• Violation

  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.

  An accident report was received on 5/25/2022, the same day as the injury occurred. Teresa Nault, Licensee Designee submitted the report. Michelle Curtis wrote the following on the form: "He was running up and down the stairs. I told him we were going back to the classroom and to stop running. He continued to run. I was at the top of the steps. He was on the bottom step and slipped and fell before I could get to him. He hit his chin and right knee on the steps." The incident report was accompanied by an internal agency report that described the same action and that Child A received a bruise on his right knee and a cut on his chin with bleeding. First aid used was comfort, a cold pack, pressure, and washing. A medical report from the 5/25/2022 accident was received. Dr. Michelle Kroupa- Kulik diagnoses a chin laceration. The wound was described as a 1 cm simple linear wound. The wound was reapproximated with Dermabond. I completed an on-site inspection on 5/31/2022. On that date, I interviewed Michelle Curtis and observed the classroom. I observed Ms. Davis maintaining supervision of 2 the entire group with consistent positive language, encouragement, and gentle guidance. Ms. Curtis did not demonstrate those skills and kept her head down most of the time. Ms. Rzanca was absent on this date. Ms. Davis was too busy with the classroom to interview on this date, so I planned another date to interview both Ms. Davis and Ms. Rzanca. Ms. Curtis reported the following in the interview: The group had been outside by the "Crayon Sign" playing with chalk. This is a small concrete/sidewalk entry to the building. To access this location from the classroom, they used the large interior staircase. Ms. Curtis advised that the children wanted to use sidewalk chalk and since the school van was unloading food service at the other approved paved outdoor play area, it was decided on the spur of the moment to use this location. They did place cones blocking the street from this concrete area. Upon returning indoors, Child A was running up and down the stairs. She told him not to run. He fell and Ms. Curtis was concerned about his knee injury. She did not see blood from Child A's chin. Her co-worker, Brittany Rzanca, came down and saw the blood and helped Child A. Ms. Curtis admitted that she needed to find more good words to use when children are oppositional and needs more ideas. She was able to describe that she encourages children to take a breath with star or balloon techniques and she knows that "we transfer our calm to them." In the classroom, if a child is having disruptive behavior, sometimes Ms. Rzanca takes the child for a walk. She said there was, "not anything else" that she would use. I provided my contact information to her and invited her to email me additional ideas that she may use to help children in difficult situations. She is interested in additional training on positive discipline and de-escalation techniques. No further information was received from Ms. Curtis. On 5/31/2022. I spoke to Child A's Mother by phone. She was concerned that Child A had his chin cut while running on the stairs. When she picked him up from the class to go to the doctor, he said Miss Michelle told him, "That's what you get for running. That's what happens when you run." Luckily, he did not need stitches, and doctor was able to glue the small cut on his chin. On 6/2/2022, I completed an on-site inspection, and the children were at the outdoor playground. The children were engaged in outdoor exploration and active gross motor skills. Ms. Curtis was absent on this day. Ms. Rzanca advised that she heard Ms. Curtis tell Child A, "That's what you get for running. That's what happens when you run." Ms. Rzanca tries to stay near Ms. Curtis for additional support or intervenes when there is something Ms. Curtis can't handle. Observations about Ms. Curtis included that she did not see the blood when Child A was cut, she does not give children a chance to do somet

Child A (5-year-old male) hit his chin and knee on the bottom of the steps when transitioning from outside to the classroom.

Disposition: Substantiated