It's A Small World

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 December 21, 2022, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection. I individually interviewed program director Megan Coburn and Child Care Staff Memberl and Child Care Staff Member 2 and Child A's Mother. Ms. Coburn stated on December 19, 2022, she was not present at the time of the alleged incident, as she left for the day. Child A's Mother is a child care staff member and was present during the time. Child Care Staff Member 1 immediately reported the alleged incident to Child A's Mother. Child Care Staff Member 1 told Child A's Mother that while leaving the gymnasium with her classroom Child Care Staff Member 2 was entering with his classroom. The children from Child Care Staff Member 1's classroom spoke to Child Care Staff Member 2 and hugged him. Once 2 the classroom arrived in the hallway Child A told Child Care Staff Member 1, "Child Care Staff Member 2 tried to kiss me on my lips." Child Care Staff Member 1 told Child A's Mother that she did not see Child Care Staff Member 2 kiss Child A. She also stated that her back was turned to Child Care Staff Member 2 for a few minutes while the children were hugging him, as she had to redirect two children in line having an altercation. Ms. Coburn stated that Child Care Staff Member 1 also texted her the same information. Ms. Coburn stated that she met with Child A's Mother the following day. Child A's Mother told her that she was not sure if the allegations were true, as Child A told her "I think Child Care Staff Member 2 tried to kiss me", when she questioned her. Child A's Mother also told her that Child A did not appear sure and could not provide details. She also told her that Child A had been in a "kissing phase", as she was asking questions and making comments about her parents kissing. Child A's Mother stated that she told Child A that married people kiss. On December 20, 2022, Ms. Coburn reported the alleged incident to child care licensing and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Coburn also stated that Child Care Staff Member 2 has been employed at the child care center for three years and she has never observed him to be sexually inappropriate with children or have concerns about the care provided by him. She stated that whenever the children see him, they always run to greet him. Child Care Staff Member 1 stated on December 19,2022, while leaving the gymnasium with her classroom of 10 children, age 4 years old, Child Care Staff Member 2 was entering with four children from his classroom. She stated the children from her classroom spoke to Child Care Staff Member 2 and gave him a hug, as he always hugs the children when he sees them. Once the classroom arrived in the hallway Child A told her, "Child Care Staff Member 2 tried to kiss me on my lips." Child Care Staff Member 1s tated that Child A did not appear upset. Child Care Staff Member 1 did not see Child Care Staff Member 2 kiss Child A. She also stated that her back was turned to Child Care Staff Member 2 for a few minutes while the children were hugging him, as she had to redirect two children in line having an altercation. Child Care Staff Member 1 stated she initially informed Child A's Mother of the allegations, as Child A's Mother is a child care staff member and program director Megan Coburn left for the day. She texted Ms. Coburn to inform her of the allegation. She stated that Child A's Mother asked her to speak Child Care Staff Member 2 about the allegation because "she was in momma bear mode." Child Care Staff Member 1 informed Child Care Staff Member 2 that Child A told her that he tried to kiss her. Child Care Staff Member 2 said he did not try to kiss Child A, he only gave her a hug. Child Care Staff Member 1 stated that she has never observed Child Care Staff Member 2 display any sexually inappropriate behavior with children or have concerns about the care provided by him. Child Care Staff Member 1 described Child Care Staff Member 2 as nurturing with the children, and they are al

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R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. ................... ...... (2) All staff and volunteers shall act in a manner that is conducive to the welfare of children.

There is insufficient evidence that Child Care Staff Member 2 attempted to kiss Child A on the lips and that he is not conducive to the welfare of children.

