Little Smiles Christian Learning Center

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.

LT 1 did not provide appropriate care of Child A and Child B she let go of the stroller without placing it in the locked function causing the stroller to roll and fall causing injury to Child A.

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R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: a) For infants and toddlers, birth through 30 months of age, there shall be 1 staff member to 4 children with a maximum group size of 12 children.

On 10/28/2021 I completed an unannounced on-site inspection at the center, arriving at 8:00am. Upon driving into the driveway, I noted one staff member standing a little way down the road with 3 children, waiting for the bus. When I entered the Preschool room at the front of the building, I noted one staff member in the classroom with 11 children, 2 of which were infants under the age of 12 months. There was one staff member in the toddler room with two children, and another staff member in the office who had just arrived. I interviewed child care staff member Erika Hicks, who was in the office at the time of my arrival. As I was being let into the building, she came out of the office and into the preschool room, and she picked up the two infants. I asked her when she had arrived that morning and she replied, "I come in at 8:00am, pick up my kids and take them to my room." I asked if she had been clocking in when I first saw her in the office and she said, "Well I was grabbing my watch, but yes, I just got here at 8." Ms. Hicks confirmed that all of the children present had arrived prior to her clocking in that morning. "Before I arrived, Charisse was here, she's the assistant director. She's at the bus stop with kids right now. Destiny was also here, in the front room 2 with her." Ms. Hicks said that the toddler room teacher had also just arrived when she did at 8:00am, and brought two children back to her classroom. "She got here at 8 too, and grabbed her kids from the preschool room." Ms. Hicks stated that she arrives regularly at 8:00am for her shift. I asked her how many times in the past few weeks the center had been over staff to child ratio in the morning when she arrived and she replied, "I don't know. I don't pay attention to anything except grabbing the infants and bringing them back with me." She said she would be willing to come in earlier for her shift if she was asked. When asked if Ms. Hicks knew the required ratio for infants she replied, "1 to 4." Destiny Rodriguez said she's been working at the center since last Monday. She was in the Preschool room when I arrived, and by the time I interviewed her she had moved from the preschool room to a toddler room. She has not noticed the center being over staff to child ratio in the morning. I asked if she knew what the required ratio was for the classroom that morning, she said she did not. I asked if she knew the required ratio for the toddlers in her care and she said she did not. "I usually have 4 to myself." Ms. Rodriguez arrived at the center around 6:50am that morning and said assistant director Charisse Stewart had arrived before her. Charisse Stewart is the assistant director at the center. She said she usually opens the center at 7:00am, so she arrives prior to that each day. She was at the bus stop when I arrived. "We need to be at the bus stop by 8:04am, so I usually get them rounded up at 8:00am, since that's when the rest of my staff gets in." Ms. Stewart showed me the attendance records for that morning. There were 16 children present prior to 7:56am. The two infants arrived just after 7:00am, which would have made the required ratio 1 child care staff member for every 4 children, as ratio is determined by the youngest child present. All 16 children were in the preschool room with Ms. Stewart and Ms. Rodriguez until 8:00am when Ms. Stewart brought 3 children out to the bus stop and the toddler room teacher arrived, bringing 2 of the children to her classroom. At the time I arrived, Ms. Rodriguez was in the preschool classroom alone with 11 children, 2 of which were infants. Ms. Hicks came in from the office to pick up the two infants and brought them back to her classroom. I asked Ms. Stewart if she knew what the required ratio should have been in the room that morning and she said, "I can have a total of 18, but my ratio should be 1:4." When asked if ratio has been a problem other days Ms. Steward replied, "Honestly we had a few who came in early today

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R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (7) If there are children of mixed ages in the same room or well- defined space, then the ratio and group size is determined by the age of the youngest child, unless each group of children is clearly separated and the appropriate child care staff member- 4 to-child ratios and group sizes, if applicable, for each age group are maintained. ................ ....

