R 400.8525(6) · R 400.8525(6) Exits (6) Means of egress must be maintained in an accessible, free, and unobstructed manner while a center is in operation. Bureau

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8161(3) · R 400.8161(3) Maintenance of premises. (3) Roofs, exterior walls, doors, skylights, and windows must be weathertight and watertight and maintained in sound condition and good repair. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8254(1)(b) · R 400.8254(1)(b) Diapering; toileting (1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, diapering must occur in a designated diapering area that complies with all of the following: (b) Is within close proximity to a sink that is used exclusively for hand washing. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8254(1)(c) · R 400.8254(1)(c) Diapering; toileting (1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, diapering must occur in a designated diapering area that complies with all of the following: (c) Has non-absorbent, smooth, easily cleanable surfaces in good repair. Technical Assistance 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8140(1) · R 400.8140(1) Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

Note: The child care center is located in a multi-occupancy building. On 07/20/2023 I spoke with Witness 1 on the telephone. Witness 1 stated that on 07/19/2023 they heard yelling in the hallway of the building. They did not know the identity of the woman or child. They heard a woman yelling and a child responding. They heard the child say, "stop it" and "that hurts". The woman was yelling, "let it go" and "do what I tell you" repeatedly. Witness 1 looked out the doorway of the space they were in and observed that the woman had the child "pinned" to the floor and was screaming at the child two inches from her face. The woman raised her hand as 2 if to hit the child. Witness 1 stated they opened the door, the woman stopped yelling, stood up, and said, "It's ok, I'm her mom." The woman then "grabbed" the child and "dragged her down" the hallway as she was pushing a cart with food to the different rooms. On 07/21/2023 I made an unannounced on-site inspection at the child care center. No one was answering the center doorbell. I was let in by an individual from one of the other entities occupying the building. They informed me that they had not seen anyone from the center in the building that day. They took me to the rooms where the center operates and there was a sign on the door that said the center was closed for staff training. On 07/24/2023 I spoke with program director, Bethany Davidson on the telephone. I informed her a complaint had been received by the bureau, concerning discipline observed at the center. I asked her for the name of the child care staff member that would have been delivering lunches on 07/19/2023. She informed me that Child Care Staff Member 1 (CCSM 1) would have been doing that. I let her know I was calling to verify the center was open and ensure when CCSM 1 was going to be present. She informed me that CCSM 1 would be leaving for the day shortly. I asked what CCSM 1's schedule was for the next day and confirmed her start and end times for the day. I also confirmed that CCSM 1 has related to children in care. I asked Ms. Davidson if there were any concerns with the discipline CCSM 1 uses with children in care. Ms. Davidson stated that she has not had any concerns with the discipline CCSM 1 uses with children in care. She stated that CCSM 1 will use her "teacher" voice to be heard but she has not observed her yell at children in care. She has heard her raise her voice with her related children. On 07/25/2023 I made an on-site inspection and spoke with program director Bethany Davidson and CCSM 1 and CCSM 2. Ms. Davidson stated the discipline policy at the center is to either redirect or problem solve with children. Yelling and hitting are not appropriate methods of discipline. She stated that this policy extends to all children in care whether related or not. She has not heard CCSM 1 raise her voice to children in care; but will use her "teacher" voice if children are being loud. Ms. Davidson stated she heard CSSM 1 yelling at Child D on 07/19/2023. Earlier in the day, Child D had been having some behavior issues. Ms. Davidson stated she was the staff member supervising Child D's group. Ms. Davidson stated she was trying to redirect Child D. Child D would not do what she was asked and was not communicating what was wrong. Ms. Davidson asked CCSM 1, to speak to Child D to see if she could figure out why she was behaving the way she was. Ms. Davidson stated that CCSM 1 took Child D out into the hallway to talk to her. A few minutes later she heard Child D yelling and CCSM 1 raised her voice. At this point Ms. Davidson stepped out into the hall and asked if everything was ok. CCSM 1 let her know she knew why Child D was acting the way she was but that she now wanted to stay in the hall but that she would be returning to the room soon. Ms. Davidson went back to the room and then she heard CCSM 1's voice 3 escalate to yelling, she heard her yell, "I can't leave you in the hallway." Ms. Davidson stated that she

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

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

On 10/19/2021 I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection to Education Station. I met with Bethany Davidson, program director/licensee designee. She was aware of the reported concern that Hannah Strang, child care staff member, (CCSM) posted a photo of Child A, male age 7 months, to Instagram and he was naked. This was done as part of an art project where his bare buttocks were painted orange and then 2 stamped on a piece of paper to look like a pumpkin. Ms. Strang posted a photo of Child A lying on his stomach, naked, with his buttocks painted orange to her Instagram account. Ms. Davidson said she was not aware that this art project was taking place, she was informed of the incident by Jessica Boekins, infant lead caregiver. She met with Ms. Strang about the reported incident, she admitted she posted the photo, and she was fired from her job. Ms. Davidson said this was not the first incident Ms. Strang has had violating the center's social media policy of posting photos of children in care. She had not spoken to Child A's parents about the incident. I then met face to face with Jessica Boekins, CCSM, about the incident. She is the infant lead caregiver. She said she had done an art project called "bumpkins" where each child is undressed, and their bare buttocks are painted with orange paint and then stamped on a piece of paper to look like a pumpkin. Child A was one child who did not attend on the day the project took place, so she asked Ms. Strang to complete it with him. Ms. Boekins was helping in the kitchen while she did the project. Later she was approached by another co-worker showing her Ms. Strang had posted a photo of Child A to her Instagram. She showed me the photo on her phone, and it shows Child A lying on his stomach on the changing table, unclothed, with his buttocks painted orange. She said Ms. Strang has been in trouble in the past for posting photos of children in care to other social media platforms. On 10/22/2021 I spoke with Hannah Strang by telephone. She was aware of the reported concerns stating, "I took photos because it was a cute art project." She admitted to posting photos of Child A to Instagram as she said she, "didn't think about it." She knew she was not supposed to do this however she posted the photos anyways. She is no longer employed at the child care center. On 10/22/2021 and 11/01/2021 I left telephone messages for Child A's Mother requesting contact with her. I have not received a return phone call. On 11/15/2021 I conducted an exit conference with Bethany Davidson. She had spoken to Child A's Mother since the on-site inspection and said she had no concerns about the incident. I requested she ask Child A's Mother to contact me have not received any communication from Child A's Mother.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

