R 400.1911(1) · R 400.1911(1) Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On August 4, 2022, I spoke with Child A and Child B's Mother on the telephone. She said that Child A has been saying he does not want to go to the child care home because it is "scary." Child B has said that Ms. Bitondo's older children "bully her." Child A and B's Mother named Minor Household Member 1 (MHM1) and Minor Household Member 2 (MHM 2) as the two older children but could not remember the name of the other two. She said that MHM 1 and MHM 2 play "rough" with their younger siblings and then try to play that way with younger child care children. Child A and B's Mother said that Child A does not like to play rough. She said that he has told her MHM 1 and MHM 2 will make "jokes" and "push him on the forehead" with their hands. Child B has told her mother that Ms. Bitondo will tell the children that MHM 1 and MHM 2 are "just messing around." On August 10, 2022, I made an unannounced on-site inspection at the child care home. Ms. Bitondo and Mr. Mbarushimana denied that their older children are "rough" or bully the younger children in care. Mr. Mbarushimana stated that typically MHM 1 (female, age 12), MHM 2 (female, age 11), MHM 3 (female, age 9), MHM 4 (female, age 6), and MHM 5 (male, age 3) are not at home because they spend the day at their uncle's home. Ms. Bitondo stated there was an incident where MHM 1 was trying to take a toy from one child to give back to another child that had the toy first. The child began to cry when this happened. She could not remember the name of the children involved in the incident. She said when her children are home, she has not observed them bully younger children. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's Step Mother. She stated that there were issues recently with all the older children being rougher with the younger children. She spoke with Ms. Bitondo about her concerns. Child E (male, age 6) had been rough housing with some of the other children. Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother spoke with all the children about this. She told Ms. Bitondo not to allow the children to play this way and to use timeouts for the older children. Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother says that Ms. Bitondo addressed this now. She has seen children rough house and Ms. Bitondo will separate the children and give time outs if needed. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child G, H, I, and J's Mother on the telephone. She said that at pick up time children will approach her and say that Child G (male, age 6) was "mean to them." When she asked Child G what happened, he said, "they hit me first." Child G pointed out two specific children; Child G's Mother did not know the name of the children. She did not know the ages of the children. She thinks they are related to Ms. Bitondo. Child G, H, I, and J's Mother said she has not observed older children bullying younger children when she drops off or picks up her children. 3 On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child K and L's Mother on the telephone. She stated that one day in June (she could not remember the exact date), she arrived at the child care home to drop off Child K and Child L. When she knocked on the door, MHM 1 opened the door. Child K (male, age 4) began to cry and would not enter the home. Child K told her MHM 1 "beat him." Child K and L's Mother said she spoke with Ms. Bitondo about this concern. Ms. Bitondo told her there was an incident while the children were outside. Child K had a stick and MHM 1 was trying to take the stick away from him. MHM 1 did not beat Child K, she only took the stick away. Child K and L's Mother said that Child K told her MHM 1 "beat" him with the stick. She said she did not notice any unusual marks or bruises on Child K. Child K and L's Mother stated she has not had any concerns about this since that incident. She feels that since she has spoken with Ms. Bitondo about it that it has been addressed.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1910(1)(a) · R 400.1910(1)(a) Ratio of personnel to children. (1) The ratio of personnel to children present in the home at any 1 time must be not less than 1 member of the personnel to 6 children. The ratio must include all children in care who are not related to any personnel and any of the following children who are less than 6 years of age: (a) Children of the licensee.

On August 4, 2022, I spoke with Child A and B's Mother. She said that in June (she could not remember the exact date), she arrived at Ms. Bitondo's home at approximately 11:30pm to pick up her children. She called Ms. Bitondo and knocked on the door. No one answered. She called Ms. Bitondo's husband, Mr. Mbarushimana. Mr. Mbarushimana arrived at 12:00am. He told her that Ms. Bitondo's phone battery had died and that she was "sleeping." She said that there have been other occasions when she arrives to pick up her children, calls to let Ms. Bitondo know she is there and Ms. Bitondo's voice sounds "sleepy." On August 10, 2022, Ms. Bitondo denied ever being asleep when children are in care. She said there was an incident when Child A and B's Mother arrived to pick up but her phone had died. Child A and B's Mother did not knock on the door. Mr. Mbarushimana corroborated the details of this incident. He added that Child A and B's Mother would not knock on the door because she did not want to wake the other children. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother. She stated that Ms. Bitondo is always awake when she arrives to pick up her children. She typically picks up her children around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child G, H, I, and J's Mother on the telephone. She said that Ms. Bitondo is awake when she drops off and picks up her children. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child K and L's Mother on the telephone. She stated that Ms. Bitondo is always awake when she drops off and picks up her children. She mentioned that sometimes it may take a few minutes for Ms. Bitondo to answer the door. R400.1911(3) Care; supervision; children (3) A licensee and child care staff members shall be up and awake at all times when children are in care, except as provided in R 400.1922(2) of these rules. ANALYSIS: Ms. Bitondo is awake when children are in care during first and second shifts. CONCLUSION: VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1920(6) · R 400.1920(6) Outdoor play area and equipment. (6) Trampolines must not be used outdoors by children in care.

