• Violation

  R 400.1913 · R 400.1913 Discipline; child handling. (3) Personnel shall not do any of the following: (f) Confine a child in an enclosed area such as a closet, locked room, box, or similar enclosure.

  On June 26, 2022, I received an e-mail from the complainant, who said that she did not have first-hand information regarding the allegations. She said that the person who told her this, along with another person with concerns, did not feel comfortable speaking with licensing regarding the allegations. On June 27, 2022, I spoke to Witness 1, who said that she witnessed a person on social media threaten to say things about Vernee Charlebois's child care when Ms. Charlebois called out this person for advertising child care without being licensed. Witness 1 felt that this complaint was being made in retaliation for this exchange on social media. On June 28, 2022, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care home. interviewed Ms. Charlebois who denied ever locking a child in the office. Ms. Charlebois told me that she has never even had a special-needs child enrolled in her child care so she was not sure why anyone would say this. While at the home, I observed the office, which is a large bedroom with two large windows that has been converted into a space for eating and crafts. This room is approved use space and is right off of the main play area used by children in care. While at the home, I interviewed child care staff member 1 (CCSM1) outside of the home. She denied ever witnessing Ms. Charlebois putting a child in the office to cry and did not believe that this could have occurred. No parents have expressed any concerns to her about the care that their children have received at the child care group home. On June 7, 2022, I interviewed a child care staff member (CCSM2) that previously worked at Ms. Charlebois's child care group home. CCSM2 had no concerns whatsoever about Ms. Charlebois as a child care provider and denied ever seeing her lock a child in a room. I was able to interview four parents of children currently and recently enrolled in Ms. Charlebois's child care group home. None of the parents had any concerns regarding the care their children received. Child A's mother said that Child A (female, age 4) loves going to the child care and said that every child she sees while at the child care 3 seem to be very happy. Child B's mother has had two older children that attended the child care in the past and that they still talk about how much they loved going there. Child C's mother said that she trusts Ms. Charlebois completely with Child C (female, age 3). She knows many parents of older children that have attended the child care home and none of them have anything put positive things to say about the child care home. Child D's mother said that what has been alleged would never happen and that Ms. Charlebois is the only person she trusts to care for Child D (male, age 1). APPLICABLE RUL.E... ........ ........................................................ R 400.1 911 ICare; supeerrvviissiioonn;; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. ANALYSIS: I Appropriate care and supervision were provided to children in care. ............... CONCLUSION: VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED

A special-needs child was locked in the office when she cried.

Disposition: Substantiated