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

On 04/30/2021 I received an email from Program Director Bethany Davidson. It stated that on the morning of 04/29/2021 Child A and Child B, with their mother, disclosed allegations to Ms. Davidson. The allegations were that on 04/27/2021 child care staff member Jade Ruffilo "pushed Child A into a closet room, was screaming at them, kicked Child A, and was grabbing their arms." The email went on, "I spent ALL day yesterday doing an investigation on this matter, and I have just come into the office today to write to you. I interviewed the following people: the teacher in question, the two girls individually, the other child in the room, the mother of the children in question, the other teacher they supposedly told, and a teacher.. .that has the room right next door to our school age room." I called Ms. Davidson back and reminded her that as a mandated reporter, she is required to report such allegations to MDHHS immediately, and not to investigate matters herself before making the report. She said she understood and that she would report it to MDHHS that same day. On 05/03/2021 I completed an unannounced on-site inspection at the center, along with MDHHS worker Jordan Neal. We interviewed Ms. Davidson, who said that at the date and time of the alleged incident, Jade Ruffilo was the only child care staff member present in the room, along with 3 school aged children in care, Child A, Child B and Child C. Child care staff member Miranda Petersen had been in the classroom previously that morning, and Ms. Ruffilo was in the room in the afternoon. Ms. Ruffilo has worked at the center for around 3 months and was just transitioning into working in the school age room. Ms. Davidson said that on the morning of 04/29/2021 she was approached by Child A and B's Mother, who said they needed to speak with her. "Child B brought it to me, she's 10, is Child A's sister, and was present in the room." Child B said that Ms. Ruffilo "yells at them, and that she grabbed Child A and dragged her into the closet. She says the teacher is mean." Child A also told Ms. Davidson it had happened, and that Ms. Ruffilo is "mean." 3 Ms. Davidson stated that Child A has a lot of difficult behaviors in the classroom, which have been escalating over the previous week. She has several diagnoses, which the center is aware of. When she gets upset, she will "run into the closet and shut the door herself." She tries to hide in cupboards around the room and in the closet. She has a history of "meltdowns" where she will throw things like toys and chairs and will scream. Ms. Davidson is often called down to help the "teacher's" manage Child A's behavior. "Most of the staff have a very hard time with her." I asked Ms. Davidson if there is a behavior plan in place at the center for Child A and she said there was not. In the past, she has been able to step in and calm Child A down. "If I can't get through to her, then her mother will step in." Child A's Mother works at the center. When children are aggressive in the classroom, Ms. Davidson will "talk to them, take them for a walk, things like that." The staff have not been formally trained on how to work with a child with these types of needs. While we were interviewing her, Ms. Davidson was called down to Child A's classroom by Miranda Petersen over the walkie talkie, because Child A was trying to shut herself inside cupboards and was throwing things. Ms. Davidson left to help Child A calm down and then took the cupboard doors off to try to stop her from trying to get inside them. Child A was sent home at that time. Ms. Davidson has not had any previous concerns regarding how Ms. Ruffilo interacts with children. "She asks a lot of questions and tries to do things right. She's stern with the kids, but not where I'd question it." She has not seen anything that has concerned her. She reported no other staff or child concerns, saying, "The children love her." Miranda Petersen has worked in the school age room for some time. When a

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; ..v....o.....l.u.... nteer; requirements (5) A written statement must be signed and dated by staff and volunteers at the time of hiring or before volunteering indicating all of the following information: (c) The individual knows that all staff and volunteers are required by law to immediately report suspected abuse and neglect to children's protective services.

Program Director Bethany Davidson did not follow mandated procedure laws and immediately report suspected abuse to children's protective services and only obtain enough information to make a report. Instead, she conducted her own investigation and only made the report to CPS after being instructed to do so.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

Positive methods of discipline were not being used with Child A. Child care staff members Miranda Peterson and Jade Ruffilo and Child A's Mother all stated that the staff did not know how to discipline Child A, or how to best meet her needs.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8179 · R 400.8179 Program. (12) For children with special needs, care must be provided according to the child's needs as identified by parents, medical personnel, or other relevant professionals. ..................

Program Director Bethany Davidson was aware of Child A's diagnosis and special needs but did not ensure that a plan was put into place to meet her needs, nor did she ensure the proper training of the staff who worked with her.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8380 · R 400.8380 Maintenance of premises. (1) The premises must be maintained in a clean and safe condition and must not pose a threat to health or safety.

The closet hand washing room in the school age classroom was being used for storage. There were toys and equipment strewn about and piled high, filling most of the room. It was not safe for children.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.