• Violation

  R 400.8125 · 1 R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. 4

  On 07/20/2021, Child B's Mother reported that child care staff members informed her that there had been an incident of inappropriate touching between Child A and Child B. Child A asked Child B to touch his "weiner." Child A took Child B's hand and placed it on his groin area. This occurred over Child A's clothing. Child B's Mother has been involved with Mona Shores Child Care for five years and she has never had any concerns regarding supervision. On 07/20/2021 I discussed the allegations with program director Autumn Hazekamp. Ms. Lilia DuRose and Ms. Taylor Ruel are the child care staff members who were present on the day that this incident occurred. On 07/21/2021, an onsite inspection was completed. I interviewed child care staff members Ms. Lilia DuRose and Ms. Taylor Ruel. Ms. DuRose reported that this incident occurred as lunch was wrapping up. Most of the children were still sitting at the lunch table. Ms. Ruel was on the telephone talking to Child A's Guardian due to some behavioral problems that Child A had been displaying. Ms. Ruel was holding the phone up to Child A's ear so that he could talk to Child A's Guardian. Ms. Ruel's back was to the students. When the phone call ended, Ms. DuRose told Ms. Ruel that she was going to use the restroom. Ms. DuRose noticed that Child B was standing by a row of book shelves that were approximately 2.5 feet high. Child B was standing on the opposite side of the bookshelves from her and he was visible from about the chest up. She observed Child A walk over by Child B. Child A and B began giggling, and she asked them what was so funny. Child A stated that Child B had touched his "weiner." Ms. DuRose questioned Child A and Child B individually about what had happened. Child B stated, "He made me do it. He took my hand and made me do it." Child A stated, "I took his hand and made him touch my weiner." Ms. DuRose stated that Child A was moved to the Lighthouse room (4- and 5-year- old) from the Lower Deck Sailor Care room (5 and 6-year-old) approximately two weeks ago. This was due to behavioral problems in the Lower Deck Sailor Care room. Child care staff members observed that he did pretty well in the morning, but he seemed to become more defiant around 10 or 10:30 am. Child care staff members began giving him a snack around that time and it seemed to be helping. Child A's behaviors included throwing toys, running and climbing on things in an unsafe manner. His unsafe behaviors toward students involved throwing things. His behaviors did not include physically touching other students. Child A would hug child care staff members, but he was not overly touchy with students. Ms. Ruel reported that she has worked at Mona Shores Child Care since the end of May 2021. She used to float between the Lighthouse room and the Lower Deck Sailor Care room. She has worked full time in the Lighthouse room since Child A was placed in this room. Prior to this incident happening, she and Child A had been on the phone talking to Child A's Guardian due to Child A hitting another child. Ms. 3 Ruel did not see this incident occur. Most of Child A's behavioral problems were regarding unsafe behaviors due to running away, climbing, and throwing things. There had not been any concerns regarding body safety. This behavior was surprising to Ms. Ruel because Child A does not even like being touched. On 08/23/2021, I interviewed program director Ms. Autumn Hazekamp. Child A had been attending Mona Shores Child Care approximately two weeks before this incident occurred. Due to his age, he was originally placed in the Lower Deck Sailor Care room; however, he was not developmentally ready to be successful in that room. Child care staff members decided that he would be better suited for the Lighthouse room due to the lower numbers of children in the room. Ms. Hazekamp has not had any concerns regarding supervision in Ms. DuRose and Ms. Ruel's classroom. She indicated that Ms. DuRose has worked for Mona Shores Child Car

Inappropriate touching between Child A (five-year-old, male) and Child B (four-year-old, male)

Disposition: Substantiated