• Violation

  R 400.8155 · 1 R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (1)A center shall have a written plan for how and when a parent is notified when personnel observe any of the following: (b) A child experiences an accident, injury, or incident. 4

  I spoke on the telephone with Child A's Mother on 12/19/2022. Child A's Mother informed me that Child A was grabbing at his genital area and walking a little funny on 12/13/2022. The evening of 12/14/2022, Child A complained of painful urination. The pain continued to escalate; therefore, Child A's Mother took him to urgent care on 12/16/2022. Urgent care found blood in Child A's urine and referred Child A to Borgess Hospital. Child A underwent testing at Borgess Hospital, however, there was no blood in his urine and no evidence of trauma. Child A reported to his mother that he was head-butted in his genitals on 12/13/2022 while playing in the sandbox and was kicked in the same area on 12/14/2022. Child A no longer feels pain/discomfort and will return to preschool. Child A's Mother expressed concern that child care staff did not report either incident to her. This is Child A's second year at the preschool and Child A's Mother has been happy with the care her child has received prior to this incident. I spoke on the telephone with licensee designee Shannon Pitre on 12/19/2022. She stated that Child care staff member Megan DeKoekkoek did not inform Child A's Mother of the incident on 12/14/2022 because Child A initially cried but recovered quickly. He never complained of pain or discomfort afterwards. Licensee designee Shannon Pitre emailed a copy of the written plan for when and how parents will be notified when a child experiences an accident/injury. The plan states that a parent will receive a text message or telephone call before the end of the school day if their child is injured in care. I made an onsite inspection at Plainwell GSRP at Starr Elementary on 12/20/2022 and spoke with child care staff members Megan DeKoekkoek and Dana Stermer. Child care staff member Megan DeKoekkoek informed me that while in the classroom on 12/14/2022, she heard a child say "stop" and then start to cry. When she went to assess the situation, Child A reported that another child kicked his testicles. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Child A recovered quickly and did not complain of any pain or discomfort afterwards. Due to his fast recovery, she assumed it was not a very hard kick. If she had any concerns that he was injured as 3 a result of that interaction, she would have informed Child A's Mother. Child A's Mother contacted her later that evening stating that Child A was urinating frequently and asked if he was doing the same during the school day. Ms. DeKoekkoek reported to her that Child A was not urinating frequently while attending preschool. Ms. DeKoekkoek was under the assumption that Child A might have a urinary tract infection and did not consider that the incident earlier that day could have been a contributing factor. Ms. DeKoekkoek stated that there are a group of boys that play roughly with one another, however, she has no knowledge of Child A being head- butted while playing in the sand box on 12/13/2022. Child A never cried or reported the incident to her. Child care staff member Dana Stermer was in the hallway with another child at the time of the incident on 12/14/2022. She did not hear Child A cry or see anyone kick him. She had no knowledge of Child A getting head-butted while playing in the sandbox on 12/13/2022 either. If a child gets injured in their care, parents are typically notified through the ClassTag app or notified at the time of pick up. I spoke on the telephone with Child A's Mother on 1/18/2023 to further inquire about Child A's medical status. The physicians at Borgess Hospital could not find any evidence of injury. There was no blood in the urine, bruising or swelling near his testicles. I spoke on the telephone with Child B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child D's Mother on 1/19/2023. Parents reported that child care staff provide appropriate care and supervision of their children. They also felt that staff provide good communication with parents. Child B, Child C and Child D have never been injured

Staff did not follow the parent notification plan when a child was injured in care. Child A was kicked in the testicles by another child on 12/14/2022. Staff did not inform Child A's Mother of the injury.

Disposition: Substantiated