Appletree Early Care and Preschool

R 400.8182(3)(a) · R 400.8182(3)(a) Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: a) Infants and toddlers, birth until 30 months of age Child Care Staff Member to Child: Ratio 1 to 4 Maximum Group Size: 12

On 11/12/2020 I spoke with the complainant on the telephone. There is a concern about the safety of children due to classrooms not operating according to the required ratios of child care staff members to children. The complainant stated staff are concerned about saying anything or raising concerns to administration or the corporate office due to feeling they will be treated differently. Note: During my interviews, all staff with the exception of one were concerned about retaliation if their names were published in this report. Two staff members informed me that a previous employee had been "forced to quit because of something they said" or "felt they were targeted after complaining about how they were treated." The staff will be coded in this report. On 11/16/2020 I spoke with CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM 5, and program director Diana Barkey. All the staff members with the exception of CCSM 5 2 stated they have not maintained the required staff member to child ratio on one or two occasions for more than 10 minutes. Staff could not remember exact days. CCSM 5 stated she has always maintained the required staff member to child ratio during her shifts. CCSM 1 said during the week of November 2, 2020 she cared for five children by herself on one day. During the week of November 9, 2020, she had five or six children by herself from 7:30-8:00am on one or two days. She mentioned this was due to the second staff person being late. CCSM 2 said during the week of November 9 she cared for five children ages 11 months to 2 years of age by herself between 7:30am-7:37am on one day. She mentioned this was due to the second staff person being late. CCSM 3 said she is aware of the Farias and Adabelle rooms being over the required staff to child ratios during the weeks of November 2 and November 9, 2020. CCSM 4 said she was over staff to child ratio during the week of November 9, 2020. She had five children by herself for about 30 minutes. She mentioned this was due to scheduling of staff. Ms. Barkey stated she was not aware that rooms were not maintaining the required staff to child ratios at any times. She explained that the expectation is for staff to call the office to let her know if they are over-ratio or need assistance. I provided technical assistance and consultation on the importance of communication between staff to ensure required ratios. I also informed Ms. Barkey staff would be coded due to a fear they would be treated differently by her or the corporate office, if their names appeared in the report. Staff feel they cannot bring up concerns. She stated that she was "disappointed that staff felt that way" and that it would be difficult to provide specific feedback to staff about their concerns if they were coded. Ms. Barkey stated staff are required to complete a "name to face" log that documents when children and staff arrive and leave the rooms. Staff to child ratios are documented every hour. I requested and received the name to face logs and attendance records for the weeks of November 2 and 9, 2020 before I left the center. The logs document the following times/dates where rooms were over the required staff to child ratios: • On November 5, 2020, The Faris room had one staff member with five children from 7:34am to 8:32am. The children in attendance on this day were between the ages of 10 months to 1 year and 4 months old. This age group requires a 1 staff to 4 children ratio. • On November 5, 2020, The Adabelle room had one staff member with five children from 8:26am-8:57am. The children in attendance on this day were between the ages of 2 years to 3 years and 9 months old. This group determined by the age of the youngest child in attendance requires a 1staff to 4 children ratio. 3 On November 10, 2020, the Adabelle room had one staff member with five children from 8:20am to 8:57am. The children in attendance on this day were between the ages of 2 years and 5 years old. This group determined by the age of the younges

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