulled away and "feared for the safety of the children." The woman that was seen is identified as licensee, Denise Sue Mitchell. On 11/04/2022, at 11:28am, I completed an unannounced inspection at the residence of the licensee, Denise Sue Mitchell. When I walked on the porch, I rang the doorbell and I saw many children come to the big picture window. I saw one adult through the window who was putting two dogs into a room. I counted the children through the window. There were 11 children. Tracey Satterfield, child care staff member, came to the door. I asked if the licensee, Ms. Denise Sue Mitchell was home. Ms. Tracy was unsure. She said, "I don't know if she is here." I asked her if I could come in. She told me to wait on the porch while she went back to check to see if Ms. Denise was home. I waited on the porch for about 2 minutes. I rang the doorbell again. When Ms. Tracy came back to the door, I asked her if she was denying entry for me to come in the home. Ms. Tracy said, "No, I'm just trying to see where Ms. Denise is. I think she is out back with the "roof man". I volunteered to go to the backyard to see if Ms. Denise was with the "roof man". I walked to the fence and opened it. The "roof man" was on a ladder, but I did not see Ms. Denise. I went back on the porch, rang the doorbell again and informed Ms. Tracy that Ms. Denise was not back there. Ms. Tracy let me inside the home. After speaking with Ms. Tracy for about 10-15 minutes, Ms. Denise arrived. I asked Ms. Denise if she recalled walking in the neighborhood on 11/01/2022 with 11 children and a dog. She said she indeed remembered. Ms. Denise said Ms. Tracy had called off work on 11/01/2022, so she ended up being alone with 11 children. Ms. Denise said she decided to take them all for a walk. I asked Ms. Denise if she recalled the children 3 walking ahead of her, running, crossing over driveways, and being out of her sight. Ms. Denise said, "that is possible." I explained to Ms. Denise how alarming it was for her to take 11 children alone for a walk. She agreed. On 12/19/2022, I contacted Ms. Denise to ask her if she had notified her parents to make them aware of the incident that occurred on 11/01/2022. She said yes, she told her parents that she was seen walking through the neighborhood with a lot of children by herself and the department of licensing was called, and it resulted in an investigation. She said she told her parents that I came out to the home to complete an onsite inspection regarding the allegations. I then asked Ms. Denise if she informed the two parents of the children who the complainant saw by themselves. Ms. Denise said, "There weren't any children who were by themselves. My kids were always in my sight." I reminded Ms. Denise of our conversation when I was onsite and what was alleged by the complainant. I further reminded Ms. Denise that when asked about that incident on 11/04/2022, her response was, "that is possible." Ms. Denise said she recalled our conversation. On 12/19/2022, I requested that Ms. Denise send me six random parent contacts that included the contacts of two children who

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1910 · R 400.1910 Ratio of personnel to children. (1) The ratio of personnel to children present in the home at any 1 time must be not less that 1 member of the personnel to 6 children. The ratio must include all children in care who are not related to any personnel and any of the following children who are less that 6 years of age

On 11/04/2022, when I arrived onsite to complete the unannounced inspection, I could see 11 children and 1 adult through the picture window. When Ms. Tracy allowed me access into the home, I counted the children to confirm what I saw through the picture window. There were 11 children. Ms. Denise was not present. I began asking Ms. Tracy for the ages of the children. The children present were as follows: Child Age Child A 2 yrs. old Child B 7 months Child C 1 rs. old Y2 Child D 3 rs. old V2 Child E 2 yrs. old '/2 Child F 2 yrs. old '/2 Child G 1 yr. old Child H 3 yrs. old Child I 3 yrs. old Child J About 3 yrs. old Child K 2 yrs. old 5 After approximately 10-15 minutes, Ms. Denise arrived. She had returned from a doctor's appointment. I asked Ms. Denise if she was aware that Ms. Tracy should not have been left with 11 children, seven of whom were 2 and younger. Ms. Denise 1/2 said she was aware. I asked Ms. Denise to recall if she was alone with 11 children on 11/01/2022 walking through the neighborhood with a dog. She said yes, she recalled the day in question. Ms. Denise mentioned that Ms. Tracy had called off and she decided to take the children for a walk. I told Ms. Denise that on 11/01/2022 when she was walking the children through the neighborhood, she was out of ratio. I told her that according to the rules, to be in ratio, she should have had only four children who were 30 months of age or younger and she had seven. I told her that if Ms. Tracy calls off and cannot come to work, she should contact her parents and tell them that they have to have alternative child care for the day. Ms. Denise said she understood. I noticed other children's names on the cubbies that weren't the children who were present. Ms. Denise said those were other children who come on other days. On 12/21/2022, I contacted Ms. Denise to discuss the ratio violation. Ms. Denise said she understands that she should not have had more that six children, and three of them should not be under 30 months. She also understands if there are more than four children under the age of 30 months, she needs a child care staff member present in order to maintain appropriate ratio.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1910 · 1 R 400.1910 Ratio of personnel to children. (2) For each member of the personnel, not more than 4 children shall be under the age of 30 months, with not more than 2 of the 4 children under the age of 18 months.

