• Violation

  R 400.1961 · R 400.1961 Parent notification required; incidents; accidents; illness; disease; isolation. (1) A licensee shall promptly report to a child's parent any of the following: (b) A child who is exposed to a communicable disease so the child may be observed for symptoms of the disease.

  On 11/21/2022, I made an unannounced on-site visit to Ms. Jena Theobald. When I arrived on-site, Ms. Theobald was present along with child care staff member Ms. Jillie Keeler and volunteer Ms. Lena Niederer. I explained the allegation to Ms. Theobald. She reported that she was notified on 11/10/2022 that a child had tested positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). That night she contacted all the parents of the children she was expecting to attend including Child H's Father, that there was a positive RSV case. On 11/11/2022, Child H tested positive for RSV. The following week Child H had been in the hospital and was not in care at the home. Ms. Theobald stated that whenever Child H showed signs of being sick, before and after he tested positive for RSV, he was kept away from the other child care children. On 11/21/2022, child care staff member Ms. Jillie Keeler reported that Ms. Theobald notifies parents when children are sick, with either a text message or phone call. Typically, children stay home when they are sick. She also stated that Child H was in the hospital most of the time, but when he was present in the home, he was kept away from the other child care children. On 12/09/2022, Child B's Mother reported that Child B (19-month-old, female) was not in care at the time Ms. Theobald had contacted her that one of the children had tested positive for RSV. "She notified me anyway." Child B's Mother does not have any concerns with Ms. Theobald, "She does a great job." On 12/09/2022, Child E and F's Mother reported that Ms. Theobald notified her via text message when a child had tested positive for RSV. She "absolutely" does not have any concerns with Ms. Theobald not telling her when a child in care is sick. On 12/09/2022, Child G's Mother reported that she remembers Ms. Theobald had contacted her via text message, at least on one occasion, that a child had tested positive for RSV. She feels confident that Ms. Theobald always contacts her when there is a concern for children being sick. On 12/09/2022, a telephone call was made to Child B's Mother and a voicemail message was left, requesting a return telephone call. As of the date of this report, I have not received one. I also attempted to call Child D's Mother but was unable to leave a voicemail message as the listed telephone number was a non-working number. On 12/13/2022, Child C, J and K's Mother reported that she was notified by Ms. Theobald, via text message, on 11/10/2022 at 6:49 p.m. that a child had tested positive for RSV. She also reported that Ms. Theobald had contacted her on 12/02/2022, letting her know that a child in care was getting sick. Child C, J and K's Mother said that she believes Ms. Theobald to always do what is best for the children and, "She would never endanger any kid." 4 On 12/13/2022, I attempted to interview Child H's Mother. She declined to answer any questions.

Ms. Jena Theobald knew children had respiratory infections but did not notify any parents or address the infections. As a result, other children became infected. Beginning 11/11/22, Child H (2-month-old, male) went to the hospital for respiratory issues until he was admitted on the 4th day for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Jena was already aware that one of the kids in her day care had RSV and took no precautions to protect Child H. 3

Disposition: Substantiated