Dorothy's Discovery Daycare II

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.

I was not able to contact the complainant to obtain specific information. I interviewed Ms. Morris and Ms. Layher. Ms. Morris serves as the center's licensee designee and program director. Ms. Layher also serves as the center's program director. They both denied the allegations. They stated that the center has two main toddler rooms, Toddler 1 and Toddler 2. There has recently been a large amount of Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) turnover. As such, they are working hard at training new CCSMs, to include how to communicate with parents as it relates to their individual comfort levels. Despite having new CCSMs, they both believe that the children receive good care and supervision. They both believe that the CCSMs provide good communication to the children's parents. They have not received any parent or CCSM complaints regarding lack of communication or unexplained injuries. Most injuries that have occurred at the center have been minor and age appropriate. If an injury occurs, the parents of the children are notified verbally, they use the center's communication computer system, and they provide a written incident report. Pictures are also taken if needed. While on site, I reviewed the center's accident/injury reporting policy and written incident reports submitted to parents. The policy indicates that parents will be notified verbally and in writing during times of injuries. I interviewed four CCSMs that work in the toddler rooms to include Ms. Hunt, Ms. Dangal, Ms. Jackson, and Ms. GoKee. The four CCSMs did not report any concerns. They all indicated that they enjoy their job, and they believe that the children in care receive good care and supervision. They were only aware of minor injuries occurring while in care, describing those injuries as age-appropriate such a bumps and scrapes. The four CCSMs all believe that the center has good communication with parents regarding any injuries. That communication includes the parents being contacted verbally, in writing through the center's computer system, and with written incident reports. Pictures are also taken if needed. None of the four CCSMs have received any complaints from parents regarding the care of their children. I observed all the child uses areas of the center, concentrating on the Toddler 1 and Toddler 2 rooms. The CCSMs provided active and direct supervision. The children in the rooms appeared happy and actively approached the CCSMS for care and attention. I did not observe any injuries occur while I was on site at the center. 3 I interviewed three parents of children attending the toddler rooms including Child A's Mother, Child B's Mother, and Child C's Mother separately. I attempted a fourth parent but was not successful. Child A's Mother stated she had no concerns regarding the center, and that the children receive good care and supervision. The CCSMs provide good communication regarding any injuries, all of which have been minor. Child B's Mother stated that she has used the center for several years for three different children. Child B is currently her only child that attends the center. Child B's Mother is "very happy" with the care and supervision her children have received while in care. She believes that all the CCSMs have the "best interest of the children at heart." She stated that the CCSMs have "excellent" communication regarding the children. Her children have only sustained minor age-appropriate injuries while in care, to which she is not concerned. When those minor injuries occurred, her children received love, ice, and she was notified. She believes that Ms. Morris and Ms. Layher are "great" when it comes to running a center. In addition, her children have all enjoyed attending the center and have never disclosed any concerns. Child C's Mother stated that she enjoys the center and has no concerns regarding the care or supervision that the children receive while in care. She believes that the CCSMs have "great" communication with parents. She stated t

View state record

R 400.8155 · R 400.8155 Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (1)A center shall have a written plan for how and when a parent is notified when personnel observe any of the following: (b) A child experiences an accident, injury, or incident.

During the investigation, I conducted several interviews and reviewed related documentation. The center has a written plan and provides good communication to parents when a child experiences an injury while in care.

View state record

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 December 15, 2021, I called Child A's Father to discuss the allegations in the complaint. Child A (male, age 8 years old) was told he had to quarantine from the child care because he had what the center considered a close contact with someone who had Covid-19. The center did not verify it with the school that he had a close contact and did not pick Child A up from school on November 4, 2021. Child A's Father went on to express frustration that the child care center did 2 not credit them for the days Child A was not in the center. I asked Child A's Father if any of the child care staff members, or the program director made them aware of their policies or informed them Child A wouldn't be able to come to the center. Child A's Father stated that the center sent home a note with their policy, however Child A did not have a close contact and was able to attend school. Child A's Father stated that Child A was left at school and Child A's Mother had to pick Child A up from school, as the child care staff members did not pick him up from school. On December 15, 2021, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care center. I discussed the allegations with program directors Carolyn Layher and Dorothy Morris. Ms. Layher explained that on November 3, 2021, when she picked the aftercare children up from school Child A stated that his teacher would be out of school for two weeks because she had Covid-19 . Ms. Layher then explained that per their guidelines developed with the Health Department no one was allowed in the center if they had contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19 for more than fifteen minutes. She stated that on November 3, 2021, she sent home a note with all the children explaining their guidelines as many parents didn't understand their protocol differed from the school's protocols. Ms. Layher said the note was given to each parent at pickup and sent out electronically to the parents. During the onsite inspection I reviewed the policy provided to the parents. The policy stated, "if your child's school has an exposure within the classroom from either the teacher or the children, your child must quarantine from Dorothy's Discovery Daycare Center." The note further explained that the guidelines they follow are based on the Washtenaw County Health Department guidelines and differ from the various school districts they serve. I asked Ms. Layher if Child A was left outside or attempted to ride the child care centers bus home from school on November 4, 2021. Ms. Layher stated that the way it works is she sends in individual codes to the school office staff for the students she is picking up. When she arrived at the school, she sent in the codes for the children she was transporting, so no Child A was not left outside nor did he come to the bus, as she did not request, he be sent out to the bus. On December 15, 2021, I called Robin Bishop of the Washtenaw County Health Department to discuss the policy developed by the center. Ms. Bishop stated that in Washtenaw County the guidelines for the schools and the child care centers are different, because of the setup of the schools versus the child care centers. The child care children are asked to quarantine if they were in the same classroom with someone with Covid-19 for longer than fifteen minutes. She went on to state that Dorothy Morris works closely with them and reports all cases in her center. Because there are younger children in the center, they develop stricter guidelines to prevent the younger children from getting infected. On December 15, 2021, I called Dorothy Morris and Carolyn Layher to discuss the findings of the complaint and complete the exit conference. 3

View state record