Michelle Dombeck

R 400.1911(1) · R 400.1911(1) Care; supervision; children. A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

Child Care Staff allowed children to play in the unapproved front yard outdoor space in an area visible to a known confrontative neighbor on May 20, 2025.

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R 400.1908 · R 400.1908 Capacity. (1) The licensee shall ensure that the actual number of unrelated children in care at any 1 time does not exceed the number of children for which the child care home is licensed, not more than 6 children for a family child care home and not more than 12 children for a group child care home.

On September 30, 2022, I made an onsite investigation to the child care home of Ms. Dombeck. Ms. Dombeck was present with five children and followed the adult to child care staff member ratio as well as her approved capacity. I interviewed Ms. Dombeck regarding the allegation. She denied that she was over her ratio and capacity on Wednesday September 27, 2022. I inquired why would 2 someone think she was over ratio and capacity. She reported that she continues to have a neighbor dispute and possibly she filed the complaint. Ms. Dombeck requested a ratio/capacity variance with the department and was approved on August 24, 2022, to care for seven children. I asked Ms. Dombeck if she had enrolled any additional children or if she provided care for seven children. She reported that there are four school-age children who were previously enrolled in her care who come to her house after school only on a drop-in basis. These four school-age children would be present in her home with her toddler and preschool children which typically consists of five children on a daily basis. I advised Ms. Dombeck that allowing the school-age children to come to her home while she is already caring for children would take her count to nine children which is over the approved ratio and capacity. Ms. Dombeck thought it was fine because they were only in her home for five minutes and then Minor Household Member (MHM) would take the four children to the home of Child A. According to Ms. Dombeck, the last time this occurred was on September 9, 2022. She again denied that it occurred on September 27, 2022. She thought they would not count in her numbers because they are only in the home for a short window of time, cand they are children that MHM babysits. MHM takes the school-age children to the home of either Child A or Child B and MHM babysits them until they are picked up by their parents. None of the four children are related. The parents are then notified by Ms. Dombeck which home to pick up the children. She apologized and reported that the parents call and ask her for a favor to watch the children. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Dombeck and advised Ms. Dombeck that is illegal for MHM to provide childcare at one of the parent's homes for three other children who are not from the same family. I explained babysitting involves caring for children in their own specific home and not mixing children from multiple families. I provided technical assistance and explained she is out of ratio and capacity as the children arrived at her home and then were taken somewhere else. She is still responsible for those children regardless of where they are taken. I also explained that MHM is not allowed to transport child care children due to being a minor. Ms. Dombeck inquired if he could transport if he was her child care staff member. Ms. Dombeck did not have any records on file for MHM consistent with what is required for a child care staff member or child care assistant. I informed Ms. Dombeck that he is a minor and is unable to transport or be alone with child care children and must always be supervised by an adult. I asked Ms. Dombeck to provide me with her attendance records and the child information records for the school-age children. Ms. Dombeck reported that she did not have any attendance records for the month of September of 2022. She no longer had child information records or child in care statements for the school-age children because they are only drop-in care. I provided technical assistance and advised that any child who receives care must have the required child records on file. 3 On February 24, 2023, I conducted a follow-up onsite inspection to Ms. Dombeck's home. There were six child care children present in the home with Ms. Dombeck. She followed her approved child care staff member to child ratio and capacity. She also had the required attendance records on file and showed this consultant copies of attendance records for the previous thre

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R 400.1910 · R 400.1910 Ratio of personnel to children. (1) The ratio of personnel to children present in the home at any 1 time must be not less than 1 member of the personnel to 6 children. The ratio must include all children in care who are not related to any personnel and any of the following children who are less than 6 years of age: (a) Children of the licensee. (b) Children of a child care staff member or child care assistant. (c) Children related to any member of the household by blood. marriage, or adoption. 4

Ms. Dombeck admitted that on September 9, 2022, she exceeded her approved ratio when she was caring for nine children without an approved child care staff member or child care assistant.

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R 400.1904b · R 400.1904b Child care assistant; requirements. (2) Prior to contact with children, the individual shall be determined by the department to be eligible to serve as a child care assistant, as required by R 400.1925.

I Ms. Dombeck allowed MHM to act in the role of a child care assistant by providing care for children and failed to obtain the required fingerprint background clearance.

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R 400.1904b · R 400.1904b Child care assistant; requirements. (4) A child care assistant shall be supervised directly at all times by the licensee or a child care staff member who is present on site and can observe the child care assistant.

