R 400.8112 · R 400.8112 Comprehensive background check; fingerprinting. ....................................... .... ............ ...................................... ............... (1) Pursuant to section 5n of the act, MCL 722.115n, before an individual has unsupervised contact with children, the department shall determine the individual's eligibility to be any of the following: (c) A child care staff member.

I conducted an unannounced inspection at the center on 03/30/2023. I advised licensee designee, Mary Wardlaw, and program director, Lechelle Vankirk, of the allegations. Mrs. Wardlaw indicated that Child Care Staff 2 Member (CCSM) 1 worked at the center for approximately 40 hours between 12/19/2022 and 12/30/2022. CCSM 1 was supervised the entire time she was at the center. Mrs. Wardlaw said that CCSM 1 was never alone with children. The regular onboarding training has them paired with a CCSM during the entire training process. Mrs. Wardlaw denied that she had any concerns regarding abuse or neglect of children. There were no parents or CCSMs that reported any incidents or concerns. One CCSM told Mrs. Wardlaw that her cousin said not to hire CCSM 1. Mrs. Wardlaw advised that CCSM 1 had weird conversations with other CCSMs and was "gossiping and stirring the pot." It did not seem like it was going to be a good fit for the center. The issues with the background check secured her decision not to employ CCSM 1 at the center. Mrs. Wardlaw had a conversation with CCSM 1 on 01/01/2023 advising she would not be allowed to return to the center. Mrs. Wardlaw stated that ultimately, CCSM 1 was found "eligible" in the Child Care Background Check (CCBC) System. I interviewed Ms.Vankirk while onsite at the center on 03/30/2023. She stated CCSM 1 trained at the center from 12/19/2022 until 12/30/2022. CCSM 1 was supervised at all times while onsite. Part of training is having the CCSM move through the classrooms for observation. CCSM 1's primary focus was the 3-year-old room but she would have spent some time in the infant classroom as well. Ms. Vankirk indicated that CCSM 1 would likely have changed diapers while training. They did not have any reason to be concerned and she would have been supervised the whole time. Ms. Vankirk said that CCSM 1 completed individual training such as online courses and reading for approximately half of the 40 hours she worked at the center. CCSM 1 did not have contact with children during that portion of her training. Ms. Vankirk approximated that CCSM 1 had about 20 hours of supervised contact with children during the time she was training at the center. She did not have any concerns regarding appropriate care and supervision or abuse and neglect, especially since CCSM 1 was supervised the entire time. I interviewed CCSM 2 while onsite on 03/30/2023. She does not have a lot of experience working with CCSM 1 except when she came into her classroom a couple times to help. CCSM 1 mentioned that she had worked with children, and they mostly discussed her prior experience of owning her own child care. CCSM 2 did not have any concerns during her interactions with CCSM 1 or her interactions with the children. CCSM 1 wanted to make sure she was doing everything correctly, so she asked a lot of questions and tried to make sure she was following protocol. CCSM 1 did change diapers while she was in their room. She cannot remember who was supervising as there are at least two CCSMs in the classroom. A specific CCSM is not assigned to supervise a newly hired CCSM, they all help supervise. 3 I interviewed CCSM 3 while onsite on 03/20/2023. She said that CCSM 1 was pretty good with children in the classroom. CCSM 1 got very involved at the table with the children if the other CCSMs were busy with other children. CCSM 1 would help with lunches or to cover breaks. CCSM 1 was always supervised with at least two other CCSMs in the classroom at all times. CCSM 3 did not have any concerns regarding CCSM 1. I attempted telephone contact with CCSM 1 on 03/31/2023. I have not spoken to her as of the writing of this report. I spoke with Mrs. Wardlaw over the telephone for an exit conference on 05/15/2023.

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.

Child Care Staff Member 1 was supervised while onsite and observed to provide appropriate care and supervision to children while present at the center.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

MCL 722.115n Application for or renewal of license to operate child care center, group child care home, or family child care home; household member or child care staff member; criminal history check; requirements; duties of department. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (13), when a person, partnership, firm, corporation, association, governmental organization, or nongovernmental ................ .......................................................................................................................... organization applies for or applies to renew a license to operate a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home under section 5m and before a group child care home or family child care home allows an individual to be a member of the household, or a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home allows an individual to become a child care staff member, the department shall do all of the following... ........................... ............. .............................. .............................................................................................................................

