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.

The center submitted an incident report to the department on 11/2/2021. Per the incident report, Jennifer Beke, Child Care Staff Member, was walking while carrying an infant in a front positioned infant carrier. While walking, Ms. Beke tripped over Child A who was on the floor. Ms. Beke attempted to "catch herself" from falling, and she does not believe that she landed on Child A. The incident occurred at 4:00PM. Shortly after the incident, Child A's arm became red and began to swell. Child A's Mother was contacted, and she was informed of the incident and injury. At approximately 10:45PM on 10/29/2021, Child A's Mother notified Ms. Beke via email 2 that Child A was seen at a local hospital regarding the injury and Child A's humerus bone was broken. I interviewed Child A's Mother via telephone on 11/4/2021. She stated that on 10/29/2021, a Child Care Staff Member tripped on Child A at the center. The incident occurred at 4:00PM, and the center contacted her at 4:30PM. Child A's Mother stated that when she was contacted by Ms. Beke via telephone, Ms. Beke stated that she had tripped on Child A and there was red mark on Child A's arm. Child A's Mother stated that she asked Ms. Beke if Child A needed medical attention and Ms. Beke stated that Child A did not. Child A's Mother stated that she picked up Child A from the center, but once home realized that Child A could not put weight on her right arm and sought medical attention for Child A. Upon examination the treating physician informed her that that Child A's humerus bone was broken. Child A's Mother reported that the physician explained to her that the injury coincides with Child A being directly stepped on. Had she not sought emergency medical treatment, Child A would have later required surgery for her arm. Child A's Mother stated that Child A's arm was placed in a full hard cast, and she was scheduled to be seen by an orthopedic surgeon on 11/9/2021. Child A's Mother voiced concerns regarding the injury to Child A. She explained that infants in care are regularly on the floor for activities and play and Child Care Staff Members should be supervising more carefully as they know that infants are often placed on the floor. Upon arrival, Child Care Staff Members instruct parents to place their infants on the floor. Child A's Mother stated that Child Care Staff Members should be watching for infants that they know are on the floor. She explained that it wasn't Child A's fault that she was injured by Ms. Beke due to Child Care Staff Members failing to supervise well. Child A's Mother stated that the center has been short of staff for a while, and the lack of supervision for Child A could have resulted from the shortage in staff. Child A's Mother reported that the center is constantly sending parents emails stating, "If you can't reach us in the office, we are short staffed and maintaining room ratios." Child A's Mother does not plan to return Child A to the center for care. I interviewed Cali Lipscomb regarding the allegation via telephone on 12/2/2021. She explained that on 10/29/2021, Ms. Beke contacted her via telephone shortly after the incident occurred. Ms. Beke stated, "I think I hurt Child A." Ms. Beke explained to her that she was walking across the infant room while carrying an infant in a front positioned carrier when she tripped and lost her balance. Ms. Beke caught herself before falling, but she wasn't sure if she hurt Child A or not. Ms. Beke contacted Child A's Mother and explained that there was something wrong, but she didn't know the extent of the injury. At approximately 11:00PM, Child A's Mother contacted Ms. Beke to report taking Child A for medical treatment. Approximately 45 minutes later Child A's Mother emailed Ms. Beke to report that Child A's arm was broken. Ms. Lipscomb acknowledged that there was no injury to Child A when she arrived for care on 10/29/2021. She reported speaking to Child A's Mother on 10/30/2021. She stated that Child A's Mother felt

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.