Ms. Dombeck allowed MHM to provide care to child care children at an off-site location without being supervised by the licensee.

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R 400.1904b · R 400.1904b Child care assistant; requirements. (7) A child care assistant shall not drive a vehicle that is transporting children. I

Ms. Dombeck allowed MHM to transport children alone in a vehicle to an off-site location to provide child care.

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R 400.1905 · R 400.1905 Training. ................ (3) A licensee shall ensure that child care staff members and child care assistants, prior to caring for children, have training that includes information on all of the following: (c) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment.

Ms. Dombeck allowed MHM to provide care to child care children without having the required shaken baby, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment training.

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R 400.1907 · R 400.1907 Child's records. (1) Prior to a child's initial attendance, a licensee shall obtain the following documents: (a) A completed child information card on a form provided by the department or a comparable substitute approved by the department. 1

There were four school-age children who Ms. Dombeck provided care for they did not have the required child information records on file.

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R 400.1907 · R 400.1907 Child's records. (1) Prior to a child's initial attendance, a licensee shall obtain the following documents: (b) A child in care statement or receipt using a form provided by the department and signed by the parent certifying all of the following: (i) Receipt of a written discipline policy. (ii) Condition of the child's health. (iii) Acknowledgement that the parent has been offered either a copy of the licensing rules for a child care home or has been given the website for an electronic copy of these rules. (iv) Agreement as to who will provide food for the child. (v) Acknowledgement that firearms are on the premises, if applicable.

There were four school-age children who Ms. Dombeck provided care for they did not have the required child in care statements on file.

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R 400.1907 · R 400.1907 Child's records. (3) Dated daily attendance records of children in care must be maintained and include the child's first and last name and the time of arrival and departure. Electronic records may be used. If electronic records are used, they must be available to the department at the time of the inspection. If electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, the child care home is in violation of this rule. 7

Ms. Dombeck had not taken daily attendance for the entire month of September of 2022 as required.

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R 400.1911 · R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On February 12, 2021, I made an unannounced onsite investigation to Ms. Dombeck's child care home. I asked Ms. Dombeck if there had been an incident at her home that resulted in the fire department coming to her home. Ms. Dombeck reminded this consultant of her calling this consultant on February 5, 2021, to report an incident of being harassed by her neighbor and fearing she was going to contact the department to make a false allegation against her home. Ms. Dombeck stated the incident occurred on a weekend. There were no child care children present as she does not provide care to children on Saturday and Sunday. She was burning some wood items in her fire pit and her neighbor started yelling at her about the fire being out of control and questioned Ms. Dombeck's parenting. There were no hazards to children nor to any property at the time of the incident. The neighbor contacted the fire department and they came out to her home in a fire truck. They gave Ms. Dombeck a warning and advised her that the items she was burning was in violation of the city's ordinance. Ms. Dombeck stated that she could not recall the exact date; but would try to find out and follow-up with this consultant. On February 14, 2021, Ms. Dombeck emailed the consultant with the date of January 31, 2021 as the date of the incident. On February 16, 2021, I contacted the City of Sterling Heights fire department and spoke with Kara Rhoades of the prevention division. She confirmed that a run was made to the Dombeck residence on Sunday January 31, 2021 at 2:00 pm. Their department received a complaint alleging a violation of the open burn ordinance. There was no information on file with their department pertaining to children being present or in danger. Ms. Rhoades provided this consultant with information on how to obtain the fire report. On February 16, 2021, this consultant obtained a copy of the fire report (2021- 00001287). The written report indicated that Engine #2 (E2) responded to an open burning complaint. The caller stated that the occupant was burning construction debris, was leaving a large fire unattended, and did not have a cover on the outdoor fireplace. Upon arrival, E2 witnessed the occupant sitting next to an uncovered outdoor fireplace with a bi-fold, closet door sticking out of it, on fire. The woman quickly removed the door from the fireplace as E2 crew parked and approached the home. It was thrown into a nearby snowbank. The woman was given a copy of the open burning ordinance and was given an explanation and issued a warning. The bi-fold door was extinguished in the snow and a cover was placed over the remaining smoldering embers in the fireplace. This consultant did not observe anything in the report that addressed children being present or in any danger. 3

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R 400.1951 · R 400.1951 Transportation. (7) Each child transported shall remain seated and properly restrained by a child passenger restraint device appropriate for his or her age. The manufacturer's rated seating capacity for 4 the vehicle must not be exceeded.

