The Joyful Jungle SCS

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

Appropriate care and supervision were not provided by the center when Child A bit other children and staff members 16 days between 9/30/24-11/15/24. The occurrence of biting was extreme with 11 of those days, biting happening more than one time and the breaking of skin eight times.

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R 400.8182(4) · R 400.8182(4) Ratio and group size requirements. Children who have reached 33 months of age may, when developmentally appropriate, be enrolled in a 3-year-old classroom with written parental permission. The ratio listed in subrule (3)(c) of this rule applies. Bureau

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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 April 13, 2023, an anonymous complaint was received regarding Child A being violent in the child care. The child care is not doing anything regarding Child A's behavior. Child A is pulling chunks of hair of other children and has tantrums where he throws things across the room. I was unable to obtain information regarding how often this behavior is occurring, which child care children or child care staff were involved and who is not doing anything about his behavior as the complaint source did not provide a name or contact information to the department. On April 17, 2023, I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at the child care facility. I interviewed Brittany Muth, Program Director, and Licensee Designee. Ms. Muth denied that the facility is not taking any action to help Child A with his behavior. The facility is working 1-1 with Child A, including shadowing in the classroom. If 3 Child A is having intense feelings he will be taken for a walk in the hallway, given sensory toys to help calm down, or an alternative activity. Child care staff are working with Child A to help him feel safe in the classroom. A coach who was identified as child care staff member (CCSM) 3 has been working with Child A, CCSM 1 and CCSM 2 to help with Child A's behaviors. Child A's Guardian is involved in helping the facility regarding Child A's behavior. She has picked him up from the child care when requested due to his behavior. Child A was not present at the time of the onsite per Ms. Muth. CCSM 1, CCSM 2 and CCSM 3 are the child care staff members who work with Child A. On April 17, 2023, I interviewed CCSM 1. Child A has behavior outburst in the classroom including hitting, scratching, and cursing. These behaviors often occur 1-2 times per day and can last up to 20-30 minutes at a time. The child care staff are working as a team to help Child A regulate his behaviors. Ms. Muth also steps into the classroom to help with Child A as needed. Child A's Guardian is also willing to pick Child A up if needed. Child A is given sensory toys, 1-1 shadowing in the classroom, and a coach is working with Child A and the child care staff. CCSM 1 denied that the facility is not taking any action to support Child A. On April 17, 2023, I interviewed CCSM 2. Child A can be aggressive in the classroom. When Child A has behavior issues redirection is used, sensory toys in the classroom, calm down activities and 1-1 attention. Child A can be sweet, he gives hugs and tells child care staff that he loves them. Child A can also scratch, hit, and pull hair of other child care children. CCSM 2 denied that the facility is not doing anything to help Child A with his behavior. On April 17, 2023, I interviewed Racheal Flanagan, Licensee. The facility has been working with Child A and Child A's Guardian regarding his behaviors. Ms. Flanagan denied that the facility is not doing anything to support Child A. Ms. Flanagan observed in Child A's classroom last week and while Child A was busy, but she did not observe any aggressive behavior in the classroom. CCSM 3 has been working with child care staff and Child A regarding behaviors in the classroom. I discussed with Ms. Flanagan creating a behavior plan for Child A with Child A's Guardian and child care staff members. I also suggested observations of Child A to determine if Child A is having behaviors at certain times of the day, for example, after dropping off, before lunch etc. To determine if there are any patterns to his behavior where routines could be modified. Child A is enrolled in additional services, and I suggested to Ms. Flanagan working with Child A's Guardian to see if the service provider can also come into the child care center. Ms. Flanagan is also obtaining suggestions from an additional service provider who works with the Great Start to Readiness Program at her facility. On April 17, 2023, I interviewed Child A's Guardian. Child A's Guardian denied the facility is not working to support Child A with hi

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R 400.8110 · R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (6) The licensee or licensee designee shall maintain accurate records detailing daily arrival and departure times for each child care staff member, child care aide, and volunteer.

