R 400.8140(2)(a) · R 400.8140(2)(a) Discipline. Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

Child Care Staff Member 1 does not spank Child A as a form of discipline.

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Open / not marked corrected.

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 11/18/2022, Darlese McConnell, child care licensing manager and I made an unannounced visit. The program director is out on leave, so I met with Pam Eaton-Champion who is the owner. Ms. Eaton-Champion stated that she has never spanked any children and has not observed any other child care staff members spanking any children. She has no idea why someone would say that they are spanking children. Ms. Eaton-Champion said the discipline policy used at that center is redirection. Child care staff members redirect the children if they are misbehaving and then talk with them about the issue. The older children may sit down for a minute or two to think about their actions. There have not been any child care staff members reprimanded for inappropriate discipline. I interviewed Anita McWilliams, lead caregiver in the infant room. Ms. McWilliams stated she has never spanked a child in care and has not observed any other child care staff members spanking children. The discipline policy of the center is to redirect the children and give them something else to play with. Ms. McWilliams has no idea why someone would say that the owner or child care staff members are spanking children. There have not been any parents who have expressed concerns about discipline. All parents receive the discipline policy at enrollment. I interviewed Marie-Josee Akono, lead caregiver in the toddler room. Ms. Akono stated she has never spanked a child in care and has not witnessed any other child care staff members spanking children. The discipline policy is to redirect the children. If a child is having a hard time, she moves the child away from the area and gives them other toys to play with. They do not use time out in this classroom. Ms. Akono has no idea why someone would say that children are being spanked. There have not been any parents who have expressed concerns about discipline that she is aware of. I interviewed Angela Philmore, lead caregiver in the 2 - 3-year-old classroom. Ms. 1/2 Philmore stated she has not spanked any children in care and has never observed other child care staff members spanking children. She is unsure why someone would say that. Ms. Philmore feels that they provide a loving environment and do their best to keep the center healthy and clean. The discipline policy in the center is to redirect the children. They use time out for children over the age of 3 (one minute per age). Child care staff members like to talk to the children when they do something wrong, so they understand why it was not acceptable. Child care staff members may put different toys out for the children to play with to redirect them. Ms. Philmore does not recall any children saying that they had been spanked. She has not had any parents express concerns about discipline. Parents receive the discipline policy when they enroll in the program. I interviewed Duane McGhee, associate preschool child care staff member. Mr. McGhee stated he has never spanked any children in care and has not observed 3 any other child care staff members spanking children. The discipline policy in the classroom is reset and redirect. If they are redirecting, the child care staff member sits down and talks the incident through with the child. Mr. McGhee does not recall any children saying they had been spanked or any parents who had concerns around discipline. On 11/18/2022 and 11/21/2022, I interviewed Child A, Child B, Child C, Child D and Child E's Mothers on the telephone. The mothers interviewed said their children love the "caregivers" at the center and they are very excited to go to school each day. There are positive interactions between the "caregivers" and children. They all said that the method of discipline in the center was redirection and there were no concerns about discipline. None of them have seen any unexplained marks or bruises on their children. I requested and received a copy of the child discipline policy. The child discipline policy states that "Positive discipl

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Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.

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.