Ms. Dombeck confirmed that she was transporting children on February 11, 2021 as she was picking up both of her children from school. There were three child care children in her vehicle as well. Her oldest son was in the front passenger seat, the middle row had her youngest son, and two child care children who were in car seats, and the third row had another child care child in a car seat. Ms. Dombeck denied that she had four children in the middle row. She has a seven- passenger vehicle and there would be no need to have four children in the middle row, when there was still adequate seating in the third row. Ms. Dombeck reported that the children exit through the rear passenger doors, so any child sitting in the third row would still need to come up to the middle row area to exit the vehicle. Ms. Dombeck stated that this is another example of her neighbor making false allegations against her child care home. This consultant observed the vehicle used for transporting children, which is a seven-passenger vehicle. Ms. Dombeck showed this consultant the car seats, and booster seats she uses for transporting children. I observed three various styles car seats to accommodate infants through preschool age children, and two booster seats that are age appropriate for preschool to school age children which were stored in her garage. Ms. Dombeck has written and signed routine transportation permission from parents for all five child care children enrolled in her care.

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R 400.1911 · R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (2) A licensee or a child care staff member shall be present in the home at all times when children are in care.

On October 6, 2020, I made an unannounced onsite investigation to Ms. Dombeck's child care home. I asked Ms. Dombeck if she had been leaving the home at least three times per week to run errands while child care children are in care. She denied that she leaves her home to run errands three times per week but recalled there may have been a few times sporadically. She was having a conflict with a neighbor and believed that the allegations were stemming from a past conflict with the neighbor. Ms. Dombeck recalled the last time she was out of the home briefly was on September 18, 2020, because her children had doctor's appointments to get flu shots. Ms. Dombeck's mother came to the child care home to supervise the child care children. Ms. Dombeck reported that she was only gone from the home for thirty minutes. I asked Ms. Dombeck if she had a file for her mother. Ms. Dombeck reported that her mother is her emergency backup person and did not think she needed a file / child care staff member record. I explained to Ms. Dombeck that taking her children to get flu shots would not be deemed as an emergency. Ms. Dombeck stated that she was not aware that a doctor's appointment did not fall under the category of an emergency. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Dombeck regarding rule R400.1911 (2) which requires a licensee or a child care staff member to be present in the home at all times when children are in care. I advised if she planned on leaving the home in the future, she will need to close the child care home or leave the child care children with a child care staff member who has met all of the requirements of a child care staff member. 3 Ms. Dombeck reported that the September 18, 2020 date was one of the few times she recalled leaving the child care home while children were in care. She did not recall any other specific dates when she was out of the home. I asked Ms. Dombeck to provide me with the attendance records from September 18, 2020. Ms. Dombeck stated that she did not have the attendance records from that date and admitted that she had not taken attendance on the day of the onsite investigation. She admitted that she has not taken attendance daily as required. There were five child care children present in the home with Ms. Dombeck during my onsite investigation. They were Child A (male, age 4), Child B (female, age 5 months), Child C (female, age 17 months), Child D (female, age 6), and Child E (female, age 3) I informed Ms. Dombeck that there was allegation that she was leaving MHM alone with the child care children while she ran errands outside of the home at least three times per week. Ms. Dombeck initially denied the allegation that she left (MHM) alone in the home to supervise the child care children. I informed Ms. Dombeck that I would need to interview MHM regarding the allegation and asked if she granted permission for him to be interviewed. Ms. Dombeck did not grant permission for MHM to be interviewed by this consultant. Ms. Dombeck then admitted that she had in fact left MHM in the home alone with the child care children a few times. One errand specifically that she remembered was when she needed to go to one of the child care children's school approximately one month prior to pick up a meal that was provided by the Utica Community School District. She stated the school was in her neighborhood and she returned to the child care home in less than thirty minutes. Ms. Dombeck stated that she was aware that it was wrong; but was trying to help out the families. She stated that she will no longer allow MHM to provide supervision of the child care children and will not leave him in the home alone with the child care children. Technical assistance was provided to Ms. Dombeck regarding rule R400.1911 (1) which requires her to provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. She was also informed that minors are not allowed to have unsupervised access with child care children and are not allowed

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R 400.1907 · R 400.1907 Child's records. (3) Dated daily attendance records of children in care must be maintained and include the child's first and last name and the time of arrival and departure. Electronic records may be used. If electronic records are used, they must be available to the department at the time of the inspection. If electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, the child care home is in violation of this rule.

