A Touch of Home - Kalamazoo

R 400.8254(6) · R 400.8254(6) Diapering; toileting (6) Diapers and training plants must be checked f requently and changed when wet or soiled.

Child A's diaper was checked and changed frequently based on interviews with program administrator, lead teacher, teacher 1, teacher 2, and parents of children in care.

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R 400.8213(1)(a) · R 400.8213(1)(a) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (a) Provide appropriate care and supervision o f children at all times.

Appropriate care and supervision was provided to Child A based on interviews with program administrator, lead teacher, teacher 1, teacher 2, and parents of children in care.

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R 400.8340(9) · R 400.8340(9) Food services and nutrition; provided by parents 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP (9) Beverages and food must be fed only to the child f or whom the item is labeled.

Child A and other children only drink out of their assigned labeled cup based on interviews with program administrator, lead teacher, teacher 1, teacher 2, and parents of children in care.

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R 400.8161(1) · R 400.8161(1) Maintenance of premises. (1) The premises must be maintained in a clean and safe condition and must not pose a threat to health o r safety.

Cleanliness at the center is maintained based on observation during the unannounced inspection and interviews with program administrator, lead teacher, teacher 1, teacher 2, and parents of children in care.

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R 400.8137 · R 400.8137 Diapering; toileting. (1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, diapering must occur in a designated diapering area that complies with all of the following: (a) Is physically separated from food preparation and food service. (b) Is within close proximity to a sink that is used exclusively for hand washing. (c) Has non-absorbent, smooth, easily cleanable surfaces in good repair. (d) Is of sturdy construction with railings or barriers to prevent falls. (e) Is an elevated diapering table or similar structure.

On June 1, 2023, I spoke to the Complainant by telephone who said that children in the Wobbler, Toddler, and Pre-K 3 classrooms are being changed standing up next to the tables where the children eat their meals or on top of the tables rather than at a changing table. She said each classroom has a changing table in the room, but it is not used. When children in care are changed on top of the tables used for food, no changing pad is placed under them. On June 5, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and observed road construction at both entrances to the facility. One entrance was completely blocked off with orange cones and when I tried to approach the second entrance to the center, construction workers waved me down and told me that the road was closed, and that the facility was not open. Later that day, I messaged Child Care Licensing Consultant, Jennifer Blake, who stated that she was not aware the center was closed and gave me the contact information for Licensee Designee, Melissa Messer. I sent Ms. Messer am email message asking her when the center planned to reopen. Program Director, Wendi Weinberg, responded and said that the center was open and said the construction workers gave me misinformation. On June 7, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and spoke to Ms. Weinberg, Child Care Staff Member 1, Child Care Staff Member 2, Child Care Staff Member 3, Child Care Staff Member 4, Child Care Staff Member 5, Child Care Staff Member 6, and Child Care Staff Member 7 about the allegation. Ms. Weinberg denied any knowledge about the allegation and said she has only ever seen children in the Wobbler, Toddler, and Pre-K 3 classrooms changed on the changing table or in the bathroom. She acknowledged that sometimes children in the Toddler classroom may be changed standing up in front of the changing table if they are too big to climb on the table, but she said children in the Pre-K 3 room always go down to the bathrooms to be changed. 3 Child Care Staff Member 1 (CCSM 1) has worked at the center for five years, and she has never witnessed any child being changed on the tables or in front of the meal tables in the center. She said the changing table is always used for diaper changes in all the classrooms. She stated that after the child is changed, the three- step process is used to wash, rinse, and sanitize the changing pad. Child Care Staff Member 2 (CCSM 2) has been employed at the center for less than one month. She has never witnessed any children in care being changed on or in front of the tables used for meals. She has only ever observed children in the Wobbler classroom being changed on the changing table. She said there are some toddlers who will not lay down on the changing table so sometimes they are changed on the floor directly in front of the changing table standing up, but otherwise the table is always used for diaper changes. She said the Pre-K 3 classroom has a changing table in it, but the children who required diapering are always changed in the bathroom standing up. Child Care Staff Member 3 (CCSM 3) he has never seen or heard about any children in care being changed on or in front of the tables used for meals. She said there are a couple children in the Toddler classroom that are afraid of heights and do not want to walk up the stairs to get on the changing table and they are too heavy to lift. Sometimes those children will be changed standing up directly in front of the changing table and it is based on child preference for whether it is on the changing table or in front of it. Child Care Staff Member 4 (CCSM 4) has never seen or heard about any children in care being changed on or in front of the tables used for meals. She said that the changing table is always used for diaper changes in the toddler classroom, or the children are changed standing up directly in front of the changing table. She said if there are two child care staff members in the room, then the toddle

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R 400.8137 · 1 R 400.8137 Diapering; toileting. (2) Children 1 year of age and older may be changed in a bathroom standing up or on a nonabsorbent, easily sanitized surface, with a changing pad between the child and the surface.