On September 29, 2022, Program Director Brittany Muth self- reported by email (incident report) that an incident had occurred at the center involving Child A and Child B on September 29, 2022. The incident report stated that Witness came to the center at approximately 4:30pm to pick up Child B to take ■ home. Child A who was released to Witness instead of Child B. Witness took Child A all the way to Child B's Mother at ■ residence before it was discovered that Witness had the wrong child. Child A was brought back to the center. The report ends by stating that center administration will be providing more details as they learn of them. On September 30, 2022, I conducted an unannounced inspection at The Joyful Jungle. Upon arrival I met with owner/Licensee Rachael Flanagan and Program Director/ Licensee Designee Brittany Muth. I was coined by Both Ms. Muth and Ms. 3 Flanagan were visibly upset when explaining to me what had happened the night before. Ms. Muth explained that she was not present at the time of the incident. She received a call from a few minutes before 5pm. - told her that Child B's Mother just called her to let her know that Witness had come to pick up Child B but had arrived home with Child A. Witness was on her way back to the center with Child A. While - was speaking to her Ms. Muth) on the phone, Child A's Father had arrived, and Child A was still gone. ended the call with Ms. Muth to speak with Child A's Father. Wunderstanding he following was the timeline of events. The was not working that day and had worked most of the day but had left the center before the -oles were filled by and At approximately 4:40pm, the Witness entered the locked building by using Child B's Parent's entry code. Ms. Muth stated that is a violation of the agreement that the parents sign. Parents are not to give anyone their codes to enter the building. All visitors must be let in by a CCSM. Once the Witness entered the building ■ went directly into the unlocked = room. The Witness picked up Child A instead of Child B to take home. Ms. Muth stated that there was video showing what happened in the room. Prior to the Witness leaving with Child A, the video shows CCSM asking for and checking the Witness's picture ID against the child care information. Then the Witness leaves the building with Child A in Child B's car seat. Child A and Child B look very similar. Within 10 minutes, Child B's Mother called the center to let them know that the Witness had Child A and was bringing ■ back to the center. While - was on the phone with Ms. Muth, Child A's Father had arrived at the center and walked into the = room, but Child A was not back yet. - left the office to go speak to him and ran into the Witness walking back into the center. took Child A, who was in Child B's car seat, back into the room. explained to Child A's Father what had happened, and he took Child A and left the building. Meanwhile the Witness sat down in the = room and waited to collect Child B to take home. Child A's Father left the center, and from his own explanation to center administration staff, called the St. Clair Shores Police Department. A patrol car arrived after 5:15PM, and the police officers interviewed Child A's Father CCSMs Witness and Child B's Father who had arrived at the center. 4 As the police were leaving, Ms. Muth arrived at the center. She completed the required notification documentation for Licensing. Ms. Muth acknowledge during the initial interview that she had been working on other center locations and was relying heavily on - to oversee day to day operations. Ms. Muth was also still trying to figure out where the break down occurred at 4:30pm on September 29, 2022. It was her understandin that there was confusion at the end of the day re ardin staffing. At the time that left the building for the day, CCSM took over for in the room as a orimary careaiver to Child A. A short time afterward went to the room and relieved . This was a mistake at the time.

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R 400.8110 · R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (7) A child shall only be released to persons authorized by the child's parent or guardian.

On September 29, 2022, Child A was removed from the center by an unauthorized person.

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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.

did not provide appropriate care and supervision when they allowed Child A to be removed from the center by an unauthorized person.

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R 400.8101 · R 400.8101 Definitions. (p) "Conducive to the welfare of children" means that term as defined in section 5m(13)(b) of the act, MCL 722.115m(13)(b). 14

CONCLUSION: I VIOLATION ESTABLISHED IV.

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R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. ....................................... .... ..... (8) The outdoor play area must be protected from hazards, when necessary, by a fence or natural barrier that is at least 48 inches in height.

On April 7, 2021, a complaint was received regarding lack of fencing/gating for the Joyful Jungle' outdoor play area. The complainant wrote in their written statement that the fencing was only a plastic mesh and there was no gate at the entrance/exit of the play area. The complaint also stated that the play yard was not adjacent but away from the building. There was a concern that the children could easily climb over the plastic mesh or under the picnic table that is supposedly blocking the entrance/exit. When the facility originally opened in February of 2021, the ground was frozen and the Licensee Designee, Racheal Flanagan, was unable to get a permanent, cyclone fence installed. At that time temporary, construction grade fencing was approved as the four-foot barrier fencing by Child Care Licensing and the City of St. Clair Shores. The rule itself does not specify what type of fencing can be used, just a 48-inch barrier. The entire grassy area behind and adjacent (next too) to the building was approved as an outdoor play area. On April 9, 2021, I conducted an unannounced inspection at the facility. Upon arrival I met with Program Director Brittany Muth. She explained that they were in the process of installing the fence around the large, play area once they could break ground. Ms. Muth stated that the fence would be completed by the time of the six- month renewal inspection. Ms. Muth explained that they have had no problems with the fencing or children climbing over the fencing. She explained that they did have an issue with Child B (two-year-old male) trying to get under the picnic table to get away from the area, but since there are known issues with him trying to leave there is always a child care staff member shadowing him. She has had no other reports from staff of any other issues with the area. I then interviewed the Toddler Lead Caregiver, Cheyenne Bonnel. Ms. Bonnel stated that the only time she has seen any issue is when Child B tried to leave the area under the picnic table. Since she saw him try to leave, she was able to get to him before he took off. She stands by the picnic table to prevent children from leaving. She could not think of any problems with the fencing. Prior to leaving the premises I observed the play area. Due to the size of the playground Ms. Flanagan and Ms. Muth fenced in a small section to better observe 3 and supervise the children. This area is away from the building but is still located within the approved outdoor play area. The fencing was a construction grade and was an appropriate barrier for the area. The picnic table was in front of the entrance/exit but could be moved easily in an emergency. On April 9, 2021 I interviewed Child A's (two-year-old male) Mother. She stated she had no concerns about care or the playground. It was her understanding that a permanent fence would be in soon. On April 21, 2021 I left a message for Child B's Mother. As of the report date I have not received a response. On April 28, 2021 and May 12, 2021, I conducted on-site inspections to observe the fencing surrounding the play area. Both times the fencing appeared to be maintained in a safe condition. On June 3, 2021 I received confirmation that a permanent fence had been installed. On that same day I conducted an on-site inspection and found that the facility had a wooden privacy fence, taller than 48", and is attached to the building. This was a change from the original plan but is still part of the approved outdoor play area.

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