I interviewed the complainant via telephone on 4/30/2021. The complainant reported that approximately five to six child care staff members at the center have recently tested positive for Covid 19. Per the complainant, the center's administrators required the ill employees to report to work due to operational needs despite the risk of spreading the virus to children and other child care staff members. The complainant stated that child care staff members are discouraged from receiving tests for Covid 19 when feeling ill, and administrators require child care staff members to "keep quiet" regarding positive test results for Covid 19. I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection on 4/30/2021. Cali Lipscomb, Program Director, was not present at the facility. However, I was able to speak with Luke Scholten, Early Childhood Director, and he provided me with a telephone number for Ms. Lipscomb. He acknowledged that there have been positive cases of Covid 19 within the facility, but all cases are reported and addressed appropriately. I contacted Cali Lipscomb via telephone on 4/30/2021. She also acknowledged that the center has experienced positive cases of Covid 19 at the facility multiple times during the pandemic. She explained that all positive cases are reported to the department of environmental health and parents, and appropriate health and safety protocols are followed. On 5/11/2021, I conducted a second onsite inspection. I interviewed Cali Lipscomb. Ms. Lipscomb denied discouraging employees from reporting positive cases of Covid 19. She explained that child care staff members are immediately tested when presenting symptoms of the virus. She stated that she would never allow child care staff member who has tested positive for Covid 19 to work at the facility. The positive child care staff member and any close contacts are required to complete a full quarantine period as recommended by the department of environmental health. Ms. Lipscomb stated that no child care staff member has expressed concerns to her regarding these allegations and she did not know why anyone would make these allegations regarding the facility. On 5/21/2021, I interviewed child care staff member 1 via telephone. She reported being aware of at least one child care staff member who tested positive for Covid 19. She stated that the positive child care staff member was quarantined and not working during the time of illness. Child care staff member 1 explained that when employees test positive for Covid 19, they are quarantined. However, positive child care staff members are asked to return to work as soon as they are ok. Child care 3 staff member 1 stated that center administrators "get mad" if child care staff members report not feeling well due to staff shortages at the center. I also interviewed child care staff member 2 regarding the allegation on 5/21/2021 via telephone. She stated that child care staff members are not informed when other employees test positive for Covid 19. Child care staff member 2 explained that this information would be helpful in ensuring overall safety at the center. I interviewed child care staff member 3 regarding the allegation on 5/21/2021 via telephone. She stated that child care staff members do not work when they test positive for Covid 19. She explained that child care staff members complete a quarantine period prior to returning to work. I also interviewed child care staff member 4 regarding the allegation via telephone on 5/21/2021. She explained that she was aware of another child care staff member testing positive for Covid 19. She stated that the positive child care staff member was asked by administrators if she felt good enough to return to work after a couple of days. She explained that the positive child care staff member did not return to work until she had completed a full quarantine period because she did not want to risk getting anyone else sick.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8155 · R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (4) If a center becomes aware that a staff member, volunteer, or child in care has contracted a communicable disease, then the center shall notify parents and provide all of the following information: (b) The symptoms of the disease. (c) Prevention measures as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the following website: https: //www.cdc. ov/DiseasesConditions.

I interviewed Luke Scholten regarding the allegation on 4/30/2021. Mr. Scholten stated that parents are notified of all positive cases of Covid 19. Additional information is provided to parents if their child/children are considered close contacts to a positive individual. Mr. Scholten explained that as the Director of Early Childhood Education, he notifies parents of all positive cases of Covid 19 utilizing the school's messaging system. This system allows him to send email communications to all enrolled early childhood families except those that are 4 overseen by Ms. Lipscomb. Due to this, Mr. Scholten forwards Ms. Lipscomb the written communication regarding positive Covid 19 cases and she provides this information to the enrolled parents in her program. On 5/11/2021, I interviewed Ms. Lipscomb regarding the allegation. She explained that when there are identified cases of Covid 19, Mr. Scholten notifies parents through the school's messaging system. She receives a copy of the written communication that she forwards to families via email as some of the child care families are not a part of the school's messaging system. An additional email is sent to parents of children that are identified as close contacts. Ms. Lipscomb explained that she may also contact parents via telephone to explain the quarantine process, possible return dates, and payment credit due to time off from care due to Covid 19. The communication that is sent to parents is a letter that is sent electronically and is signed by Mr. Scholten. I reviewed a copy of one of the most recent letters that was sent to families regarding a positive case of Covid 19 in the facility during the onsite inspection on 5/11/2021. The letter was dated 5/3/2021 and it was addressed to the Kenowa Hills Early Childhood Center Parents. The letter stated that on 5/3/2021, a student tested positive for Covid 19 and that the center was responsible for identifying close contacts as outlined by CDC guidelines. The letter informed parents that if their child were determined to be a close contact, they would be notified by the Kent County Health Department. In closing, the letter stated that the center would follow the guidance of the health department and disinfecting would occur in classrooms and common spaces. Parents were asked to monitor their children for symptoms of Covid 19, and to contact their medical provider if health changes were observed. After reviewing the 5/3/2021 letter to parents regarding positive Covid 19, I asked Ms. Lipscomb if additional information was provided to parents including the symptoms of Covid 19, prevention measures, and resources such as the CDC website. Ms. Lipscomb stated that she had not provided this information to parents when positive cases of Covid 19 were identified in the facility. She explained that the center usually posts this information for families to view when infectious disease is identified at the center, but she acknowledged that the center had not followed this practice regarding Covid 19 notifications to parents. Information regarding symptoms, prevention measures and additional resources had not been included in the notification to parents. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Lipscomb regarding the child care administrative rule R400.8155 which requires that this information be included in parent notifications regarding communicable disease. Ms. Lipscomb again stated that she usually includes this information when reporting illnesses to parents, but she forgot to do so in notifications regarding Covid 19. 5 I interviewed child care staff member 1, child care staff member 2, child care staff member 3, and child care staff member 4 regarding this information via telephone on 5/21/2021. During the telephone interview with child care staff member 1 on 5/21/2021, she stated that when there have been positive cases of Covid 19 in the facility, child care parents have not been notified to her knowledge. Child care staff member 2 stat