R 400.8140 · 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.

On 02/03/2023, 1 received a copy of the incident report. The incident report had a statement attached that explained the situation with Child A. It said that Child A's Mother had notified the center that she was giving a two week notice because she had concerns. Program director Kelsey VanRhee detailed that aside from a previous diapering issue from 01/16/2023 that Child A's Mother addressed, she was not aware of concerns. Child A's Mother then told her that a month prior, Child A had told her that CCSM 1 had and she had witnessed CCSM 1 being with other children in the classroom. On 02103/20231 attempted to contact Child A's Mother. e anemptea to complete a eornsic interview Child A but Child A would not with her. Child A's Father told her that he had not heard Child A talk about at the center. Child A's Mother told her that Child A was talking about CCSM 1 him and that she had made a video recording of him. Child A's Mother also told her about concerns that CCSMs were telling children that they were doing to call the police on them and that she had an audio recording of a CCSM saying that to children. On 02/08/2023 and I completed an unannounced on-site inspection and interviewed icensee designee Jodie VanRhee. Jodie VanRhee reported that Kelsey VanRhee had contacted her and notified her about what Child A's Mother had talked to her about. She said that Child A's Mother brought up a diapering concern that they had addressed with her last month. Child A's Mother came to pick Child A up as he was getting up from nap, he had not gotten his pull up changed yet and was wet. They decided to disenroll Child A immediately instead of waiting the two weeks because they were concerned that Child A's Mother knew about the 1 allegation against CCSM 1 for over a month and they felt like she did not trust them with Child A's care. She said that she was surprised to hear that Child A's Mother kept bringing him to the center after he said he They did not have a date for the alleged incident. asked Jodie VanRhee about staff telling the children about calling the police or spider. Jodie VanRhee reported that there was a spider in the bathroom, the children were scared of it and the CCSM told the children that they would call the spider police to come get it. Jodie VanRhee said that she talked to the other CCSMs, and no one had seen CCSM 1 with the children. and I interviewed program director Kelsey VanRhee who reported that "astweek she heard through a couple CCSMs that Child A would be leaving the center, so she contacted Child A's parents through the BrightWheel app to ask them about it. Child A's Mother responded and first told her that they were looking elsewhere and said that they were worried about Child A's if the center knew that he was leaving. Child A's Mother told her that on 23, Child A told her that CCSM 1 . Kelsey VanRhee said that she looked back through their communication and the only concern reported prior was regarding a message that Child A' . Child A's Father then messaged about how CCSMs were talking tot e children about spider police. Kelsey VanRhee asked her staff about it and was told that CCSM 3 was telling children that they had better listen or she would call the police. This was being said to preschool aged children. Kelsey VanRhee said that she spoke with CCSM 3 about how it was inappropriate, was threatening and looked like emotional abuse. CCSM 3 agreed with her. Child A's Mother also reported to her that she saw CCSM 1 pick up a child M and have been recording drops offs and has a lot of evidence. Kelsey ee said that she told Child A's Mother that they would be terminating care immediately because of Child A's parents not feeling safe with Child A in their care. She said that Child A's Mother got super mad because she was not ready to pull him out yet. Kelsey VanRhee said that there was an incident with Child A's diaper in January. Child A was changed at 11:40 Am and then had lunch. He was checked again, was dr

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (d) Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliating, shaming, or threatening a child.

Prohibited means of discipline was used when CCSM 1 and CCSM 3 were threatening to call the police when children were misbehaving.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

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.