During a telephone interview with Child A's Mother on April 21 2022, she stated that on April 20, 2022, she picked up Child A from the center at 5:15 PM or 5:20 PM. During the drive home Child A stated that "Ms. Angie" hit her. Child A said that "Ms. Angie' whooped her, slapped her, and grabbed her by the chin. Child A's Mother stated that when she arrived home, she observed a scratch under Child A's chin and on the back of her neck. Child s Mother has not spoken to anyone at e center regardinQ the ego ions made by Child A. Child A has been enrolled at the center for She stated that she has requested the names and contact information or "teachers," from program director Pamela Champion but she never received it. Child A has cried every day stating that she does not want to go to Ms. Angie's class and now that Child A has made these allegations. Child A's Mother is really concerned. Child A;s Mother stated that on another occasion at pick up she noticed that Child A's hair looked different from the way it did at drop off. Child A's Mother asked Child A what happened to her hair and Child A stated that Ms. Angie yanked her back and forth by her hair. Child A's mother does not recall the date of this incident and stated that she did not speak with Ms. Angie about it because she thought that Child A had to have been mistaken. During the on-site inspection on April 25, 2022, .~.~. " an interview was conducted with program director Pamela Eaton-Champion. S aton-Champion stated that child care staff member Angela Philmore is the lead caregiver in the preschool classroom where Child A was enrolled. Ms. Eaton- Champion has known child care staff member Angela Philmore for over 30 years and has not had concerns about the care that Ms. Philmore provides. Ms. Eaton- Champion stated that she is totally shocked by the allegations made by Child A. She stated that it could not have happened because she is in and out of the classroom throughout the day and has never seen Ms. Philmore hit or spank a child. Ms. Eaton-Champion stated that Ms. Philmore verbally redirects children and uses time out for one minute per year of age, if necessary, as a means of discipline. If Ms. Philmore had to physically move a child, she would pick them up by their waist or their arm but most of the children respond to verbal direction. Ms. Eaton-Champion stated that there have been no behavioral issues with any of the children in Ms. Philmore's class. Ms. Philmore works alone in the classroom from 7:15 AM until 8:00 AM when child care staff member Autumn Mack arrives. If Child A had a scratch on her chin or neck it did not happen at the center. Ms. Eaton-Champion stated that if child care staff members saw a scratch on Child A's face, they would have completed an incident report. There was no incident report completed for Child A on April 20, 2022. Child A has not been present at the center since . She stated that she received a voicemail message from Child A's Mother on the evening of April 20, 2022, requesting a return call. Ms. Eaton-Champion returned the call that same evening but was not able to reach Child A's Mother. She has not received another call from her. Program director Cheryl Urbonya stated that the Pam's Academy of Champions has two locations next door to each other. She stated that she works in the larger building with the older children while Ms. Philmore works in the small building with the younger preschool age children. Ms. Urbonya stated that she knows Ms. Philmore very well and that she is "an amazing human being." She stated that she has never had any problems with Ms. Philmore at all, as she is kind, joyful and is incredibly patient with children. Ms. Urbonya has never received any complaints from parents regarding Ms. Philmore. Ms. Urbonya stated that there were no incident reports completed regarding any injuries in Ms. Philmore's class on April 20, 2022. Preschool lead child care staff member, Angela Philmore has been employed by the cen

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

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 March 10, 2021, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care center. I interviewed staff and observed all of the classrooms at the preschool. I did not see any behaviors by the staff members that concerned me. There was no physical discipline or any negative statements to the children. During my interview with Angie Philmore, staff member, she said she does most of the toileting routine with the children. She takes the children to the bathroom in groups. 2 She has never hit a child with or without a belt, nor threatened to whoop their butt. She has said "I am going to wipe your butt." If she feels a child needs discipline, she talks to them or uses re-direction. I interviewed Marie Akono, staff member in the toddler room. Ms. Akono said, "We don't hit the kids. With a belt? No way. Who would do such a thing?" The infant room is very close to the toddler room, and the upper half of the doors are left open. Anita McWilliams, staff member in the infant room, said she has not heard any child cry out. She does not believe any staff member has used physical discipline. Stephanie Jones, staff member in the infant room, stated that no one uses physical discipline. It is against the rules. Qelilah Young, staff member in the preschool room, said she was unaware of any physical discipline at the child care center. If the children are not behaving, she reminds them of the rules and uses redirection. Pam Champion, licensee, said she had a mother talk to her about Ms. Angie threatening to whoop her child's butt. Ms. Champion talked to Ms. Angie and determined that the child misunderstood when Ms. Angie said she would wipe the child's butt. Child A's Mother said that in December 2020, her child, age 2 years, told her that Ms. Angie spanked him. Child A's Mother discussed the situation with Pamela Champion and then believed her child misspoke. The child made the same statement in February 2021. Child A's Mother believed him and reported it to Pamela Champion and Child A's Mother removed her children from the center. Child B and C's Mother has not seen anything that concerns her. She stated her children have been attending for over two years and they love going to the center. Child D's Mother stated she has been sending her child to this center for over three years and has never had a concern. She believes they do a good job. Child E's Mother informed me that her son speaks very clearly and would have told her if he or another child were spanked. He has never said anything negative and likes attending the center.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.