Paradigm Care & Enrichment Center

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. 611 W. OTTAWA. P.O. BOX 30664. LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 www.michigan.gov/lara . 517-335-1980

On 4/27/22, the department received an incident report from the center stating that Child A was seated at the table for about 10 minutes eating lunch. Child A was feeding herself peaches with her fingers. Child A started crying and Ms. Johnson noticed that her right thumb was bleeding. Child A appeared to have bitten her thumb. On 5/16/22, I interviewed the program director, Ms. Pulido-Barajas who stated that she had called the department on 4/27/22 and left a message but she had not received a call. The incident report was filled out and sent to the department on 4/27/22. Ms. Pulido-Barajas said that on 4/27/22 after she sent the incident report, she got a call from Child A's father stating that according to the doctors, the injury had occurred due to a sharp object piercing through the skin and not a bite. Ms. Pulido-Barajas said that she had not sent in an update to the incident report. On 5/16/22, I interviewed Child A's father who said that he got a call from the upper management to pick up Child A since Child A had bitten her finger and that she was bleeding and needed a doctor's attention. Child A's father said that he was at the center in about 20 minutes. Child A was sleeping, and the bleeding had stopped. Child A's father took Child A to the pediatrician who recommended for them to go to the emergency room for stitches. Child A had to get 5 stitches. The doctor told him that the injury was not caused due to a bite, but it was a sharp object piercing through the skin. Child A recovered well from it and is attending child care. He said that his primary contact was Ms. Pulido-Barajas who kept them informed about all the details of the incident. Child A's father said that the upper management knew that the injury was not consistent with the story of how it happened as explained by the staff member in the classroom. The staff member would not say anything other than stating that the baby bit herself while eating. The two doctors agreed that the injury was not a clean cut and could not have caused by a child's bite. The upper management guessed that it was a pair of scissors that made the cut. However, it is still speculation at this point since nobody saw how the injury occurred. On 5/19/22, I conducted an onsite inspection at the center. I observed the lunch table with 6 bucket seats in the infant room. I did not observe anything near the table that could have caused an injury to an infant's hand. On 5/19/22, I interviewed Ms. Pulido-Barajas who said that she was in a meeting in the office along with licensee designee Ms. Cadaret. Ms. Kraatz walked in and got an icepack stating that Child A bit her finger while she was eating. A little later Ms. Ion came into the office with Child A. Child A's finger was bleeding and Ms. Ion was 611 W. OTTAWA. P.O. BOX 30664. LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 www.michigan.gov/lara . 517-335-1980 applying pressure on it. There was blood on Ms. Ion's shirt, and Child A was still crying inconsolably. Ms. Pulido-Barajas called Child A's mother and told her that Child A bit her finger while she was eating peaches. Ms. Pulido-Barajas said that she had not actually seen the wound before calling Child A's mother. However, she wondered how there could be so much blood if it was only a bite. Within the half hour, Child A's father came to the center to pick up Child A and took her to the hospital. Child A's wound was covered in a paper towel to manage the bleeding. When they removed the paper towel on Child A's right thumb, Ms. Pulido-Barajas saw the wound. It was a straight deep cut and did not look like an injury caused due to a bite. Ms. Pulido-Barajas did not say anything thinking that it was probably a freak accident. Child A's father asked for a band-aid to cover the wound, but Ms. Cadaret and Ms. Pulido-Barajas advised against it since Child A was putting her thumb in her mouth. Instead, they removed the paper towel and wrapped it with a sock so that Child A could not put it in her mouth. After some t

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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 01/19/2022, I spoke with the complainant via telephone. The complainant stated that sometime in 09/2021, she observed Ms. Perry get upset and clap her hands aggressively in Child A's face. The complainant stated that Ms. Perry targeted Child A because she does not get along with Child A's mother. The complainant did not report this to the program director at the time of the incident. The complainant indicated that Ms. Perry bullies all the staff members and that management allows this behavior to continue at the center. On 01/24/2022, I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection. I interviewed Michele Caderat (program director/licensee designee), Angela Jones (program 2 director/licensee designee), Penelope Perry (Toddler C lead caregiver), Gesselle Jimenez (assistant floater), Lexi Mcevoy (Toddler C assistant staff member), and Hannah Rainey (assistant floater). Interviews were conducted privately in the program director's office. Ms. Caderat and Ms. Jones stated that they both manage and supervise the staff at the center. They admitted that there have been some issues with the staff not getting along with each other. Ms. Perry has had some minor disagreements with other staff members but they both denied that it affected Ms. Perry's behavior in the classroom environment. They both agreed that Ms. Perry works well with the children and has extensive knowledge in early childhood education. They denied ever hearing complaints from parents regarding Ms. Perry. In addition, Ms. Caderat and Ms. Jones also denied that any staff member had reported observing Ms. Perry aggressively clapping in Child A's face. Ms. Perry stated that she is the lead caregiver in the toddler C classroom and is also the primary caregiver to Child A. Ms. Perry denied having any personal issues with Child A's mother and added that even if she did not like a parent, it would not affect the way she would treat a child in the classroom. Ms. Perry denied that she clapped her hands in Child A's face and stated that she has never done anything like that to any child in her care. Ms. Perry stated that this was the first time she has heard of this allegation and claimed that Child A's mother has never brought any concerns to her attention. Ms. Perry stated that there is a lot of drama going on between staff members at the center, and some staff members like to spread rumors among themselves. Ms. Jimenez stated that she is an assistant staff member and floats around helping in all of the classrooms. Ms. Jimenez said that she often works with Ms. Perry and denied that she has ever seen Ms. Perry clap in a child's face or act inappropriately with a child in her care. Ms. Jimenez said that she did hear staff members saying that Ms. Perry smacked a meatball out of Child A's hand and clapped in her face, but she did not witness the event herself. Ms. Jimenez denied that she has received any complaint from parents involving Ms. Perry. Ms. Jimenez stated that there is a lot of tension between staff members and that Ms. Perry does not get along with some of her coworkers. Ms. Rainey stated that she is an assistant staff member and works in all the classrooms throughout the week. Ms. Rainey denied that she witnessed Ms. Perry clapping in Child A's face, although she stated that she heard some staff talking about a similar incident. Ms. Rainey denied that she has ever seen Ms. Perry acting inappropriately with the children in her care or that she had ever received a complaint from parents regarding Ms. Perry. Ms. Rainey stated that there are some staff members that do not get along well and that can sometimes cause issues. Ms. Mcevoy stated that she is an assistant staff member that works with Ms. Perry in the toddler C classroom. Ms. Mcevoy denied that she has ever seen Ms. Perry act 3 inappropriately with any child in her care. Ms. Mcevoy recalled one day in which she witnessed Ms. Perry clapping near Child A; this was done to get the children's attention. Ms. Mcevoy de