On 11/04/2022 during the unannounced onsite inspection, Ms. Tracy was unsure of Child J's age. When Ms. Denise arrived, I asked her to confirm Child J's age. Ms. Denise said, "I believe she is 3 years old." She brought out the child information records, and we noticed that Child J did not have a birth date indicated on the form. It was blank in that space. Ms. Denise said she had not noticed that the child information record of Child J was missing the birth date. On 12/21/2022, during our exit conference we discussed the importance of ensuring that parents have completed the child information records in their entirety.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1907 · R 400.1907 Child's records. (1) Prior to a child's initial attendance, a licensee shall obtain the following documents (a) A completed child information card on a form provided by the department or a comparable substitute approved by the department. 7

On 12/19/2022 1 contacted Ms. Denise, and I asked her if she informs parents when she must step away from the home at any time. She said most of the time I do. I asked her if on 11/ 04/2022 when I conducted the onsite inspection, did her parents know that she had left to go to a doctor's appointment. She said, "not all of them, but most of them." I asked her why some of them knew and not all of them. She said she informed the ones she saw that morning after she was aware she could go to the doctor. On 12/19/2022, I contacted four parents and asked them if they are usually informed when Ms. Denise has to step away from the home for any reason. I contacted Child H and Child E's Father. I contacted Child F's Mother. I contacted Child I's Father. I contacted Child C's Father. I specifically asked each parent to recall 11/04/2022 and each of them could not recall that particular day due to the time elapsed. Three of the four parents said they are not informed when Ms. Denise must step out due to an appointment or for any other reason. Child H and Child E's Father said he is aware when Ms. Denise has to leave, and he knows his children are in good hands with the child care staff member. Child F's Mother said she has never been informed if Ms. Denise must step out. Child I's Father said he has never been informed that Ms. Denise may have to leave due to an appointment and the children are left in the care of another adult. Child C's Father said Ms. Denise told him when he enrolled his child that sometimes she may have to leave and when she does, she has an assistant. But she does not tell him every time that she has to step away. On 12/21/2022, I had an exit conference with Ms. Denise to discuss my findings from the investigation. I told her of my recommendation to put her on a provisional license with increase monitoring. The provisional waiver was sent, signed, and received from Ms. Denise Sue Mitchell on 12/21/2022.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1903 · R 400.1903 Licensee responsibilities. (1) A licensee shall be responsible for all of the following: (d) Inform parents when a child care staff member is providing care in the absence of the licensee. ...... ..... ......

Ms. Denise Sue Mitchell does not inform all parents on each instance, when she has to leave the home during child care hours.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1932 · 1 R 400.1932 Home maintenance and safety. (1) The structure, premises, and furnishings of a child care home must be in good repair and maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable condition. I

On 01/19/2022 the department received a complaint that the home was very dirty. The complaint did not leave any contact information. On 01/25/2022, I conducted an unannounced inspection at the home. I inspected the living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms on the first floor. The kitchen contained a sink filled with dirty dishes. The floor of the kitchen had dog food bowls and dog food scattered on the floor. There were shoes and clothing items in the space between the basement steps and the kitchen, near the stove. The bathroom tub acted as storage area for cleaning products and other household items. The bedroom not approved for child use space had clothing all over the floor making the room almost inaccessible. The space was cluttered with a bed and two pack and plays. I observed disinfectant wipes on the cube by the front door in the living room. The living room also had disinfectant spray on the child use table. In the dining room there was carpet cleaner and wood floor polish on the table. The piano that was in between the living and dining room had a polisher on the ledge of it. The bathroom contained a bottle of window cleaner on the counter of the vanity. In the bathtub was a bottle of bleach and a container of laundry detergent. In the shower of the bathroom was a bottle of tile cleaner, shampoo, and face wash. All the items were in child use areas and within the reach of children. The licensee did not have any explanation as to why her home was in this condition. I informed her that all hazardous items need to be removed and she agreed. On 01/26/2022, I interviewed Child A, B, and C's mothers by telephone. Child A, B, and C's mothers all had no concerns about the cleanliness of the home. The parents all drop off and pick up the children from inside of the home. On 01/27/2022, I interviewed Child D's Mother by telephone. Child D's Mother also had no concerns about the cleanliness of the home.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1932 · R 400.1932 Home maintenance and safety. (2) All dangerous and hazardous materials or items must be stored securely and out of the reach of children.

On 01/25/2022, I interviewed licensee, Denise Mitchell. She stated that Child D (8-year-old male) had an accident that required medical attention five years ago. At the time of the incident, Child D was two years old and somehow bumped his head on the coffee table while walking around it. Ms. Mitchell instantly called the parents and told them that Child D had split his head and she had bandaged it. The parents came and picked the child up shortly after and took him to urgent care. Child D had to have the wound glued. Ms. Mitchell removed the coffee table from the child use area. She stated that she did not report the incident to the department, because she did not know she was required to. On 01/26/2022, I interviewed Child A, B, and C's Mother. They all stated that their child had never been injured while in care of Ms. Mitchell. On 01/27/2022, I interviewed Child D's Mother. She stated that her child did have an injury while at Ms. Mitchell's home. She provided the same information as Ms. Mitchell. Child D returned to care with Ms. Mitchell the next day. Child D continues to be in the care of Ms. Mitchell when not in school. Child D's Mother is very happy with Ms. Mitchell's care and the relationship she has with her son. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Mitchell and informed her of the notification rules and requirements for serious accidents and injuries that require medical attention. 4

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1962 · R 400.1962 Department notification required; incidents; injury; accident, illness, death, or fire.

Child D was injured while in the child care home and Ms. Mitchell did not report the incident to the department. However, the incident occurred five years ago, therefore technical assistance was provided

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1915 · R 400.1915 Indoor space; play equipment and materials. (2) Only space that has received prior approval for child use by the department may be used for child care.

Child E was resting in a bedroom not approved for child use by the department.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1916 · R 400.1916 Bedding and sleeping equipment. (8) Soft objects, bumper pads, stuffed toys, blankets, quilts or comforters, pillows, and other objects that could smother an infant must not be placed with, under, or within reach of a resting or sleeping infant.

Ms. Mitchell placed Child E in a snowsuit, then placed Child E inside of the pack and play to sleep. Child E could have smothered herself while in the snowsuit.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.