On June 1, 2023, I spoke to the Complainant by telephone who said that the changing pads are not being washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use. She said that if you lift up the changing pad there is mold and feces under the pad like it has been there for a long time. On June 7, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and spoke to Ms. Weinberg, CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, CCSM 6, and CCSM 7 about the allegation. Ms. Weinberg said that the three-step process is used to wash, rinse, and sanitize the changing pad after every use. She said sometimes it gets sandy under the pad on the table from children playing outside and having a lot of sand in their shoes, but she has never seen or heard about any mold or feces under the changing pads on the tables. CCSM 1 said the three-step process is always used for cleaning the changing pad. She stated that child care staff members will spray the changing pad with soapy water, rinse it with water, and then spray the sanitizing solution on the pad after every use. Then at least one time during the day, the child care staff members will clean the actual changing table and then clean it again at the end of the day as part of their procedures for cleaning the room. CCSM 1 said she had just cleaned the changing table earlier that morning and denied ever seeing mold or feces under the changing pad. CCSM 2 denied ever seeing mold or feces under the changing pad on the changing table. She said that soap and water is used to wipe down the changing pad after every use and rinse water is used to rinse the changing pad. Then the pad is sanitized and allowed to air dry afterwards. If multiple diapers are being changed, then they give the sanitizing solution three or four minutes to work and then wipe down the changing pad. She said the three-step process for cleaning is used under the changing pad on the table at least daily. 7 CCSM 3 stated that the three-step process is used for the changing pad after every use and between each child. She will wash the changing pad, rinse it, and then sanitize it before going to wash her hands. She said the child care staff members clean beneath the changing pad "pretty often." She said children wear sandals and it gets sandy under the changing pad, so it has to be cleaned frequently. The base of the changing table is cleaned at least weekly and denied ever seeing mold or feces under the changing pad. CCSM 4 said in her classroom, the changing pad is cleaned using the three-step process after every diaper change. She demonstrated how she sprays the table with the soapy water, wipes it up, sprays it with the rinse water, then wipes it up, and then sprays the changing table with the sanitizing solution and leaves it on there for "a couple minutes" before wiping it up. The base of the changing table is cleaned daily at naptime or more frequently if it needs it. She denied ever seeing any feces or mold on the bottom of the changing pad. CCSM 5 denied ever seeing any feces or mold under the changing pads. She said to her knowledge, the three-step process for cleaning the changing pad is used after every diaper change. The base under the pad is cleaned during nap time when children are sleeping. CCSM 6 stated that the changing pad is washed, rinsed, and sanitized after every use. The base of the changing table under the changing pad is washed daily at naptime. The children play in the sand on the playground so sometimes it gets sandy, but she has never seen feces or mold under the changing pad. She said that after the changing pad or base of the table is cleaned, she will prop the changing pad up to let it air dry underneath it before putting it back down to prevent any mold or mildew. CCSM 7 does not need to change children's diapers very often, but she has always seen the three-step process used after every diaper change. She has never seen or heard about any feces or mold under the changing pad. On June 7, 2023, I asked Ms. Weinberg to

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R 400.8137 · R 400.8137 1 Diapering; toileting. (1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, diapering must occur in a designated diapering area that complies with all of the following: (f) Is washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use.

On June 1, 2023, I spoke to the Complainant by telephone who said there are many broken toys on the playground that present hazards for young children. She said there is a rocking horse with a broken ear on it and a scooter with a broken wheel. There are also broken little toy trucks and children have cut their fingers on them. The Complainant said there is also a big hole in the ground and one child tripped in the hole and fell. There are interior fences and gates that divide the different play areas that are broken, and several children escaped the fenced play area through the broken gates and ran across the street. The Complainant did not know who the children were that ran across the street and said she had only heard about the incident. On June 7, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and spoke to Ms. Weinberg, CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, CCSM 6, and CCSM 7 about the allegation. Ms. Weinberg said she was not aware of any broken rj toys or equipment on the playground. She said the child care staff members know they are authorized to throw them away if they see any broken toys outside. Ms. Weinberg denied that the fences are broken in the child use areas. She explained that there are several interior fences that separate different outdoor play areas and some of the interior gates have issues with the latches, but all the exterior fences are intact. They have had ongoing issue with the interior gates and keep trying to fix them. I asked Ms. Weinberg if any children have ever climbed over the fences and ran into the road, and she said there was an incident a couple months ago where two preschool children ran out of the building and into the fenced play area, but they were always supervised. She stated that the center has a "hands-off' policy, so she followed the children around as they went in and out of the building and then they wandered to the back of the playground. Child A tried to climb over the fence, and as he reached the top, Ms. Weinberg caught him and brought him back inside. Child A was terminated from the center. Ms. Weinberg denied that the interior fence gates had anything to do with the incident and said they are just used to help keep each age group in their appropriate area within the fenced playground. CCSM 1 was not aware of any broken toys on the wobbler playground. If broken toys are identified, they are immediately removed from the playground because they are a safety issue. CCSM 1 said there is some damage to some interior fencing, but it has been reported to Ms. Weinberg and they are waiting for it to be repaired. I asked CCSM 1 if any children have ever escaped the fenced in play area because of the broken fencing and she said there was a child in the Pre-K 4 classroom who had tried to climb over the fence, but Ms. Weinberg was contacted to help during the incident and Child A was removed from the center. She denied that the child ever got over the fence or near the road. CCSM 2 has not observed any broken toys on the smaller playground that her children use, but if she did see anything, she would let Ms. Weinberg know and would remove the item from the playground, so a child was not injured. CCSM 2 indicated that there is a broken or detached interior gate on the Pre-K playground and the child care staff members have to physically move it to close it. She denied any knowledge about a child ever climbing a fence or running into the road. CCSM 3 was not aware of any broken toys on the playground and if she saw a broken toy, she would dispose of it. She acknowledged that were some broken interior fence gates but said if the gate is broken, it just allows a child access to another gated play area and the child care staff members try to position themselves near the gates to keep children from wandering into a different outside play area. I asked her if any children have escaped the fenced play area because of broken fences and she said there was an incident where Child A