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R 400.8176 · R 400.8176 Sleeping equipment. (5) A cot or a mat and a sheet or blanket of appropriate size must be provided as follows: (a) For all preschoolers 3 years of age and older in care for 5 or more continuous hours. (b) For any child in care who regularly naps. (c) Upon a parent's request for any child in care.

On 04/28/2021 I spoke with Child H's Mother who stated sometimes in the past she forgot to send a blanket sleeper and Child H had to sleep on the floor. Child H's Mother stated she does not forget to send the blanket anymore, so she does not believe it still happens. On 05/04/2021 I completed an on-site inspection to the center. I interviewed program director Michelle Cadaret. Program director Angela Jones was also present. Ms. Cadaret stated Child H is in the Old Bridger classroom and at nap time Child H always rests on a cot. Ms. Cadaret stated sometimes Child H's Mother forgets to send Child H's "cot mat", but when this happens staff members give Child H one of the center's extra cot mats. Ms. Cadaret stated last summer Child H did not want to sleep on a cot and wanted to sleep on the floor. Staff members did not let Child H sleep on the floor; they would always put Child H back on the cot. Ms. Cadaret stated she told Child H's Mother about this last summer. Ms. Cadaret stated this is no longer an issue as Child H will now rest on the cot. During my on-site inspection, I went into the Old Bridger classroom and observed Child H and all of the children in the classroom resting on cots with blankets. I interviewed staff member Tori Lambert. Ms. Lambert stated she works Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 6:00pm in the Old Bridger classroom. She stated Child H's family forgets to send Child H's cot mat all of the time, but the center has extra mats, so they give one to Child H. Ms. Lambert stated Child H always rests on the cot, never on the floor. I interviewed staff member Eloisa Gonzalez. She stated she works in the Old Bridger classroom on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Ms. Gonzalez stated every child has his/her own cot. Ms. Gonzalez stated sometimes Child H's family forgets to send Child H's cot mat, and when that happens, they use one of the center's cot mats. Ms. Gonzalez stated last summer she had a hard time getting Child H to nap, but that is no longer the case and Child H never sleeps on the floor.

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R 400.8330 · R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. (6) A center shall make water available to drink throughout the day to children 1 year of age and older.

Child H's Mother stated Child H is dropped off at the center around 10:00am and picked up at 6:00pm. Child H's Mother stated when she picks Child H up, Child H is extremely hungry and thirsty. Ms. Cadaret stated Child H is usually dropped off and picked up by relatives and often Child H is not dropped off at the center until 12:00 or 12:30pm. The children eat lunch at 12:00pm and staff members always give lunch to Child H even if she arrives late. Ms. Cadaret stated the children have an afternoon snack at 3:00pm and Child H always gets the afternoon snack. Ms. Cadaret stated water is always available to the children. Ms. Cadaret stated Child H's Mother never sent a drink container, so Child H had to use the center's cups for water until recently when one of the staff members bought Child H a drink container. Child H now has her own to use. Ms. Lambert stated Child H is usually dropped off between 10:00am and 12:00pm and she always makes sure Child H gets lunch even if Child H comes after lunch is served. Ms. Lambert stated Child H always eats lunch and afternoon snack. Ms. Lambert stated all the children have water available throughout the day and Ms. Gonzalez just bought Child H a water bottle because Child H did not have one of her own and had to use the center's cups. Ms. Gonzalez stated Child H is dropped off most days around 10:30am but sometimes Child H does not arrive until lunch or nap time. Ms. Gonzalez stated if Child H arrives after lunch has been served, they still give Child H lunch and Child H always eats lunch and afternoon snack. Ms. Gonzalez stated Child H always says she is thirsty. Ms. Gonzalez stated they have a water bottle basket in the classroom and all the children including Child H have access to water all the time. Ms. Gonzalez stated Child H's family did not provide a water bottle for Child H, so Child H had to use one of the center's cups, so she bought Child H her own water bottle last week. 4

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R 400.8330 · 1 R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. (9) A center shall not deprive a child of a snack of meal if the child is in attendance at the time when the snack or meal is served.

Staff members state Child H usually arrives at the center between 10:00am and 12:00pm and sometimes Child H is dropped off even after 12:00pm. Lunch is served at the center at 12:00pm. Staff members state if Child H arrives late, they save lunch and provide lunch to Child H. Staff members state Child H is also always provided the afternoon snack at 3:00pm.

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