Leta's Educational Childcare

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

There is no evidence that Leta Bowman slapped Child A, Child B or any other children in care.

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

After interviewing licensing consultant, licensee, child care staff members, parents and observing the child care, there is no evidence to support the allegations that a children are left outside unsupervised.

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R 400.8201(2)(f) · R 400.8201(2)(f) Comprehensive background check; fingerprinting. (f) Immediately disconnect each individual within the department’s child care background check system once the individual is no longer a licensee, licensee designee, child care staff member, or an unsupervised volunteer under the license.

All staff must be immediately disconnected when they leave employment. A program staff member who has not worked 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP at the center since December 2025 was connected in CCBC until the onsite inspection.

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R 400.8251(2)(a) · R 400.8251(2)(a) Handwashing (a) Before and after meals, snacks, or food preparation experiences.

Children must wash their hands before and after eating meals and snacks. Staff were using hand sanitizer on children before eating. They were using hand sanitizer or nothing after eating.

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R 400.8251(2)(b) · R 400.8251(2)(b) Handwashing 3 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP (b) After toileting or diapering.

Children must wash their hands after having their diaper changes. Staff were not washing children's hands after diapering.

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R 400.8330(23) · R 400.8330(23) Food services and nutrition generally (23) Infants or toddlers shall not have bottles, beverage containers, or food in sleeping equipment.

Children may not have beverage containers or food in sleeping equipment. One toddler was put in a crib with a bottle.

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R 400.8335(11) · R 400.8335(11) Food services and nutrition; provided by center 4 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP (11) Prepared bottles and beverage containers of milk and formula must be refrigerated and labeled with the child's first and last name, date, and time of preparation.

Bottles must be labeled with the child's first and last name and the date. Infant bottles were not labeled.

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R 400.8113(3)(a) · R 400.8113(3)(a) Information provided to parents. (3) For infants and toddlers, a center shall provide parents with a written daily record that includes at least the following information: (a) Food intake time, type of food, and amount eaten. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8113(3)(c) · R 400.8113(3)(c) Information provided to parents. (3) For infants and toddlers, a center shall provide parents with a written daily record that includes at least the following information: 5 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP (c) Elimination patterns, including bowel movements, consistency, and frequency. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8213(1)(d)(i) · R 400.8213(1)(d)(i) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (d) Sign and date a written statement at the time of hiring or before volunteering and indicate all of the following information: (i) The individual is aware that abuse and neglect of children is against the law. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8213(1)(d)(ii) · R 400.8213(1)(d)(ii) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (d) Sign and date a written statement at the time of hiring or before volunteering and indicate all of the following information: (ii) The individual is informed of the center's policies on child abuse and neglect. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8213(1)(d)(iii) · R 400.8213(1)(d)(iii) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (d) Sign and date a written statement at the time of 6 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP hiring or before volunteering and indicate all of the following information: (iii) The individual knows they are mandated reporters of child abuse and child neglect and are required by law to immediately report suspected abuse and neglect to the department of health and human services, children's protective services, as described in subdivision (c) of this subrule. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8315(1) · R 400.8315(1) Food and equipment storage (1) Each refrigerator must have an accurate working thermometer indicating a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Bureau

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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.

During my onsite inspection on 2/21/2023 I spoke with program director/licensee designee Leta Bowman, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, and CCSM 6. Ms. Bowman and I spoke first. She explained that she is primarily in the preschool classroom but does like to do the board time in the toddler classroom so she can start to get to know the children in this classroom. During board time they work on colors, letters, calendar, weather, etc. She does this alone in the back of the room while the other two child care staff members prep for the rest of the day in the front of the classroom. Ms. Bowman likes to do this because the toddlers are distracted by the other staff members when they are involved in board time. Ms. Bowman explained that some of the toddlers are still young and need two naps a day, so during board time they are placed in the cribs that are in the back of the room so if they do not fall asleep, they can "sponge" off the lessons she is teaching the rest of the infants. If the younger toddlers that do not need two naps cannot sit at the toddler table during this board time, she puts them in highchairs so they can hear the lesson without moving all around. They are given books, musical instruments, etc. while in the highchairs so they are included in the lesson. Ms. Bowman indicated that typically the board time lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Ms. Bowman indicated that she is up front with all her parents about what each classroom looks like and that the young toddlers are still gaining knowledge from listening to the lesson. CCSM 1 works primarily in the toddler room. She stated that Ms. Bowman likes to do the board time, so during that time she works on lesson plans or crafts for later in the day with the other child care staff member that is in the room. CCSM 1 believes the youngest child in the room is just over 12 months and still requires a morning nap. They are placed in the crib in the back of the room by the other children during board time so they can hear the lesson if they are not sleeping. When toddlers do not do well sitting at the toddler table, they are placed in highchairs but still included in the lesson. For example, they are given books to look through or musical instruments if they are singing a song. CCSM 2 sometimes works in the infant room but works in the toddler room primarily. They explained that during board time Ms. Bowman works with the toddlers in the back of the room while herself and other child care staff members work on things in the front of the room. She does observe where the children are sitting during the board time and reported that the older toddlers will sit at the toddler table in the back, the young ones will lay in cribs if they still need to nap and the ones that can't sit at the table and will run around are placed in the highchairs. Staff let toddlers try it 3 out at the table before they just put them in the highchairs. If they can't sit to listen and are distracting the other kids, they are put in the highchair. CCSM 3 is not typically in the toddler room when Ms. Bowman is in there because she switches places with her and goes into the preschool classroom. She stated that board time is typically 45 minutes to an hour and that she knows that the older toddlers sit at the table unless they wander off during the lesson, then they are placed in highchairs so they can engage better with the lesson. There are two toddlers that are younger and sometimes need a morning nap. They are placed in the cribs in the same space the board time is occurring so if they do not fall asleep, they can listen to the lesson. CCSM 3 stated that Ms. Bowman is never alone with 12 toddlers, that there are always two other child care staff members in the classroom. CCSM 4 is in the toddler and preschool classroom. Sometimes she switches with Ms. Bowman during board time, so she does not always observe the entire thing. She has never witnessed Ms. Bowman being alone

