Edith Kalbfleisch

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

On 02/23/2022, I sent an email to Deb Lemkie from the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau requesting the name of the assigned detective to the investigation. On 02/23/2022, I received a call from Officer Belicik from the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office. He directed me to go to the child care and provide an update if needed. He stated that Prosecuting Attorney's Office (PAO) has confirmed that they will not be pursuing charges in this matter. On 02/23/2022, I attempted to call complainant 1 three times, but I kept getting disconnected. On 02/24/2022, I interviewed Child A's Mother. On 02/21/2022, Child B and C's Mother informed licensee Edith Kalbfleisch that Child B had disclosed Child A touched her butt during nap time at the child care. Ms. Kalbfleisch then reported this to her. Child A's Mother believes the incidences occurred on snow days when Child A was in attendance at the child care all day. Child A was last in attendance at the child care on 02/17/2022. Child A's Mother was informed by Ms. Kalbfleishch that inappropriate contact between Child A and Child B occurred on more than one occasion during nap time. Child A's Mother's information on the situation is limited. She was told by Ms. Kalbfleisch that Child A put his hand down Child B's pants on more than one occasion during nap time. Child A's Mother has never witnessed Child A display sexualized behavior before and she does not know where he may have learned this behavior. Child A's Mother denied having any concerns with Edith Kalbfleisch's ability to provide care and supervision of Child A. On 02/21/2022, Ms. Kalbfleisch told Child A's Mother that Child A is no longer allowed to attend her child care. 4 On 02/28/2022, I made an unannounced visit to Edith Kalbfleisch's child care group home where I interviewed Ms. Kalbfleisch and child care staff member Tasha Vetter from 10:05 AM to 10:55 AM. I first interviewed Ms. Kalbfleisch. She stated that on 02/21/2022, Child B and C's Mother informed her Child B disclosed Child A placing his hands down Child B's pants on several occasions during nap time. Child A was present at her home when Child B and C's Mother disclosed this information to her. After meeting with Child B and C's Mother, she contacted Child A's Mother to inform her of the allegations and to tell that Child A can no longer attend her child care after 02/21/2022. Ms. Kalbfleisch talked to Child B about the incident on 02/21/2022 and she made sure to maintain direct supervision of Child A until he was picked up by his parents. Ms. Kalbfleisch also talked to Child B about the allegations. Child B confirmed that Child A put his hands down her pants, over her underwear, and touched her butt on several occasions during nap time. Child A is only present at the child care during nap time during school breaks and snow days, but he attends before and after school every day. I inquired about supervision during nap time. Ms. Kalbfleisch walked over to a room adjacent to the living room basement and disclosed that she and Ms. Yetter normally are in this room during nap time and they check on the children every 15 to 20 minutes. She confirmed that the child care children sleep in the living room during nap time. She has the boys sleep in one area of the living room and the girls on the other side of the living room. I inquired whether she noticed a change in behavior with Child A or Child B which she denied. She did, however, notice sometime in the beginning of February that Child A had switched positions with Child C (7-year-old, female) during nap time to be closer to Child B. She directed Child A to move back to his initial sleeping spot when she observed this. Ms. Kalbfleisch does not believe Child A had inappropriate contact with any other children at the child care. Child B and C's Mother disclosed to her that she has questioned Child C and Child C reported no incidences involving Child A. She denied witnessing Child A displaying sexualized behavior i

View state record

R 400.1962 · R 400.1962 Department notification required; incidents; injury; accident, illness, death, or fire. (1) A licensee shall make a verbal or email report to the department within 24 hours of the occurrence of any of the following: (b) An incident involving inappropriate contact or an allegation of inappropriate contact.

Ms. Kalbfleisch did not ensure that a verbal report or email was made to the licensing with 24 hours of knowing about an incident involving inappropriate contact or knowing of allegations of inappropriate contact. On 02/28/2022, Ms. Kalbfleisch reported that she had not notified her licensing consultant Pamela Walker by phone or email of the incident alleging inappropriate contact between Child A and Child B within 24 hours of being informed of the allegation on 02/21/2022.

View state record

R 400.1903 · R 400.1903 Licensee responsibilities. (8) To comply with section 3c of the act, MCL 722.113c, a licensee shall have a policy and procedure on smoking and vaping that includes all of the following: (a) Ensure that smoking and vaping do not occur in child- use space, on the premises of a child care home while children are in care, and in a vehicle when used to transport children who are in care.

Ms. Kalbfleisch did not ensure that smoking and vaping did not occur on the premises of a child care home. On 02/28/2022, I observed child care staff member Tasha Yetter smoking a cigarette outside of the child care home by the garage upon my arrival for the onsite inspection.

View state record

R 400.1903 · R 400.1903 Licensee responsibilities. (8) To comply with section 3c of the act, MCL 722.113c, a licensee shall have a policy and procedure on smoking and vaping that includes all of the following: (c) Notify parents if smoking or vaping occurs in the child care home and on the premises when children are not in care.

Ms. Kalbfleisch did not ensure that she notified parents of smoking and vaping occurring on the premises when children are not in care. On 02/28/2022, I reviewed Ms. Kalbfleisch's child in care statement forms where Ms. Kalbfleisch selected the box indicating that smoking does not occur on the premises of the child care home.

View state record

R 400.1916 · R 400.1916 Bedding and sleeping equipment. (13) None of the following are approved sleeping equipment for children 24 months of age or younger: (a) Infant car seats. (b) Infant seats. (c) Infant swings. (d) Bassinets. (e) High chairs. (f) Water beds. (g) Adult beds. (h) Soft mattresses. (i) Sofas. (j) Bean bags. (k) Other soft surfaces.

Ms. Kalbfleisch did not ensure that children under 24 months of age or younger only slept in approved sleeping equipment. On 02/28/2022, I observed Child D (4-month-old male) asleep in an infant swing during the onsite inspection.

View state record

R 400.1916 · R 400.1916 Bedding and sleeping equipment. (8) Soft objects, bumper pads, stuffed toys, blankets, quilts or comforters, pillows, and other objects that could smother an infant must not be placed with, under, or within reach of a resting or sleeping infant.

Ms. Kalbfleisch did not ensure that oft objects, bumper pads, stuffed toys, blankets, quilts or comforters, pillows, and other objects that could smother an infant must not be placed with, under, or within reach of a resting or sleeping infant. On 02/28/2022, I observed Child D wearing a cloth bib and covered with two blankets asleep in an infant swing during the onsite inspection.

View state record