• Violation

  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 May 17, 2022, 1 called Timothy Swope, Child Care Licensing Consultant to discuss the allegations in the complaint. Mr. Swope stated that he was aware of the allegations and that the Program Director Nikki Houston contacted him immediately when she became aware of each of the alleged incidents. Mr. Swope went on to say that Ms. Houston was placing an additional child care staff member in the classroom whose main duty would be to supervise Child B to assure he was not doing anything inappropriate. On May 17, 2022, 1 made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care center and discussed the allegations with the program director Nikki Houston. Ms. Houston was aware of the allegations in the complaint. Ms. Houston stated that on Tuesday May 10; 2022, Child A's Mother contacted her and stated that Child A said "[Child B] asked her if he could touch her private. When she said no Child B stated he would not be her friend anymore." Then on Thursday May 12, 2022, she received a phone call from Child C's Mother stating that Child B touched Child C's and asked Child C to touch his = however Child C did not touch his Ms. Houston went on to say that she spoke to the child care staff members in the classroom and neither child care staff member saw anything. The child care staff members in that classroom are Sue Lesley and Mackenzie Hendrix. Ms. Houston stated that Ms. Lesley is the lead and very diligent about watching the child care children. On May 17, 2022, 1 interviewed child care staff member Sue Lesley. Ms.. Lesley stated she was aware of the allegations in the complaint. Ms. Lesley stated she did not see or hear anything inappropriate. She always tells the children to, "be where I can see you." She does not have any blind spots in her classroom and does not allow children to go behind any equipment. Ms. Lesley went on to say that the only place the children may have gone is behind the cots, as she he pulls the cots from the corner before lunch in preparation for rest time. Ms. Lesley went on to say she does not see how that could have happened either, as she is constantly watching as she is preparing lunches. Since these allegations came about, she stopped pulling the cots out until she is ready to place the cots down for rest time. She met with the MS. Houston, program director to think of ways they can take extra precautions to assure all the children are safe. On May 17, 2022, I interviewed child care staff member Mackenzie Hendrix. I made her aware of the allegations in the complaint. Ms. Hendrix stated that she did not see any children behaving inappropriately. She stated that she plays with the children, keeps an eye on them, and does not let them go behind anything. She did not see any children go behind the cots when Ms. Lesley was preparing the lunches. On May 17, 2022, I viewed the preschool classroom where the alleged incident occurred. The classroom was open, there were not apparent blind spots or places children could hide in the classroom. On May 17, 2022, after interviewing the child care staff members, I spoke to the program director Ms. Houston. Ms. Houston stated she was very upset by the allegations because parents are trusting them with their "greatest treasure" and she would like to know if there was anything else they can do to assure nothing like this happens again. Ms. Houston stated she has been in touch with Child B's family and they are taking the necessary steps to have him evaluated whether this was natural curiosity or if something occurred to cause this. I told Ms. Houston that it appears she is taking all the appropriate steps to assure the safety of the child care children. On June 17, 2022, I called Child A's Mother and discussed the allegations in the complaint. Child A's Mother stated that, while she was upset by the statements her daughter reported to her, she was more concerned that something may have happened to Child B. She does not have any concerns with the supervision the child care

During child care Child B (male, age 4 years) touched Child C (male, age 3) inappropriately and asked Child A (female, age 4) to touch him inappropriately.

Disposition: Substantiated