• On 10/28/2021, during my on-site inspection, there were 11 children in the preschool room with one child care staff member, 2 of which were infants under the age of 12 months. The required ratio for this group of children would have been 1 child care staff member to 4 children. • Attendance records show that prior to 8:00am on 10/28/2021 there were 2 child care staff members with 16 children, 2 of which were infants.

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

On 10/18/2021 the Bureau received a complaint stating that a male child (age and identity unspecified) was hit on the head with an open hand by an unknown female child care staff member on an unspecified date. The complaint stated that the child care staff member stopped hitting the child when another staff member observed the incident. On 10/20/2021 I completed an unannounced on-site inspection at the center and interviewed Program Director Samantha Brubacher. She stated she has been the Program Director since March 2020. She had not heard of the alleged incident and said there had been no similar staff or parent concerns brought to her attention. "My staff is great, they're all very patient. I have no concerns." "All of our parents are super happy." A little later during my on-site inspection Ms. Brubacher said she had heard that the police were at the organization's other location with a "male who was incoherently threatening the staff." Ms. Brubacher explained that the previous week she disenrolled a child from care because the child's father was harassing and threatening her staff and "it wasn't safe." "I think it might all be connected." Ms. Brubacher said her staff is very good, "I can't imagine why a complaint like this could have come in." Assistant director Charisse Stewart stated she has been working at the center for about 6 years. She usually works in the Preschool room. "Usually there are two teachers in my room. I've never had concerns for the other staff." She stated she has never seen a child care staff member hit a child or have any other inappropriate contact with a child. She has not heard any staff or parents state similar concerns. "Our only form of discipline is time out, and only if it's age appropriate." I asked again if she had heard about the alleged incident previously and she replied, "never, no one said anything to me about this." Child care staff member Ashley Karwat indicated she works in the toddler room and has been at the center for almost a year. When read the complaint, Ms. Karwat said, "That sounds silly. The kids are very well taken care of here." Ms. Karwat explained she works with other child care staff members all day and she stated that she has "no concerns for any of the other staff." Several child care staff members recently left the center "with some drama" and she thinks they are trying to stir things up by making false claims. "Honestly, the complaints only come when staff are leaving, this isn't the first complaint when someone left." "Everyone here is lovable and good. The kids get treated well." Ms. Karwat stated she has not had any concerns from parents or other staff regarding how staff interact with children. Ms. Karwat said she has never hit or harmed a child in care. "No, definitely no." LatStacher Washington stated she works in the Wobbler room. She has not had any concerns for how other staff interact with children in care. "Everyone works together, there's no confrontation or anything. They all work good with kids. I've never seen anything that was bad." Ms. Washington said no staff or parents have said anything to her about a similar incident or concerns. "If a teacher is having an issue with a 3 child, they ask for help." Ms. Washington said she has never hit a child in care. "I've been working with children for for 29 years. We help each other. If someone's having trouble with a kid, I'll step in and help." Jada Brown stated she works in the wobbler room and has only been at the center for about a month. "From as long as I've been here, I've never seen anything like that." She had no staff concerns and said no parents have said anything to her. She stated she has never hit a child in care or observed anyone else doing that. Quatesha Allen stated she works with the wobblers and infants, and has been at the center approximately 6 years. "Everyone is great. With my whole heart, I have faith in everyone here. I trust them all." She has not witnessed anything like the al

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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.

On 02/19/2021 I left a voicemail for the complainant requesting a return call. As of the date of this report, I have not received contact back from the complainant. On 02/22/2021 I made an unannounced visit to the center. I spoke with program director, Samantha Burbacher. She stated she has been at this center since it has opened last March, but she has been with Little Smiles Child Care for nine years. She stated she is not aware of anyone smoking marijuana in the facility or of anyone smoking marijuana around the property. She explained she has one employee at 2 • - • • - •. a • .~ a - IuI iii ii •• • . points, - s • • s• -• •• ••- • i s • • • •_ •-

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R 400.8110 · R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (13) Smoking and vaping must not occur in or during both of the following: (a) In the child care center or on real property that is under the control of the center and upon which the center is located. 0

Ms. Hicks stated she smokes cigarettes in the center's parking lot, which is considered real property of the center.

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