• Violation

  R 400.8155 · R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. ................................................. (5) A center shall have a written policy detailing when children, staff, and volunteers will be excluded from the center due to illness.

  I spoke on the telephone with program director Alexis Hawkins on 5/4/2021. Ms. Hawkins informed me that they have an exclusion policy and follow it. She believes these allegations are regarding Child A. Child A has both seasonal allergies and gastro-intestinal issues caused by dairy. The center has medical documentation confirming these health issues, therefore, Child A is not always excluded when displaying symptoms listed in the policy. Recently, Child A had diarrhea five times within four hours. Ms. Hawkins communicated with Child A's Father that day and she was informed that Child A visited grandparents over the weekend and had consumed dairy. Child A typically has a runny nose due to seasonal allergies. Child A's Father had mentioned to Ms. Hawkins during the same phone conversation that Child A was given allergy medication that morning. According to Ms. Hawkins, Child A did not have a cough. Child A's temperature was taken and he did not have a fever. I made an unscheduled onsite inspection at Plainwell Head Start on 5/10/2021. During the inspection Ms. Hawkins provided me Child A's file that included documentation of exclusion, well child examination report, health appraisal and child information record. She also provided me a copy of the center's exclusion policy. Child A was excluded due to illness on 2/22/2021, 3/25/2021, 3/29/2021 and 4/21/2021. The well child examination report dated 2/2/2020 noted that Child A has chronic diarrhea and takes Zyrtec for allergies. The health appraisal signed by a physician on 10/19/2020 noted recurrent non-infectious diarrhea and the child information record listed lactose intolerant in the allergy section by the parent. During the onsite inspection I interviewed Elizabeth Spaulding. Ms. Spaulding has been employed at Plainwell Head Start for approximately 13 months and is the lead caregiver in the toddler room. Ms. Spaulding informed me that the center has an exclusion policy and children are sent home if they are experiencing symptoms such as fever or diarrhea. Child A is enrolled in her classroom. Child A is lactose intolerant and has occasional diarrhea from dairy as well as seasonal allergies. I spoke on the telephone with Child A's Father on 5/17/2021. Child A's Father stated that the center follows their exclusion policy and Child A is often sent home for illness even when his symptoms are allergy related. 3 I spoke on the telephone with Child B's Mother on 5/17/2021. Plainwell Head Start has an exclusion policy and follows it. Child B was recently ill and was sent home. Child B was not permitted to return until she was fever free for three days. I attempted to contact Child C's Mother on 5/17/2021 and 5/21/2021 and Child D's Mother on 5/24/2021. I left voicemail messages requesting a return call.

Children are not excluded when ill. One child was not sent home after experiencing diarrhea, a cough and runny nose.

Disposition: Substantiated