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R 400.8170 · 1 R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. (10) An outdoor play area and any equipment located on the center's premises must be maintained in a safe condition and inspected daily before use to ensure that no hazards are present.

On June 1, 2023, I spoke to the Complainant by telephone who said the child care staff members do not clean the rooms and just play on their cell phones during naptimes. The Wobbler and Toddler classrooms are both very dusty and the toys are dirty because the child care staff members do not use the three- step process to wash, rinse, and sanitize the play equipment daily. On June 7, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and spoke to Ms. Weinberg, CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, CCSM 6, and CCSM 7 about the allegation. Ms. Weinberg said the classrooms are cleaned daily and the toys and equipment are sprayed down every night and taken down to the kitchen to be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at least weekly. All rooms also have a "yuck bucket" for toys that children put in their mouths or get dirty. The items in the buckets are taken down to the kitchen to be cleaned and sanitized daily. There is also a checklist of things that must be cleaned every night before the child care staff members leave for the day. CCSM 1 said if toys used by the children get dirty or are placed in a child's mouth, they are put in a "yuck bucket" to be cleaned in the kitchen using the three-step process and then returned to the classroom. The floors are swept after all meals and snacks and mopped after lunch and at the end of the day. The carpeted areas are vacuumed at the end of each day. The counter tops are washed and sanitized at the end of each day and toys that cannot be easily sanitized are sprayed with a sanitizing solution. CCSM 1 has never had any concerns about the level of cleanliness in the facility. CCSM 2 stated that child care staff members sweep and mop the floors after every meal and at the end of the day. If a child puts a toy in his or her mouth, the toy is put into a "yuck bucket" where it is cleaned and disinfected before being put back into rotation in the classroom. The three-step process is used for the tables and all other equipment in the classroom used by the children in care. She has not noticed any dirt or dust in the classrooms and said the classrooms are cleaned every day. CCSM 3 said the child care staff members have a checklist of items they are required to clean as part of their closing tasks each day and the list is posted by the classroom door. The list includes things like cleaning the tables, taking the trash out, and vacuuming and mopping the floors. During the day if a child puts a toy in their mouth or something gets dirty, the item goes into a "yuck bucket" then it is washed, rinsed, and sanitized at the end of day and set out to dry overnight. CCSM 3 has never had any concerns about the cleanliness of the center. CCSM 4 stated that at naptime each day the child care staff members will wash, rinse, and sanitize the toys used by the children that were placed in the "yuck bins." Before they leave for the evening, the floors are vacuumed or mopped, and the tables and countertops are cleaned. She said there is a list of tasks they are required to complete each day and everyone knows what to do. CCSM denied having any concerns about dust or cleanliness in the center. 14 CCSM 5 said that all the toys in the room are sanitized at the end of each day using a bleach and water solution. "Yuck buckets" are used to remove toys immediately after a child has placed a toy in their mouth or gotten it dirty. The items in the "yuck bucket" are washed, rinsed, and sanitized using the three-step process. The classrooms are swept after snacks and meals and then mopped during nap time. There is a checklist of items that are completed at the end of each day. CCSM 5 has not had any concerns about cleanliness in the center. CCSM 6 stated that she or another child care staff member usually clean the classroom every evening before they leave. CCSM 6 sweeps and mops the floors, sprays the toys in the room with a sanitizing solution, takes out the trash, and washes toys in the "yuck buckets" using the three-ste

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R 400.8173 · R 400.8173 Equipmmeenntt.. _ .................................... ... .......... ....................................... ....................................................... .......................... (4) Play equipment, materials, and furniture, must be all of the following: (b) Safe, clean, and in good repair.

Play equipment, materials, and furniture are all in safe, clean, and good repair. The three-step process is used to wash, rinse, and sanitize materials in the classroom. Ms. Weinberg, CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, CCSM 6, and CCSM 7 all indicated that the classrooms are being cleaned daily. ..................

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R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. (16) The depth of the loose-fill surface material must be restored to its required depth when it has moved or becomes otherwise compromised.

The depth of the loose-fill surface material was not restored to its required depth around the slide, composite structure, and red arch climber. There was grass, weeds, prickers, and hard- packed dirt under the climbing equipment on the playground.

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