• 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.

  According to the complainant, the children are not being placed in the correct age group setting. There is only one staff supervising 12 children. It was reported that the daycare was having staffing issues. The unknown female staff is a toddler teacher. Today she had all of her toddler students in the same room with the infant children. An infant child was on the floor sitting on a boppy pillow. One of toddlers was observed biting the infant on the hand. The unknown female staff was standing at the diaper changing table facing the hallway. The female staff hand her back turned towards the children during that time leaving the children unsupervised. On 02/02/2023 and I completed an on-site inspection at Kingdom Kare Learning Center Midtown. I spoke to Shahita Garrett, by phone regarding the allegations. I interviewed CCSMs, Juanita Sanford, Latashia Jones, Kenya Hill, Enidiah Turner, DeAsia White, Jamae Hughes and Jessica Tolen. The entire center was observed, and each classroom I observed was within the required ratios. In the Exploration Station (infant room), there were seven infants, ages 6 weeks to 12 months, with two CCSMs. In the Creation Station (toddler 1 room), there were seven children, ages 1 to 2 years, with two CCSMs. In the Motivation Station (toddler 2 room), there were eight children, ages 2 to 3 years, 1/2 with two CCSMs. In the Inspiration Station (3-year-old room), there were two children, ages 3 years old, with one CCSM. In the Adventure Station (3-year-old room), there were four children, ages 3 years, with one CCSM. In the Education Station (GSRP room), there were 11 children, ages 4 to 5 years with two CCSMs. In the Exploration Station room, I observed Ms. Hill and Ms. Turner supervised the children and change their diapers. The diaper changing table is against the wall. While one CCSM change the children's diapers, the other CCSM supervised the children. In the Creation Station room, the children are changed in the children bathroom, there is no changing table in the toddler rooms. According to Ms. Garrett, the center is fully staffed. They do not combine the classrooms at the beginning or end of the day at the center. The classrooms at the center are always in ratio. They have not had any issue with children biting at the center. I interviewed the infant and toddler CCSMs, Ms. Hill, Ms. Turner, Ms. White, Ms. Jones, Ms. Hughes and Ms. Tolen regarding the allegations. According to them, they have not had any issues with biting in the infant or toddler rooms. The infant and toddler room never combine the children. Each CCSM, denied being out of ratio and they each stated that they have never had to supervised 12 children alone. Ms. Hill and Ms. Turner stated that the infants are always supervised. There is always two CCSMs in the infant room. During diaper changes, one CCSM changes the children diaper. The other CCSM supervise the children and document the child diaper change in the bright wheel application. According to CCSMs, Ms. Sanford, at the beginning of the day, the children are received from their parents at the center entrance. Each child is taken to their 3 assigned room. The classrooms do not combine children as the rooms are staffed according to the enrollment of children. She has never seen a CCSM alone with 12 children. On 02/28/2023, the attendance records, child information cards, and staffing contact information was received and reviewed. The attendance records from 01/09/2023 through 01/13/2023 and 01/23/2023 through 01/27/2023, showed that the classrooms were following the required ratios. On 03/10/2023, I interviewed Child A's (11.5-month-old, male) Mother and Child B (6-month-old, male), Child C (2-year-old, female) and Child D's (4-year-old, female) Mother regarding the allegations. They stated they have no concerns regarding biting, supervision or diapering in the infant and toddler rooms. The center provides great care to their children. Consultation was provided to the licensee

The daycare was having staffing issues. An unknown child care staff member (CCSM) was supervising 12 infant and toddlers. One of toddlers was observed biting the infant on the hand. The children are not placed in correct age groups and the groups are out of ratio. 2

Disposition: Substantiated