On 11/12/2021 I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection to the child care facility. I met with Kelsey VanRhee, designee/program director, regarding the reported allegations. The reported allegations were vague and did not name an individual who had done the alleged behaviors. Ms. VanRhee said a former child care staff member (CCSM), Ashley VanderHyde, abruptly ended her employment at the center. Once she left, she began a campaign of making allegations against Kassandra Meyers, CCSM. Through text messages she alleged Ms. Meyers to have slapped a child in the mouth, pulled their hair and to have pushed a child. Ms. VanRhee stated she has never seen this behavior or had any concerns Ms. Meyers has been physically aggressive with any children in care. She asked Ms. VanderHyde why she did not report her concerns as a mandated reporter if she had such knowledge. Their communication devolved to ongoing threats and accusations between them. Ms. VanRhee said she interviewed all her employees and each one denied any knowledge of such behavior or any concerns. I then met with Katy Key, CCSM, outside the presence of others. Ms. Key was aware of the reported concerns, stating, "Ashley had a lot of complaints" and she felt she was not heard by Ms. VanRhee. She was aware of the allegations that Ms. Meyers, "was hitting babies." She has worked with Ms. Meyers on a regular basis and has never had any concerns about her care of children. She said she has seen Ms. Meyers, "be short tempered or rough sounding," however she has never seen her hit, slap, or push a child in the infant classroom. I then met with Kassandra Meyers outside the presence of others. Ms. Myers was aware of the reported allegations. She said she has met with Ms. VanRhee about her interactions with children. She was provided coaching on how to improve her 3 tone of voice and professionalism as "she can be loud." She denied she has ever hit, slapped, or pushed a child in care. She said she has been employed at the child care center since June of 2021, however, she has worked in child care throughout her career. She was assigned to work with Ashley VanderHyde and described her as a co-worker who immediately took a dislike to her. They had ongoing tension between them, and she does not know the source or reason for the conflict. She felt attacked by her because these allegations have no basis from her perspective. She said she is due to leave on maternity leave in the next couple of weeks. I then met with Kaylee Prescott outside the presence of others. She has worked with Ms. Meyers in the infant classroom. She was aware of the reported allegations. She denied ever seeing her hit, push, or slap a child in care. On 11/29/2021 I spoke with Ashley Whittum, infant lead caregiver, by telephone. Ms. Whittum was not at the child care center on the day of the on-site inspection. She was aware of the reported concerns. She recalled Ms. VanderHyde telling her a couple months ago that she saw Ms. Meyers "hit a kid and pulled their hair." She identified this child as Child A, female age 2. She recalled being told this as a "general statement" and Ms. VanderHyde reported this to Ms. VanRhee as well. Ms. Whittum said she has worked with Ms. Meyers 40hrs. a week for several months and has never seen anything from her that would support these allegations. She felt "she (Ms. VanderHyde) was trying to get her (Ms. Meyers) in trouble," as they did not get along. I then spoke with Ashley VanderHyde by telephone. She expressed a high level of frustration with the child care facility, Ms. VanRhee, and Ms. Meyers. She went through a long explanation of conflict, arguing, and accusations with Ms. VanRhee about her displeasure in working at the center. She alleged that Ms. Meyers pulled Child A's hair stating, "this will teach her not to pull hair." She relayed a second incident with Child D, female age 2, where she had bit another child, so she put her in a crib, then took her out and "slammed her

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

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.

On 0211712021 the department received an incident report form that outlined an incident that occurred at the center involving inappropriate contact between. Child A and Child B. The incident report stated that CCSM Jodi Williams told Child A to go sit in timeout. It identified that about 30 seconds later Ms. Williams walked by where Child A was sitting in timeout and saw Child A sitting near Child B. The report stated that Ms. Williams observed Child A with hand down own pants anc was pulling underwear and pants away from bard wi other hand. The report stated tt f Child B was observed to have 2 On 0211812021 1 completed an unannounced onsite inspection at the facility and spoke to Licensee Designee Kelsey VanRhee and CCSM Jodi Williams. Ms. VanRhee stated the incident occurred in the Seniors classroom. She identified that there were no prior concerns with either children regarding inappropriate touching. Ms. VanRhee stated she was not present during the incident and did not witness it. Ms. VanRhee provided the contact information for CCSM Mary Beth Pearson who was in the classroom at the time of the incident but not present at the facility at the time of my onsite inspection. I spoke to Jodi Williams who is the lead CCSM in the Seniors classroom. She stated that on 02/17/2021 she was working in the classroom with lbs. Pearson. She stated the incident occurred between 10:0 am and 11:00am with around 20 children present in the classroom. She stated she was on the rug getting things together for a lesson and children were playing in different centers. She stated that Ms. Pearson was sifting at a table working on a project with a few children and did not have a direct line of sight to Child A. Ms. Williams stated Child A was punching other children and not following directions. She stated she gave nultiple warnings but finally told to go sit in timeout. Ms. Williams stated that a that time there was no designatediiTheout space in the classroom. She stated that children would sit along the fencing when placed in timeout. The fencing is used in the building to divide the space into classrooms. Ms. Williams clarified that the center's discipline policy is to get on the child's level and speak to them calmly about the behavior and use redirection. She identified that if the behavior keeps happening then the child is told to sit in timeout for one minute per their age. She stated that Child A went over and sat along the fence near the train table. She stated another child asked her a question and she assisted this child before walking over to check on Child A to make L sure found way to a spot on the fence. When she walked over, she found Child A with one hand in own pants and the other holding waistband out. She stated that Child B was next to Child A and sitting She identified that no other children were near the two and she spoke to them about body safety following the incident. Ms. Williams denied that either child have demonstrated these behaviors before. Ms. Williams stated that she has created a calm down area in the classroom that is easily viewable from all areas in the classroom. On 0313112021 1 spoke to Mary Beth Pearson by phone. She identified that she was present on the day the inappropriate contact between Child A and Child B occurred, but she did not witness it. She stated that she was sitting at a table across the classroom helping children with a project. She reported there were no prior concerns with Child A or Child B prior to this incident. On 03/31/2021 I spoke to Child Bas Father by phone. He stated that he was aware of the incident and he had no concerns with supervision in the classroom. He stated the staff are great with communication and children are just curious. On 03/31/2021 I left a message for Child A's Mother to return my call; however as of the date of this report, she has not returned my telephone call.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.