• Violation

  R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 1 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. C~

  On 03/16/2022, I contacted the licensee designee, Shevonn Betts by telephone to gather additional information. Child A (male, age three) just began attending the center on 03/07/2022. Child A only attended the center for two days. There is a forensic interview scheduled for Child A on 03/16/2022 at CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Council Great Lakes Bay Region in Saginaw, Michigan. Dora Vallad has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation per the center's policy. On 03/16/2022, a forensic interview was conducted with Child A by CAN Council staff and witnessed by Detective Ryan North of the Saginaw County Sheriffs Office as he is assigned to the case. Per Detective North's report (Case # 2217301360) regarding the forensic interview of Child A, "Staff was able to discuss going to the bathroom at school. Child did not disclose any information involving any teachers helping him go to the bathroom and only made mention of his father and himself wiping himself after using the bathroom. While speaking with child, staff would often ask questions that would require a more detailed answer, and child would only replay with "yeah". When asked about who his teachers are at school, child can advise that his teachers are Dora and Wanda. When CAN staff would bring up Dora and Wanda, child did not disclose any information consistent with the allegations made at this time". On 03/17/2022, I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection at Valley SISD Saginaw County Head Start. I met with the licensee designee, Ms. Betts who provided a room for interviews. I then met with child care staff member, Michelle Burns and an interview was conducted. Ms. Burns is not assigned to a specific room at the center and fills in where needed and provides set up and clean up for food service each day. She is not aware of any incident involving Child A. However, Child A only attended the center for two days and has not returned. She has worked with Ms. Vallad for over two years and has never seen her be inappropriate with any children. Ms. Vallad is one of the kindest people she has ever met. Regarding the policy with the bathroom, child care staff members do not go into the bathroom with the children. All the children at the center are potty trained and know how to use the bathroom on their 3 own. The bathroom is inside the classroom and is a very small space with just a toilet and a door. The handwashing sink is located outside of the bathroom. The bathroom is not big enough for two people to be in and close the door. The children can use the bathroom on demand. The child care staff members do not go in the bathroom with the children as they are old enough to use it on their own. There is currently one child that is special needs in Ms. Vallad's room, and she can use the bathroom on her own and child care staff members just have to hand her a wipe and instruct her to wipe and she does. I then met with child care staff member, Wanda Longuemire and an interview was conducted. Ms. Longuemire works in the same room with Ms. Vallad who is the program director and lead caregiver in the room. She has worked with Ms. Vallad for the last 10 years. She has never observed Ms. Vallad be inappropriate with any child. Ms. Vallad is a very kind lady who is always pleasant with everyone. On 02/28/2022, Child A came to the center however did not have a completed Health Appraisal on file so he could not stay. Child A returned on 03/07/2022 for his first day. Child A came to the center again on 03/08/2022. There were no issues with Child A, and he was dropped off and picked up each day by his father. Child A was a very quiet child however he had no behavior problems and played well with the other children. The bathroom is in the classroom and the children use the bathroom on demand. The children in the classroom are self-sufficient and are potty trained. There is one special needs child in their classroom who is suspected of having autism and there

On 03/08/2022, program director/lead caregiver Dora Vallad may have touched Child A's (male, age three) penis inappropriately while assisting him in the bathroom.

Disposition: Substantiated