• Violation

  R 400.8380 · R 400.8380 Maintenance of premises. (2) The premises must be maintained so as to eliminate and prevent rodent and insect harborage.

  On 5/16/2023, I called Child A's Mother. She reported that Child A never goes anywhere but home and to the daycare center. In March she noticed that Child A had some bite marks on his arm. She later realized that they were bedbug bites. Child A had an infection from scratching so much. She confronted Ms. Kenyatta Scott, the licensee designee, and was told that they did not have an issue with bedbugs. The center called her one day and asked her to come to the center to pick up Child A, and she refused because it was not time for her to go pick him up. When she arrived at the center, she got into an altercation with the staff members. Child A continued to attend the center until she found another center for him to attend. 3 On 5/16/2023, I interviewed Ms. Kenyatta Scott, via telephone while I was at the center conducting an unannounced visit. She stated that back in March, Child A had not attended the center for two weeks. On the day that he returned, they called Child A's Mother because they noticed some marks on his body and they were concerned about them. Child A's Mother got offended and stated that the bites came from the center. They then asked Child A's Mother to come to the center to pick up Child A. She refused to come pick up Child A and she arrived at the end of the day to pick him up. When Child A's Mother arrived, she attempted to fight one of the staff members, and refused to leave the building. It was stated that Child A's Mother alleged that the center had bedbugs, yet she kept stating "My child will be returning to this Bitch." Ms. Scott, said she was confused that Child A's Mother made the allegations against them, but refused to pick up Child A and stated that she was going to keep bring Child A back to the center. Ms. Scott stated that they had not had an issued with bedbugs at the center. She has a service in place with Orkin and they come to the center once a month to inspect and spray for any rodents and insects. Ms. Scott provided me with receipts from Orkin for the last 5 months. The receipts show in March, that they sprayed of ants, and that there were no other issues noted. The other months that they inspected also showed no concerns. I interviewed the two Child Care Staff Members (CCSM) that were present. CCSM 1 stated she has worked at the center for nine years, and they have never had an issue with bedbugs. She reported she was aware of the allegation that Child A's Mother had made, but they were not true. She also reported that Child A's Mother was aggressive and tried to fight one day when she came to the center to pick up Child A. CCSM 2 reported no knowledge of any concerns with bedbugs. She denied that the center has bedbugs. She has never seen any, nor aware of any complaints that the children may have been bitten by bedbugs. On 5/21/2023, I called three random parents. Child B's Mother stated that Child B (4-year-old, male) has attended the center since he was almost 8 months old, and she has never had an issued or concern with the center. She also stated that Child B has never received any bites to suggest bedbugs while attending the center. Child C's Mother stated that she has never had any concerns or issues with bedbugs while Child C (2-year-old, male) has attended the center. Child D Mother also reported no concerns with the center during the past 3 years Child D (4-year- old, male) has been attending. 4

Child A (3-year-old, male) has been bitten by bedbugs/scabies while at the center.

Disposition: Substantiated