R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown: (c) Preschoolers, 3 years of age until 4 years of age, child care staff member to child ratio of 1 to 10, with a maximum group size of 30.

The Complainant did not leave any contact information; therefore, I was unable to speak to anyone to obtain additional information regarding the allegation. On 03/03/2023, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection at the center. I interviewed Amy Rooney, Early Childhood Grant Programs Coordinator. She said Room 3, Room 6, and Room 13 were the only rooms open on 03/02/2023 due to sickness going around in the center. Room 5 and Room 14 are the only rooms open today due to sickness going around in the center. Ms. Rooney called Heidi Schmidt, Program Director, while I was at the center. Ms. Schmidt was out sick. I interviewed Ms. Schmidt via telephone, and she confirmed that Room 3, Room 6, and Room 13 were the only rooms open on 03/02/2023 due to sickness going around in the center. She also stated that the center does not have a Room 8. The center was not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio on 03/02/2023. Rooms are closed, children may have to go to other rooms, or other child care staff members are called to work in other rooms to maintain child care staff member-to-child ratio. Room 6 has 3- and 4-year-olds. Room 3 and Room 13 have 4- and 5-year-olds. On 03/03/2023, I interviewed Child Care Staff Member 1 at the center. She is the lead caregiver in Room 13. She and Child Care Staff Member 3 worked in Room 13 on 03/02/2023. They had 12 children in the room and were not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio. The center closes rooms or finds another child care staff member to work in a room to maintain child care staff member-to-child ratio. On 03/03/2023, interviewed Child Care Staff Member 2 at the center. She is the lead caregiver in Room 3. She and Child Care Staff Member 5 worked in Room 3 on 03/02/2023. They had 12 children in the room and were not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio. The center closes rooms or finds another child care staff member to work in a room to maintain child care staff member-to-child ratio. On 03/03/2023, 1 interviewed Child Care Staff Member 3 at the center. She is a child care staff member who works in any room that needs her. She worked in Room 13 with Child Care Staff Member 1 on 03/02/2023. They had 12 children in the room and were not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio. The center closes rooms or finds another child care staff member to work in a room to maintain child care staff member-to-child ratio. 3 While on-site on 03/03/2023, I observed Room 5 and Room 14. The child care staff member-to-child ratios were as follows: Room Number of staff Number of children 5 1 2 14 1 4 I reviewed the staff and children's attendance sheets for Room 5 and Room 14 for 03/03/2023. The child care staff member-to-child ratios were maintained on that day. I reviewed the staff and children's attendance sheets for Room 3, Room 6, and Room 13 for 03/02/2023. The child care staff member-to-child ratios were as follows: Room Number of staff Number of children 3 2 12 6 2 17 13 2 12 On 03/21/2023, I interviewed Child Care Staff Member 4 via telephone. He is a child care staff member in Room 6. He and Unsupervised Volunteer worked in Room 6 on 03/02/2023. They had 17 children in the room and were not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio. However, he felt overwhelmed that day because the children were very active and Unsupervised Volunteer was not helping him with the children as much as he would have liked. The center closes rooms or finds another child care staff member to work in a room to maintain child care staff member-to- child ratio. On 03/22/2023, I interviewed Child Care Staff Member 5 via telephone. She is a child care staff member who works in any room that needs her. She and Child Care Staff Member 2 worked in Room 3 on 03/02/2023. She could not recall how many children were in the room, however, they were not out of child care staff member-to-child ratio. The center closes rooms or finds another child care staff member to work in a room to maintain chil

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown: (d) Preschoolers, 4 years of age until school-age, child care staff member to child ratio of 1 to 12, with a maximum group size of 36. ..... ....... ........ ................

The center maintained the required child care staff member-to- child ratio in Room 3 and Room 13 on 03/02/2023 based on the daily attendance sheets. Ms. Schmidt and the child care staff members stated that the center maintained the required child care staff member-to-child ratio in Room 3 and Room 13 on 03/02/2023.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

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 did not maintain accurate records of daily attendance at the center in Room 6 and Room 13 on 03/02/2023.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

