R 400.8140(1) · PR19-R 400.8140(1) Discipline. Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation m ust be used.

Based on interviews with staff and parents, there is not enough evidence that suggests Teacher 1 became frustrated with Child A grabbing her forcibly by the wrist when she would not help clean up the toys.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8213(1)(b) · R 400.8213(1)(b) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (b) Act in a manner that is conducive to the welfare o f children.

Based on our findings, investigation, and review - which includes considering the investigation and findings of MDHHS -CCLB determines Teacher 1 is conducive to the welfare of children and is eligible to be associated with a child care organization.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8155 · R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (5) A center shall have a written policy detailing when children, staff, and volunteers will be excluded from the center due to illness. 4

On 02/04/2022, I contacted Program Director Danielle Vincent. I verified staff schedules. On 2/04/2022 I contacted complainant regarding concerns. I clarified allegations reported. On 02/09/2022 I completed an unannounced visit to the child care facility. I met with Program Director Danielle Vincent. Ms. Vincent stated that staff members are not forced to work while they are sick. She stated there have been times where a staff member has tried to call in sick, but they came in to help make sure someone would be able to cover the room. The employee would have a headache, ear ache, or something that was not contagious, and they would come in to cover the room while a person was found to replace them for the day. They would come and help find a replacement for the room, but they were not contagious with something that would spread to the rest of the center. Ms. Vincent stated there has never been a time where anyone was forced to work while sick with a communicable disease or any other sickness. I interviewed staff member Margaret Headd. Ms. Headd stated she was working one day and had symptoms of a communicable disease while at work. She left and tested positive later in the evening. Ms. Headd stated the facility management told her to leave and get tested. Ms. Headd stated she does not know that anyone was forced to work that was positive with a communicable disease. Ms. Headd stated the day she had symptoms, the program director Danielle Vincent said she had to help find someone to cover her shift, so the room was not out of ratio. Ms. Head stated she was in the room for an hour or so before someone was able to help cover. Ms. Headd explained she told Ms. Vincent that she was not feeling well; however, didhe did not disclose that she was suffering from a fever or anything else at the time of her phone call. I interviewed staff member Amanda Elder. Ms. Elder stated she has not heard that anyone at the center has been forced to work while sick. Ms. Elder stated the center does a great job having workers leave and make sure they follow communicable disease protocols if, they are positive. She stated she has not heard anyone was knowingly positive with a communicable disease while working. Ms. Elder stated they have been short on staff but when that happens, they will close a classroom down. She stated the center is actively looking for new staff. I interviewed staff member Roseann Geglio. Ms. Geglio stated she was not seen or heard of anyone being forced to work while sick. She stated that if someone is sick, the Program Director Danielle Vincent or other staff working will try to find coverage for the room. Ms. Geglio stated she feels the center has done a great job during the pandemic and has never felt un-safe. 3 I was provided a copy of the child care centers attendance and sick policy. The sick policy states that anyone who calls off for their shift is requested to help locate another caregiver if possible. I was also provided a copy of the communicable disease policy. This policy states that all children and staff must leave the center if there is a fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and walks step by step on the correct process of containment. The policy follows required Child Care Licensing guidelines. On 03/10/2022 I interviewed staff member Sara Nichols. Ms. Nichols stated she has never seen or heard of anyone that was forced to work while sick. She stated the staff members will assist in finding coverage for the rooms if someone gets sick while at work. She stated the center has done an awesome job during COVID-19 to be supportive and safe. She stated she has no concerns about being sick at work. On 03/10/2022 I contacted staff member Nikki Rop. Ms. Rop stated she has never seen or heard of anyone working while they are sick. She stated she has never heard that anyone was positive with a communicable disease and working. The child care center does a great job making sure everyone is safe and healthy and works to stop

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. 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 in Table 4: a) for infants and toddlers, birth until 30 months of age, there shall be 1 child care staff member to 4 children with a maximum group size of 12.

On 02/04/2022 I contacted complainant to clarify what rooms were not maintaining the required staff to child ratio. It was determined the infant room was always out of ratio because people needed to go to the bathroom or take breaks. There were no specific dates, times, or timeframes when this happens. On 02/09/2022 I completed an unannounced visit to the child care facility. I interviewed Program Director Danielle Vincent. Ms. Vincent stated the infant room maintains the required staff to child ratio. She stated they work hard to make sure the infant room has at least two staff members at a time when there are four infants. There have been times where the infant room has two staff members and eight infants, but this is within the required staff to child ratio. Ms. Vincent stated they would like to have three staff with eight infants, but they are struggling to find staff. Ms. Vincent stated if staff members break or need to go the bathroom, they call the office or other rooms and ask for assistance to cover. I interviewed staff member Maggie Headd. Ms. Headd stated the infant room has been out of staff to child ratio from time to time, but she did not know when. Ms. Headd stated she has heard that staff members will go to the bathroom and leave the room with only one staff member. Ms. Headd did not have any specific times or dates this happens. I interviewed staff member Amanda Elder. Ms. Elder stated she has not heard or seen the infant room being out of the staff to child ratio. Ms. Elder stated if people are on break or need to go to the bathroom, they try to call and ask for help to cover. She stated all breaks are covered with staff. Ms. Elder stated she has had to run to the bathroom quickly before and there was only one other staff member in her room. She stated this was very quickly and then she would return. This was not in the infant room and her preschool room was still technically not out of ratio. I interviewed staff member Roseann Geglio. Ms. Geglio stated she has not seen any issues with staff to child ratio in any room. She stated she has not heard that any room or the infant room specifically has been out of ratio. She stated staff work very hard to maintain ratios at all times. Ms. Geglio stated if there are employee breaks, they will move people around to help out. She stated if someone needs to run to the bathroom, they will ask to help cover. She stated there has never been a time where a class was left alone while someone uses the restroom. 5 I viewed attendance records from two previous weeks at the child care center. I compared the attendance records with the staff records and name to face sheets. There were not times I viewed that were the required staff to child ratio was not maintained, including the infant room. Most rooms were over staffed for the number of children in attendance. On 03/10/2022 I contacted staff member Paula Groendyk. Ms. Groendyk stated she has not seen or heard of the infant room being out of ratio. Ms. Groendyk stated the infant room is always staffed. Ms. Groendyk stated staff all work together during breaks and when using the restroom. On 03/10/2022 I contacted staff member Nikki Rop. Ms. Rop stated the infant room maintains the required staff to child ratio. Ms. Rop stated breaks are scheduled and all rooms are covered. If staff need to use the rest room, they ask for coverage and help. On 03/15/2022 I contacted Child A (Male, 6-month-old)'s mother. Child A's mother stated she has not seen or viewed the infant room out of ratio. On 03/15/2022 I contacted Child B's Mother. I left a message for a return call. At the time of this report, I have not received a return call back from Child B's mother.