Child A and B's Mother stated that Child B was being transported to and from school and that Ms. Bitondo would charge an extra fee for that. I informed her that Ms. Bitondo can decide to include extra fees in her contract. I asked Child A and B's Mother if she had given written permission to Ms. Bitondo to transport her child to school. She said she could not remember if she signed anything. On August 10, 2022, I asked Ms. Bitondo if she transported children. She stated that she did in the past, but no longer offers transportation. She stated that she stopped transporting children in May of 2022. She showed me the written permission forms she used for transportation. I took a photograph of the form and it is on file with this report. I reviewed the forms for children including Child B. The form for Child B had been signed by Child B's Mother but did not include whether the permission was for routine or non-routine transportation. I provided technical assistance on how to complete the forms accurately. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother. She stated that Ms. Bitondo transports her older children to and from school. 5 She said that she has filled out all the paperwork required for that and given Ms. Bitondo written permission to transport her children. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child G, H, I, and J's Mother on the telephone. She said that she did sign paperwork for transportation, but that Ms. Bitondo does not transport her children anywhere. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child K and L's Mother on the telephone. She stated that Ms. Bitondo does not transport Child K or Child L. R400.1952(1) Child transportation; parent permission; child information card; required when off-premises. (1) A licensee shall obtain and keep on file written permission from a child's parent before a child is transported in a vehicle. Written permission must be obtained for both of the following: (a) Routine transportation, at least annually. ANALYSIS: Ms. Bitondo had written permission on file for children before transporting them in a vehicle. I provided technical assistance on the wordina for her permission slips. CONCLUSION: I VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: transportation. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.1932(3) · R 400.1932(3) Home maintenance and safety. (3) All steps, stairs, porches, and elevated structures to which children in care have access must be protected to prevent falls, and must be free of ice and snow accumulation.

Child A and B's Mother stated that Ms. Bitondo would mark children present even if they were not in care. On August 10, 2002, I asked Ms. Bitondo to show me her attendance records. She stated that she has been trained on how to complete the attendance records. Parents write in the children's in and out times and initial the records. If children are absent, parents or guardians will write the times in and out. She will check the box that states "Mark if Absent" on the form. She showed me her records. Arrival and departure times were written on the forms. Some days had the box checked. Ms. Bitondo stated that she was instructed that this was how the forms were to be completed. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother. She said she has no concerns with the accuracy of the attendance records. And has not had her children marked present if they were not in care. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child G, H, I, and J's Mother on the telephone. She had no concerns with attendance. If her children are absent, Ms. Bitondo makes her mark the box noting that her children were absent. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child K and L's Mother on the telephone. She said she does not have concerns with the accuracy of attendance records. R400.1907(3) Child's record. (3) Dated daily attendance records of children in care must be maintained and include the child's first and last name and the time of arrival and departure. Electronic records may be used. If electronic records are used, they must be available to the department at the time of the inspection. If electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, the child care home is in violation of this rule. ANALYSIS: Ms. Bitondo is maintaining accurate daily attendance records for the children in care. CONCLUSION: VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED ADDITIONAL FINDINGS: INVESTIGATION: On August 10, 2022, I made an unannounced on-site inspection at the child care home. When I arrived, I asked Ms. Bitondo how many children she had in attendance. She informed me there were 10 child care children in attendance. I asked if she was alone with the children. She said that her husband was her assistant that day, but he had gone to the store. I asked if he would be home soon. She said she would call him. She called him right away. I heard children playing in the backyard and asked her if we could go outside to where the children were. Children were playing on the deck and the back yard of the home. I counted 14 children. She told me that five of the children where her own children. She pointed out MHM 1 (female, age 12), MHM 2 (female, age 11), MHM 3 (female, age 9), MHM 4 (female, age 6), and MHM 5 (male, age 3). Ms. Bitondo told me she has another staff member that is typically working with her but that this individual had an appointment that morning and was not available. She said her assistants are Rachel Maluba and Machozi Furaha. By this time Mr. Mbarushimana had arrived from the store. He explained to me that he had gone to the store to purchase milk. I provided consultation about running errands while there were less than six children in care. Ms. Bitondo and Mr. Mbarushimana explained that typically their children go to their uncle's home every day from 8:00am to 7:00pm. The uncle had an appointment that morning and could not watch the children. Later during my on-site inspection, a gentleman arrived. Ms. Bitondo told me that he was the children's uncle. He left with Ms. Bitondo's children. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child C and D's Mother and Child E and F's step mother. She stated she has aways seen Mr. Mbarushimana or a "grandma" working with Ms. Bitondo. She has not seen Ms. Bitondo supervising children alone. On August 11, 2022, I spoke with Child G, H, I, and J's Mother on the telephone. She said there have been occasions when she arrives and Ms. Bitondo's Mother is 7 supervising children. She does not know Ms. Bitondo's M