Community Education Center Head Start

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

On February 17, 2023, I interviewed Tia Moore, licensee designee regarding the incident. Child A was observed touching the front of Child B's pants near his thigh area. Child B grabbed Child A's hand and guided it to Child B's penis. The program director Felicia Westbrook-Hilton separated the two children. Later that day while seated during circle time, Child A was observed touching the buttocks of Child B. Child A has a medical condition which impairs his vision. Child A must tap and feel his way to get around the classroom. Staff have made Ms. Moore aware of concerns of him touching other students and childcare staff members, sometime in October of 2022. To Ms. Moore's knowledge this was the first incident of Child A touching someone in a sexually inappropriate manner. The center made a referral to the department of health and human services (DHHS) based on the incident. Ms. Moore further reported that Child A has a walking stick, to assist him in getting around the classroom however his mother, does not send him to the center with the device. There is a disability coordinator that works with the head start agency to address and implement the needs of children and a referral was made to assist Child A when he initially enrolled in October of 2022. On February 24, 2023, I made an onsite investigation to the center. Ms. Westbrook- Hilton was not present during the onsite investigation. I interviewed the ccsm who works in the room with Ms. Westbrook-Hilton and was present during the incident. The children were seated on the circle time rug watching a video. Child A and Child B were seated next to each other, and their backs were facing both staff. Child A took his hand and put it down Child B's pants in the buttocks area. I asked the ccsm to clarify if Child A touched his buttocks inside of the pants or outside of the pants. She again reported that Child A put his hand inside of Child B's pants and touched his buttocks. She reported that both she and Ms. Westbrook-Hilton were standing directly behind both children on the tiled floor less than two feet away and they both witnessed the incident. I asked the ccsm if they both were standing in close proximity why were they unable to stop the incident from occurring. The ccsm reported that Child A is believed to have visual impairments and is always touching/patting the other children especially when he is trying to walk, or he must feel with his hands to get around the room. Child A was sitting extremely close to Child B, and often they must address this issue with Child A about him not giving children enough space when sitting or standing next to other children. When he started touching Child B, she thought it was him doing what he normally does when he touches the children. This was the first time she had ever witnessed him or had knowledge of him trying to touch another child in a sexually inappropriate manner. She reported that after the incident, Ms. Westbrook-Hilton separated the two children, and put Child A at the table to do an activity. They kept the children separated the rest of the day. There were no other incidents the rest of the day. I inquired if he is visually impaired what types of activities is he able to do. She reported that there really is not much he can do pertaining to writing activities. "I feel 3 he really needs one to one supervision." They try their best to accommodate him, but it is difficult in a classroom with other children who also have behavioral issues. She reported that he seems to have partial vision where he may be able to see shapes/shadows because at times he can walk to the carpet area on his own without bumping into furniture. She tries to monitor him closely for fear he is going to get hurt in the classroom. The ccsm reported that there is a disability coordinator that works for the agency, but she has not seen the person come to the center to work with Child A yet. The ccsm denied any knowledge of an earlier incident this same day betwe

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