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 11/10/2022, I was notified by program director and licensee designee, Heidi Schmidt, that Child A was left unsupervised in the restroom by substitute child care staff member Amber Waid. Ms. Schmidt stated that Ms. Waid was assisting in the afternoon latchkey program when she escorted a small group of children to the restroom. While at the restroom, two more children were sent to the restroom. Ms. Waid returned to the classroom without Child A. Child A was crying in the hallway near the restroom when child care staff member Nina Thomas approached him. Ms. Thomas escorted Child A to the latchkey room. Ms. Thomas reported the incident to Ms. Schmidt. Ms. Schmidt notified Child A's Father via telephone. When Ms. Schmidt asked Ms. Waid about the incident, Ms. Waid shrugged off the incident as if it was not a big deal. Ms. Schmidt explained to Ms. Waid the safety concerns of leaving children unsupervised. Ms. Waid was sent home and no longer works at the child care center in any capacity. Ms. Schmidt submitted an incident report. On 11/17/2022, I completed an onsite inspection at the center. I interviewed child care staff member Nina Thomas. Ms. Thomas stated that she was walking back from a different classroom when she saw Child A in the hallway. As she approached Child A, she heard him crying and asked what happened. Child A said that the child care staff member left him. Ms. Thomas escorted Child A back to the latchkey room and informed child care staff members Zaria Smith and Amber Waid that she found Child A at the bathroom alone. Ms. Thomas believes Child A was left unsupervised for about four to five minutes. On 11/17/2022, I interviewed child care staff member, Zaria Smith. Ms. Smith was working with Ms. Waid on 11/09/2022, in the latchkey room. There was a total of 13 children present, mostly four-years old. Ms. Smith stated that she asked Ms. Waid to take four children to the restroom while she stayed in the classroom with the remaining children. Ms. Smith shared that she did not take the children to the restroom because there was one child who was not feeling well, and she wanted to stay with the child. Ms. Waid returned from the restroom with a group of children and Ms. Smith noticed that all the children were not in the room but did not know that Child A was the missing child. A short time later, about two or three minutes, Ms. Thomas entered the latchkey room with Child A and whispered to Ms. Smith that Child A was left alone. Ms. Smith asked Ms. Waid if she counted the children before they returned to the classroom. Ms. Waid told her that she did not and assumed that she had all the children. Ms. Smith believes that Child A was left unsupervised for approximately five minutes. Ms. Smith shared that this has not happened to her before and was apologetic that Child A was left unsupervised. Ms. Smith stated that Child A was unharmed and was in disbelief, as Child A repeatedly said, "They left me, they left me, I was by myself'. Ms. Smith did not notify Child A's Mother, however, when Child A's Mother picked up Child A, she said she understood and was happy that Child A was not hurt. Child A returned the next day and was okay 3 and happy. Ms. Smith shared that she continued to apologize to Child A's Mother. Ms. Smith shared that Ms. Waid no longer assists her in the latchkey room in the afternoon. On 11/21/2022, I spoke to Child A's Father. Child A's Father shared that he believed the incident was unintentional and an honest mistake. Child A's Father feels very comfortable with the child care center and Child A still attends the child care center. Child A's Father shared that he was notified about the incident and understands that another child care staff member found Child A in the hallway crying. Child A's Father believes that Child A has not really been impacted by the incident. Child A's Father and Mother did not make a big deal about the incident and Child A is not afraid to return to latchkey. When Child A brough

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

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 12/07/2021 program director Heidi Schmidt sent an incident report regarding the allegation. I spoke with Ms. Schmidt about the incident. She stated due to staff shortages the center has been utilizing substitute staff from other programs in the school district. Ms. Schmidt stated when the incident happened, two substitute staff Ms. Wendy Gambill and Mr. Tom Mazur, were supervising the children in room 5. Ms. Schmidt stated child care staff Ana Daly who works in room 5 was on her break 2 when the incident happened. Ms. Schmidt stated the children in room 5, including Child A, went outside around 12:30pm with Ms. Gambill and Mr. Mazur. When they brought the children back inside around 12:50pm, they were unaware Child A had not come inside. Ms. Daly returned to the group a few minutes after the class came inside as the children were using the bathrooms, Ms. Daly counted the children and discovered Child A was not present. Ms. Daly immediately went out to the playground and found Child A outside at approximately 1:00pm. Ms. Schmidt stated Child A's parents were notified about what happened. On 12/014/2021 I completed an on-site inspection to the center with licensing consultant Chimere Simmons. We went outside to the playground which is located on the west side of the building. It is fenced and has two play structures, a set of swings, benches, play boards, a dome, balance beam, steppers, sandbox, playhouse, bridge, and several spring riders on it. Today and on 12/07/2021 room 5 was the only class using the playground after lunch. We interviewed staff Ana Daly. She stated she has worked at the center since 2010 and works in room 5 this school year. Ms. Daly stated on 12/07/2021 they were following their daily routine, the children ate lunch and got ready to go outside. Ms. Daly stated she believes there werel6 children present that day and she counted them, and they were all present as they went outside. Ms. Gambill and Mr. Mazur went outside with the children, and she took a brief break. Ms. Daly stated she was in the office speaking with Ms. Schmidt when the class came back inside. Ms. Daly joined the class as the children were lining up outside of the bathrooms. Ms. Daly counted the children. There was one boy in the bathroom with Ms. Gambill, and Ms. Daly asked Ms. Gambill if Child A was also in the bathroom. Ms. Gambill stated Child A was not in the bathroom. Ms. Daly stated she "knew" when she heard Child A was not in the bathroom that Child A must still be outside, and she ran out to the playground. Ms. Daly stated as soon as she opened the door to the playground, she saw Child A crying and standing outside near the door. Ms. Daly stated she was very upset about what happened. She called Child A's Mother to inform her what had happened. Ms. Daly stated Ms. Gambill has helped regularly in her room this school year and Mr. Mazur has helped the past few weeks. Ms. Daly stated something like this has never happened before in her class. Ms. Daly stated since the incident happened all the staff had a meeting with Ms. Schmidt to discuss supervision. Ms. Daly stated staff is supposed to count the children every time they transition from one area to another. When the children are outdoors and ready to come inside, staff is supposed to have the children line up at the door and count the children before coming back inside. Ms. Daly stated she does not think Ms. Gambill and Mr. Mazur counted the children before they came back inside that day. Ms. Daly stated usually she is inside the classroom as the children come inside and she does another count; however, it was very cold outside that day, and the children came back inside early so she was not yet back in the classroom. 3 We interviewed substitute staff Tom Mazur. He stated he primarily works in the transportation department with the school district, but he has been helping the past month at the center. Mr. Mazur stated the day of the incident he and Ms. Gambill took the children

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

MCL 722.115p Child care center, group child care home, or family child care home; potential or current child care staff member convicted of crime. (1) Except as provided in section 5n(14) and (15), a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home shall not allow an individual to be a child care staff member without requesting a criminal history check as required by section 5n. 5

The center allowed Mr. Mazur to work as child care staff since November 2021; however the center did not have him complete the required criminal history check until 12/20/2021.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: background checks. Open / not marked corrected.