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

On August 18, 2023, I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at Kamie Benzing’s facility. I interviewed Kamie Benzing and child care staff member (CCSM) 1. Kamie Benzing said she received a text message from Child B’s parents on August 9, 2023, saying they needed to meet with her in the morning. On August 10, 2023, they came to her house and said Child B told them “Child A told Child B if you touch your penis, it gets hard.” Child B then told them that on the couch on the front porch Child A asked him and Child C to pull their pants down to show him their penises. Kamie Benzing said the first time she spoke to Child B’s parents, they told her Child B did pull his pants down and Child A and Child B then touched each other’s penises, but Child C did not pull his pants down. Child B’s parents told her they were not sure if they were going to report anything because they did not want Child B to be interviewed. Kamie Benzing told Child B’s parents she was closing for vacation until the following Wednesday. Child B’s parents came the following Wednesday and reported they did want the incident reported and that is when Kamie Benzing reported the incident to Child Care Licensing. Kamie Benzing stated when she spoke with Child B’s parent on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, they went over the story again and told her Child C did get his penis out and Child A touched him as well. Kamie Benzing stated she was unsure if she misunderstood the first time they told the story or if they spoke with Child B more while she was closed. Kamie Benzing stated she has been thinking a lot about when this could have happened. She figures it was while the children were getting ready to do water play in the backyard. CCSM 1 had multiple children in the backyard putting sunscreen on them, while Kamie Benzing was helping children get changed into their swimsuits. She stated there were a couple children on the front porch waiting to come in and get changed. She would stand by the front door to check on them but didn’t open the door. She believes that is when the inappropriate touching could have happened. She said Child A, B, and C were on the front porch for approximately 3-5 minutes. I inspected the area and observed the couch on the front porch cannot be seen when standing inside the front door. Kamie Benzing said she has advised Child A’s and Child C’s parents of the incident. Child A’s mother readily agreed that he would not be coming back to care at the facility. Child C’s parents were told of the incident after Kamie Benzing spoke with Child B’s family on August 16, 2023. On August 17, 2023 Child C’s mother called Kamie Benzing and told her after speaking with Child C he also told them that Child A put his mouth on his penis. It is unsure how Child C’s parents conducted the interview. Kamie Benzing said Child A only attended part time for the last two years, and had hardly been in care all summer. There had been no previous incidents of inappropriate touching. Kamie 3 back to care. He had only attended six times over the summer, and they did not have any signs of this behavior before. Child A’s mother said they did foster and adopt Child A, and she was aware of possible abuse with his siblings, who live in other homes, but he has never disclosed any abuse and they have never seen any behaviors to suggest they should be worried. Child A’s mother said Kamie Benzing was aware that Child A was fostered and adopted by her family, but she was not aware of any abuse within the family. Child A’s mother said she has asked Child A about the incident, and he said he didn’t remember anything like that, and he didn’t want to talk about it. She advised they are trying to find him a counselor but have tried about 25 different places and they are not taking any new patients at this time. She agreed to follow-up if she found a counselor. On August 29, 2023 I made telephone contact with Child C’s mother and father. They reported they were on vacation and received a text

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.