• Violation

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

  On 03/15/2021 I arrived at Ms. Heather Cran-Simon's home, introduced myself and informed her of the allegations. Ms. Cran-Simon, licensee stated Child B (male, 15 months) scratched Child D (male, 20 months) on 03/12/2021; however, Child B did not bite him. Child B has bitten children in the 2 past but has not bitten a child since 01/19/2021. Ms. Cran-Simon stated she has been keeping documentation of each occurrence since texting her licensing consultant Mr. Don Vita on 01/14/2021 and then talking with him shortly after. Ms. Cran-Simon retrieved a binder from her kitchen for me to view. The binder included resources for effective behavior plans, blank Ouch! reports she completes and provides to parents if their child is bitten and a behavior plan she created for Child B. Child B's behavior plan includes goals, watching for triggers that could cause negative behavior, and a plan when negative behavior occurs. Child B's Mother and Ms. Cran-Simon are working together and have both signed the behavior plan which is dated 01/18/2021. Also in the binder were three completed Ouch! reports for the following three occurrences: • 01/13/2021 Child B bit Child A (male, 19 months) • 01/14/2021 Child B bit Child D (male, 20 months) • 01/19/2021 Child B bit Child D Ms. Cran-Simon said Child A was no longer enrolled. He was last bitten on 01/13/2021 and did not recall that he received any scratches. She disenrolled Child A on 02/18/2021 because his Mother would cancel care at the last minute causing Ms. Cran-Simon to change or cancel Ms. Kelly's scheduled hours. Ms. Cran-Simon said when an accident or injury happens, she contacts the parents through text or a telephone call to let them know what happened. In a situation where a child bites, she would also talk with the parents of the biter and discuss how things are at home and is anything going on that she would need to know. She does not share confidential information to parents. Ms. Cran-Simon thinks Child B is young and lacks communication skills to express what he likes and wants. She and child care staff member Ms. Kelly Evans watch Child B closely and stay physically near him. They work as a team ensuring that one staff member is always close by Child B. On 03/15/2021 Ms. Evans stated Child B will sometimes attempt to bite another child if the other child tries to take a toy from him. She and Ms. Cran-Simon never leave Child B unsupervised or unattended and redirect Child B with different activities. They never give a time out to Child B or any child under three years of age. She was present on 01/14/2021 and 01/19/2021 when Child B bit Child D and on 01/13/2021 when Child B bit Child A. Child B has not bitten any child since 01/19/2021. Ms. Evans said she and Ms. Cran-Simon work as a team. Sometimes they are in different rooms providing care to children but are aware of who they are supervising and providing appropriate care to. Often, they divide duties such as cooking, outside play, and inside play. Ms. Evans is comfortable with the level of support from Ms. Cran-Simon and is never concerned regarding the care children receive. On 03/16/2021 Child B and Child D's (female, 4 years) Mother stated Child B is biting a little bit at home. He will play with his sister and sometimes try to bite her in a playful way. Sometimes Child B will bite her and his father if he does not get what he 3 wants. Child B and Child D's Mother said she is working with Ms. Cran-Simon regarding Child B's biting. She is very happy with the behavior plan Ms. Cran-Simon has created and is following through to be consistent at home as well. Child B's Mother said Ms. Gran-Simon is the best child care; as good or better than nearby Ferris State's program. As of the date of this report, a return call has not been received by Child A's Mother, nor Child D's Mother.

A child in care bites and scratches children.

Disposition: Substantiated