Child Care Staff Member 1 was present in the center from 12/19/2022 through 12/30/2022. Child Care Staff Member 1 did not have a "supervision only" status until 01/05/2023 and was not found "eligible" until 02/13/2023.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8112 · R 400.8112 Comprehensive background checks; fingerprinting (1) Pursuant to sections 5n and 5q of the act, MCL 722.115n and 722.115q, before an individual has unsupervised contact with children, the department shall determine the individual's eligibility to be any of the following: (c) A child care staff member

On 09/16/2022 I contacted Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Supervisor, Carrie Ingold. I asked Ms. Ingold if this complaint was being investigated by MDHHS. Ms. Ingold stated that MDHHS would not be investigating. I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection on 10/12/2022. I interviewed Assistant Program Director, Katie Lott. Ms. Lott did not have any information regarding a child care staff member being ineligible for employment. The Program Director, Helena Vankirk was not interviewed on this date, as she was not present at the child care center. On 11/04/2022 I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection. I interviewed Program Director, Helena Vankirk. Ms. Vankirk explained that all of the child care staff members have been found eligible for employment. Ms. Vankirk explained that the complainant was referring to a child care staff member (CCSM) who had an embezzlement charge. However, the CCSM was found eligible according to the Child Care Background Check System (CCBC). The CCBC system is the computer system the Department uses to determine who is eligible to work in child care. Ms. Vankirk then provided me with the eligibility letter for the CCSM. I reviewed the letter indicating that CCSM was found eligible to work at the child care center. During the on-site inspection, Licensee Designee, Mary Wardlaw was contacted by telephone. Ms. Wardlaw also acknowledged knowing that a CCSM had a criminal record however she was found eligible for employment through the CCBC system. I also interviewed child care staff members, Stephanie Bizer, Grace Vance and Elizabeth Bolin. There were no concerns regarding any CCSM being ineligible for employment. 3 On 11/04/2022 I interviewed Child A's Mother, Child B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child E's Mother by telephone. No one had any concerns regarding any CCSM having a criminal history or being ineligible to work at the child care center. I left voice messages for Child D's Mother and Child F's Mother but have not heard from them to date.

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.

I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection on 10/12/2022. Assistant Program Director, Katie Lott, stated that she was not aware of the children in care getting injured due to lack of supervision in the child care center. On 11/04/2022 I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection. Program Director, Helena Vankirk, stated that children in the center get common childhood injuries however it is not due to lack of supervision by the child care staff members. During the on-site inspection, Licensee Designee, Mary Wardlaw was interviewed by telephone. Ms. Wardlaw stated she had no concerns with the children in care getting injured due to lack of supervision. On that same date I interviewed, child care staff members Stephanie Bizer, Grace Vance and Elizabeth Bolin. None of the child care staff members had any concerns with children getting injured in the center due to lack of supervision. I interviewed Child A's Mother, Child B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child E's Mother. None of the parents interviewed had any concerns about the children in care getting injured due to lack of supervision. 4 I left telephone messages for Child D's Mother and Child F's Mother on 11/04/2022 but have not received a response.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8137 · R 400.8137 Diapering; toileting. (6) Diapers and training pants must be checked frequently and changed when wet or soiled.

