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. 4
On 08/10/2022, I contacted Child A's, (8-year-old male) Mother after having received an incident report on 08/09/2022. Child A's Mother said on 08/04/2022 at 5:00pm when she picked up Child A, he got in the car and told her 2 that child care staff member, Lauren Wolph kicked him in the stomach. Child A's Mother said after questioning Child A further, she went back to the center to speak with program director, Jessica Sawyer. Child A's Mother told Ms. Jessica what Child A reported to her. Ms. Jessica told Child A's Mother that she would speak with child care staff member Ms. Lauren immediately. I asked Child A's Mother if I had her permission to speak with Child A when I conduct my onsite visit at the center. Child A's Mother gave me her permission to speak with Child A. On 08/10/2022 I conducted an unannounced inspection. When I arrived onsite, I told Ms. Jessica that I had received the incident report she submitted to the department. I asked Ms. Jessica if she was able to investigate to understand what transpired. Ms. Jessica said Ms. Laura denied kicking Child A and said she would never do anything of that sort. Ms. Jessica said, at the mother's request, she did not put Child A back in the room with Ms. Lauren. Ms. Jessica said Ms. Lauren was on vacation until Monday, 08/15/2022 so she was unable to be interviewed. I asked Ms. Jessica are their cameras in the center. Ms. Jessica said there is live footage that can be viewed. Ms. Jessica said as a part of her investigation she involved her district manager, Jennifer Gundersen. She said Ms. Gundersen viewed the video and reported that she did not see anything inappropriate. I made Ms. Jessica aware that Child A's Mother gave me permission to speak with him. Ms. Jessica, Child A, and I sat in the front office. I asked Child A to tell me what happened on 08/04/2022. Child A said he was playing with his friend, Child B, (8- year-old female). Child A said Ms. Lauren asked him repeatedly to stop talking to Child B, but he didn't. He said he was seated, leaning in towards the table talking to Child B and Ms. Lauren took her foot and put it on the chair he was sitting in and a shoved the chair. Child A said Ms. Lauren's foot was partly on the chair and partly on his side when she shoved it. I asked Child A if there was another adult in the room and he said no. I also asked him if there was another child nearby who saw the incident. He gave me Child B's name. Ms. Jessica walked Child A back to his room. I asked for the contact information of staff who has worked with Ms. Lauren and for Child Information records of children who were in Ms. Laura class on 08/04/2022. On 08/17/2022, I conducted an unannounced onsite visit. I interviewed Ms. Lauren about the allegations. Ms. Lauren denied the allegations and said she doesn't recall that incident ever happening. She remembers Child A giving her a hard time that day, and as a result, she allowed him to help her pass out snack. Ms. Lauren said she would never put her foot on a child and shove him. She said when she was informed of the allegations, she was surprised to hear that. Ms. Lauren said since the incident, she hasn't had any more interactions with Child A. On 10/03/2022 I contacted four parents whose children were in Ms. Lauren's class on 08/04/2022. I contacted Child C's (7-year-old male) Mother, Child D's (7-year-old male) Mother, Child E's (6 year-old female) Mother, and Child F's (9-year-old 1/2 - female) Mother, to ask each of them to speak with their child regarding any 3 inappropriate discipline by any child care staff member, specifically, Ms. Lauren. Child C, Child D, and Child E's Mother said their children said, no. They reported how much their child loved Ms. Lauren and they had never seen anything inappropriate. Child F's Mother reported that Child F said she does not remember Ms. Lauren. On 10/06/2022 I contacted three child care staff members who worked with Ms. Lauren. Ms. Stacie Carr is a child care staff member who