• Violation

  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. 4

  A phone interview was conducted with Casey McCormick, licensee designee upon receipt of the complaint on 05/27/2022. Child care staff member Shawn Houle, the center's Family Service Worker, emailed him the evening of 05/26/2022 in regard to Child A's challenging behaviors in the classroom on 05/26/2022. Child A exhibited behavior that had the potential to harm staff and children during lunch, consequently Ms. Houle carried Child A out of the classroom to the hallway just outside of the classroom. On 05/27/2022 a phone interview was conducted with the complainant. The complainant was at the child's home on 05/25/2022 when bruising on Child A's hip in the shape of fingers was observed. When asked about the bruise, Child A stated that Ms. "Shawna" did it. This was the first time Child A mentioned Ms. "Shawna" since he began attending the child care center in An onsite inspection was conducted on 05/31/2022 Child care staff member Shawn Houle is the Family Services work"er oforRr t is Head Start center. Because the center is short staffed, she is also in classrooms on an as- needed basis as well as serves lunch to each classroom. On 05/26/2022, Ms. Houle was assisting with lunch in Child A's classroom. Child A and Child B (male, years old) were distracting one another from eating lunch, so Child B was moved to a different seat at another table. Child A became unhappy; pushed his chair back and ran to the kitchen play area. Child A then began to throw various items into the lunch area creating the potential for harm to both staff and children eating lunch. Child A's behavior would not de-escalate, consequently Ms. Houle stood behind Child A, picked him up from behind (Child A's back was to her chest) by bending over and putting her arm under Child A's knees. She carried Child A, who was flailing, out into the hall and sat him down on the hallway floor. Ms. Houle demonstrated how she carried Child A to this consultant Ms. Houle stated that she has met Child A's mother once at the beginning of the school year, consequently, she is not familiar with Child A's home life and was unaware of any services Child A is or was receiving at home. Carrie Winton, program director and lead caregiver in Child A's classroom stated that Child A exhibits "strong, emotional behaviors" and that staff in the classroom "walk on eggshells afraid he [Child A] might get upset". When upset, Child A "takes off running" across the classroom and flips chairs over. Child A has always been like this. Child A's mother shared that she and Child A's father both had emotional challenges as children. When not upset, Child A was a "good, sweet, helpful child". Ms. Winton was shown pictures of the bruise on Child A's hip by Ms. Houle. Ms. Winton does not think that Ms. Houle was responsible for the bruising nor does the bruise resemble Ms. Houle's fingers as the bruise is larger than Ms. Houle's hand. 3 Child care staff member Kylee Strickland is in Child A's classroom. She recalled Ms. Houle carrying Child A out of the classroom because he was throwing toy bugs from the dramatic play area into the lunch area. The toys were landing on children's lunch plates. Because Child A kicks, Ms. Houle picked Child A up from behind, his back to Ms. Houle's chest. Child A was flailing and kicking. Ms. Houle took him out of the classroom. Ms. Houle did not appear to be angry or upset, nor did her body language appear to imply that she was. Ms. Strickland stated that Child A `plays off of other children" and that he is a bit clumsy. He likes to kick objects and appears to have bruises that are "typical and normal' for a five year old boy. Child A has never shown any fear of Ms. Houle or any other staff members, nor has Child A verbalized any fear of any of the staff. Child A's mother was shown the pictures of the bruise on Child A's hip. Child A's mother was not mad. Child A's mother stated that she and Child A were in counseling and that she "knows how he is....we're not pressing cha

Child care staff member Shawn Houle allegedly grabbed Child A (male years old) leaving a bruise on his leg resembling the shape and length o fingers.

Disposition: Substantiated