I made an unannounced on-site inspection on 10/12/2022. I interviewed Assistant Program Director, Katie Lott. Ms. Lott explained the children in care are checked for soiled diapers every hour. If a child needs to be changed then child care staff members make sure they are changed. Ms. Lott was unaware of there being any issue with the children in care diapers not being changed. On 11/04/2022 I made an unannounced on-site inspection. I interviewed Program Director, Helena Vankirk regarding the allegation. Ms. Vankirk stated that the children in care are checked for soiled diapers every hour. She was not aware of there being any issue with the children in care not being changed on a regular basis. During the on-site inspection, Licensee Designee, Mary Wardlaw was interviewed regarding the allegation. Ms. Wardlaw also stated that the children in care are checked for soiled diapers every hour. She was unaware of there being any issue with diapers not being changed on a regular basis. During the unannounced on-site inspection, I interviewed child care staff members, Stephanie Bizer, Grace Vance and Elizabeth Bolin. They all confirmed that the children in care are checked for soiled diapers every hour. There were no concerns that the children in care were not changed on a regular basis. On 11/04/2022 I interviewed Child A's Mother, Child B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child E's Mother. There were no concerns that diapers were not changed on a regular basis at the child care center. 5 I left telephone messages on that same day to Child D's Mother and Child F's Mother. I have not received a response.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 1 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: Table 4 Child Care Staff Member to Child Ratios Child Care Staff Maximum Age Member to Child Group Ratio Size Infants and (a) toddlers, birth until 1 to 4 12 30 months of age Preschoolers, 30 (b) months of age until 1 to 8 16 3 years agee Preschoolers, 3 (c) years of age until 4 1 to 10 30 years of age Preschoolers, 4 (d) years of age until 1 to 12 36 school-age (e) School-agers 1 to 18 36 I

I made an unannounced on-site inspection on 10/12/2022. I interviewed Assistant program director, Katie Lott. Ms. Lott denied the allegation that there were enough staff to children at the center. I then observed all of the classrooms in the child care center. None of the rooms in the center were out of ratio while I was on-site. On 11/04/2022 I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection. I interviewed Program director, Helena Vankirk regarding the allegation. Ms. Vankirk explained that if a room becomes out of ratio another child care staff is placed in that room to bring it back into compliance. During the on-site inspection Licensee Designee, Mary Wardlaw was interviewed over the telephone regarding the allegation. Ms. Wardlaw denied the allegation that the center is out of ratio. I also reviewed attendance records for 09/15/2022 and found that the child care center was within ratio. During the unannounced on-site inspection, I interviewed child care staff members Stephanie Bizer, Grace Vance and Elizabeth Bolin. All of the child care staff members agreed that if a room becomes out of ratio another child care staff member is assigned to that room to maintain ratio. I observed all of the rooms at the child care center and found the center to be within ratio. On 11/04/2022 I conducted telephone interviews with Child A's Mother, Child B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child E's Mother. None of the parents interviewed had any concerns that the center is out of ratio. I left telephone message to Child D's Mother and Child F's Mother. I requested a return call, but I have not heard back from them to date.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8330 · R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. (20) Bottle propping is prohibited.

I made an unscheduled onsite inspection at The Children's Center on 9/15/2020. I initially spoke with program director Kirsten Swem and business manager Jared Wardlaw. Ms. Swem informed me that child care staff members typically hold infants when feeding them bottles. The picture was taken at the end of the day when one staff member was alone caring for four infants. Two of the children were hungry at the same time. Since infants must be fed on demand and additional staff members were busy in other classrooms, lead caregiver Kara Shail fed both infants at the same time. Ms. Swem showed me the picture that had been posted on Facebook. I observed four children sitting in bouncy seats in a semi- circle facing Ms. Shail. Ms. Shail was holding bottles for two of the infants. The other two infants were not observed to be eating and there was no indication of bottle propping in the photo. Lead caregiver Kara Shail stated that she was only feeding two infants at the time and has never propped bottles. She tries to hold infants when feeding them, however, was told she could feed multiple infants at one time if necessary. Child A's Mother informed me on 10/7/2020 that there is a camera set up in the infant room that she views frequently. Child care staff members are always observed holding and rocking infants during bottle feedings. Child A's Mother has never witnessed bottle propping. Child B's Mother stated on 10/12/2020 that she has always witnessed child care staff members holding infants while bottle feeding. 3 Child C's Mother informed me that she has only witnessed bottle feeding on one occasion. During that time, the child care staff member was feeding two children at the same time. Neither child was held by a child care staff member as they were both lying in a bouncy seat.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8330 · ................................................................... R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. ..................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. (21) When feeding, child care staff members shall hold infants, except when infants resist being held and are able to hold their bottle.

There are times when child care staff members do not hold infants while feeding them their bottle.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.