Ms. Dombeck confirmed that occasionally she will provide transportation to children to go to a park. She has in the past transported children to school, but since the pandemic there has not been a need to transport children. The last time she transported children was the end of September in 2020. She took Child D and Child E to the park or to a splash pad. She denied providing any transportation for Child A, Child B, or Child C. I asked Ms. Dombeck for the transportation permission slips to take Child D and Child E to the park or for annual transportation back and forth to and from school. Ms. Dombeck admitted that she had not obtained written permission for either, but that the parents were aware that she may need to periodically transport children. I advised Ms. Dombeck that I needed to inspect the vehicle she uses for transportation. Ms. Dombeck uses a seven passenger SUV for transportation. Ms. Dombeck confirmed that she had the required safety devices to transport children. observed three various styles car seats to accommodate infants through preschool age children, and two booster seats that were age appropriate for preschool to school age children which were stored in her garage. Ms. Dombeck also had a first aid kit with the required contents. On January 14, 2021, Ms. Dombeck submitted verification of having a valid drivers license, vehicle registration, and insurance. I asked Ms. Dombeck if she had ever left children alone in the vehicle while she ran back and forth from the house to the vehicle. She admitted that there may have been a few times when she got the children buckled into the car in the driveway and would realize she left something in the house. She has temporarily gone back into the home to get the items. She stated that it was easier to quickly run back into the house for a minute than to unstrap all of the children. I advised Ms. Dombeck that at no time can children be left alone in a vehicle unsupervised or with a minor. She would need to verify she had all items needed prior to exiting the home with the children. On January 12, 2021, I interviewed Child A's, B's, and C's Mother, Child D's Mother, and Child E's Mother. The following information was obtained: • Child A's, B's, and Child's Mother was interviewed denied any knowledge of her children being transported by Ms. Dombeck or that they have been left in a vehicle unattended or unsupervised. • Child D's Mother confirmed that prior to the pandemic that Ms. Dombeck would routinely transport Child D to and from school on Wednesday's or whenever she needed help with drop off or pick-up time if she had to work late. She granted permission for Ms. Dombeck to transport her child; but did not recall if she ever granted permission in writing. Once school resumes to in person learning, Child D's Mother will drop off Child D in the morning along with one of Ms. Dombeck's children who attends the same school as Child D. Occasionally Ms. Dombeck will assist in picking Child D up after school if needed. She denied any knowledge of children being left in a vehicle unattended or unsupervised. • Child E's Mother denied any knowledge of her child being transported recently. If it occurred it is a very rare occurrence and she does not recall giving written permission for transportation. If Child E requires transportation to or from school it will be done by Child E's grandmother and not by Ms. Dombeck. If transportation is needed by Ms. Dombeck it will be a rare occasion and she will be sure to grant permission in writing. She denied any knowledge of children being left in a vehicle unattended or unsupervised. During my exit conference with Ms. Dombeck on January 19, 2021, she confirmed that she will resume annual transportation for school for one of her families as school will be returning to in person instruction soon. She was reminded that she will need to obtain written permission prior to transporting any children who will need transportation to/from school or

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R 400.1911 · R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (5) A licensee and child care staff members shall never leave a child unattended or with a minor in a vehicle.

Ms. Dombeck left a child(ren) unattended in a vehicle in her driveway when she briefly reentered her home to obtain an item ................... that was missing.

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R 400.1952 · R 400.1952 Child transportation; parent permission; child information card; required when off-premises. (1) A licensee shall obtain and keep on file written permission from a child's parent before a child is transported in a vehicle. Written permission must be obtained for both of the following: (a) Routine transportation, at least annually.

Ms. Dombeck failed to obtain written permission from Child D's parent, and Child E's parent to provide routine transportation to/from school.

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R 400.1952 · R 400.1952 Child transportation; parent permission; child information card; required when off-premises. ....... ................ ................................ ................................ ....... .. ..... (1) A licensee shall obtain and keep on file written permission from a child's parent before a child is transported in a vehicle. Written permission must be obtained for both of the following: (b) Nonroutine transportation, before each trip.

Ms. Dombeck admitted to transporting Child D and Child E to the park, and a splash pad but failed to obtain written permission from Child D's parent, and Child E's parent prior to nonroutine transportation being rovided.

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