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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: Age Child Care Staff Maximum member to Child Ratio Group Size a) Infants, 1 to 4 12 and toddlers, birth until 30 months of age

Ms. Bowman stated that they have had pinkeye throughout the center, and it typically has gone one of two ways. The first is they go to the doctor and get eye drops for it, then they are allowed to come back 24 hours after they started the drops. Or they may go to the doctor and the doctor says it is not contagious. In this case, they must get a note from the doctor saying that they are not contagious so they can be in care. Sometimes they do not go to the doctor, so they must be out 48 hours or until there is no discharge. All staff members that I spoke with stated that Ms. Bowman is very strict about different illnesses that are contagious, pinkeye being one of them. They all reported the same requirements Ms. Bowman stated for children that are observed in care having pinkeye; Children must go home and have requirements that must be met before they can come back to care. Child A's Mother stated that Child A did get pinkeye on a Saturday once and she got him antibiotics. She kept him home until he was no longer contagious. She felt that Ms. Bowman was in regular contact with them about different illnesses that are going around and will include in the newsletters small reminders about how to prevent spread of illness in general. Child B's Mother reported that any time Child B is sick she knows she needs to keep her home for 24 hours after she is fever-free or has no other symptoms. Child C's Mother is a nurse for the health department and has been impressed with Ms. Bowman's communication on different illnesses going around the center and has not had any concerns about sanitization at the center.

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R 400.8179 · R 400.8179 Program. (2) A center shall implement a program plan that includes daily learning experiences appropriate to the developmental level of the children. Experiences must be designed to develop all of the following: (d) Cognitive development.

Ms. Bowman stated that in the toddler room children never really ask for water but are given water with their snacks and milk at meals. She stated that in the summertime she does make sure the toddlers get more water during the day because they play outside much more and does not want them to get dehydrated. In the preschool classroom they have their own water bottles and can have them anytime they want when they ask for them. However, on occasion, there has been a child that asks for water constantly to keep them from conducting different academic lessons so they may be told to wait or that they just had it. This very rarely happens and could not think of a specific time it happened last. CCSM 1 stated that in the toddler room the children have cups in the refrigerator and if they ask for them, they can have them. CCSM 2 stated that toddlers do not really ask for drinks outside mealtime. Maybe they ask in the summer and then they are given water. CCSM 3 and CCSM 4 stated that at no time has a child been denied water when they ask for it. 7 CCSM 5 reported that when a child asks for water, they are typically given it unless they are using it as an excuse not to lay down for rest time or participate in academic activities.

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R 400.8155 · .. ........................................................................................................................................................................... I R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (1)A center shall have a written plan for how and when a parent is notified when personnel observe any of the following: (c) A child is too ill to remain in the group.

I asked Ms. Bowman when children are required to wash their hands, she stated before/after meals, when they come in from outside, after using the bathroom and after diapering. CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, and CCSM 5 reported that the potty-trained children wash after they go to the bathroom and all children wash their hands before and after eating. They reported that the hands of toddlers after a diaper change are usually cleaned with a wipe. CCSM 2 reported they use wipes to sanitize the children's hands after diapering because they need to stay in ratio and there is not a sink in the classroom. Some staff also reported that hands are washed if soiled after outdoor play. CCSM 6 stated that she washes infants' hands after diapering them if it is safe to do so. She also washes them before they eat. After speaking with caregivers, I asked Ms. Bowman about toddlers having their hands wiped instead of washing their hands. She stated that she had a portable sink in the toddler room but moved it to the infant room because it would make it easier in infant room. I asked about adding another sink in the toddler room and she stated that at this time it is not feasible so they will bring them across the hall to the sink to wash their hands.

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R 400.8134 · R 400.8134 Hand washing. (3) Staff and volunteers shall ensure that children wash their hands at all of the following times: (b) After toileting or diapering.

Child care staff members report that they use wipes on children's hands after they are diapered instead of washing them.

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