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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 11/04/2022, I reviewed the incident report sent to the department. According to the incident report approximately two weeks ago it was brought to the center's attention that Ms. Colleen Walters, former child care staff member may have been rough with the children when directing them. Her communication wasn't great as she verbalized her frustration. Ms. DeSano-Smith, licensee designee reviewed video footage from the classroom which showed that Ms. Walters pulled a child by the arm while moving them away from another child's bottle. When Ms. DeSano-Smith sat down with Ms. Walters to discuss the incident, she got upset and refused to sign a corrective action plan. The following day, Ms. Walters resigned from her position as a child care staff member. On 11/04/2022, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to the center and interviewed Ms. DeSano-Smith licensee designee regarding the incident. Ms. DeSano-Smith said that while reviewing the video footage, she observed Ms. Walters take Child A by their arm to move them away from getting another child's bottle. Child A fell backwards onto their bottom and did not sustain any injuries from the incident. Ms. Walters was holding another child in her other arm when she took Child A by his arm to move her away from the other child's bottle. When Child A fell backwards, Ms. Walters said "that's why you don't take other children's bottles." Even though the incident was minor, Ms. DeSano-Smith said she was trying to make the incident a teachable moment to show Ms. Walters other ways she could have removed Child A from grabbing the other child's bottle which included setting the child down she had in her arms and picking Child A up with both arms to move her away from the bottle. Ms. DeSano-Smith informed Ms. Walters by using two arms in lieu of one arm helps to prevents an injury from happening to the child. Ms. DeSano- Smith said Ms. Walters has been employed as a child care staff member at the center for two years and was a certified teacher who came from the school system. Ms. DeSano-Smith said Ms. Walters was a good staff member who wore her emotions on her sleeve. As such, she has had to speak with her before about not expressing her frustration in her tone of voice while working with the children. The tone was not aggressive or demeaning but could come off as sounding impatient. Ms. DeSano-Smith said she felt Ms. Walters may have become "burnt-out" with working with the children and needed a break causing her to resign from her employment as a child care staff member. On 11/4/22, I interviewed Ms. Megan Coburn, program director regarding the incident. I informed Ms. Coburn of the incident. Ms. Coburn confirmed Ms. DeSano- Smith's statement regarding the incident and said approximately two and a half weeks ago, Ms. Coburn was informed that Ms. Walters took Child A by their arm to move them away from another child's bottle. This caused Child A to fall onto their bottom. Ms. Coburn said it was not aggressive and there were no injuries sustained 3 to Child A. Ms. Walters was holding another child in her other arm at the time she used her other arm to move Child A away from grabbing the bottle. Ms. Coburn said when they spoke with Ms. Walters about the incident, she become frustrated and felt the other child care staff members were "bullying" her; Ms. Walters resigned from her position as a child care staff member with the center. Ms. Coburn also confirmed Ms. Walters being employed at the center for two years. She denied Ms. Walters having any pervious issues while at the center she worked good with the children. During her two years working as a child care staff member, Ms. Coburn said Ms. Walters displayed a lot of emotions but never allowed her emotional state of mind to affect how she interacted with the child care children. Ms. Coburn said if Ms. Walters became frustrated when working with the children, she would remove herself from the incident to calm herself down before retu

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R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (I) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On 10/27/22, 1 reviewed intake information. On 10127122, l spoke with me mat on 10/26/2022 around p.m., got frustrated with Child A due to him having a hard time failing asleep during nap time. - wrestled, then pinned Child A 3 to the floor. Child A was crying, and other child care children were watchin . " took Child A to the hallway, and he stopped crying. Shortly after, rought Child A back into the classroom and attempted to put him to sleep again. Child A cried for a different child care staff member in the room. Another child care staff member tried to take over for , but refused to let them take over. Child A cried more, and hit Child A on his back several times. Another child care staff member witnessed the incident. _ screamed at Child A and told him he was the worst child, and he was going to make quit teaching and he had ruined teaching for her. Ms. Megan Coburn, child care staff member was aware of the incident and refused to share video footage of the incident. She did not report the incident to authorities, nor did she make Child A's parents aware of the incident, has been verbally abusive toward other child care children in the past. Ms. Cobum has never reported any of those incidents despite being aware of them. On 10/27/22, conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at the center and spoke with Ms. Megan Coburn, program director at the center. informed Ms. Coburn of the allegations. Ms. Coburn said on 10/26/22, two child care staff members, approached her with information about another child care staff member . They informed Ms. Coburn that was patting Child s back and it was loud and aggressive. After the child care staff members came to Ms. Coburn, she contacted the licensee desi nee Ms. Danielle Desano-Smith to inform her of the incident. The center removed from the schedule until the matter could be investigated further. contactea Ms. uesano-bmitn today regaramg the incident. Intormea Ms. Desano-Smith that he saw Child A at his home and there were not any marks or bruises on Child A. Ms. Desano-Smith said there may be video footage of the incident as she has cameras in the rooms used for childcare. informed Ms. Desano-Smith that we would need to view the video footage of the incident. also informed that was removed from the work schedule until ms _ matter could be resolved, agreed to come to the center and interview with and I. On 10127122, spoke with Child A's Mother via telephone. informed Child A's Mother if the complaint. Child A's Mother informed that came to her home earlier today to see Child A. She informed at Child A was visiting his grandparents today and could be seen at their home. On met with Child A at his grandparents' home. informed the 1gr0a1n2d7p1a2re2n,Wtso e allegation. Child A's Mother said she gave Child A a bath last night and did not notice any marks or bruising on Child A. Child A's Mother said that Child A said someone hit him but gave another child's name when asked who hit him. Child A's Mother asked Child A if a "teacher" hit him, and he said no. Child A's Mother expressed no concerns regarding the center or any of the child care staff 4 members who work with Child A. She said Child A looks forward to attending care at the center each day. Child A's Mother said Child A is having some behaviors in class that they are working with the center on addressing. explained the investigative process to Child A's Mother. Child A was observed to be walking and running around the house was unable to forensically interview Child A due to his age, as Child A just turned 3 years old in October. attempted to ask Child A questions which he would not answer while hiding behind his mother's back. OR observed Child A's back. According to there were three yellowish mars on his back. They were small in size and were not symmetrical. There was a mark on his right mid back, one on the right of his spine, and one on his spine. The marks were hard to see at first glance and very light in color. On 10131/2

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

The center does not use corporal punishment as a form of discipline, was patting and rubbing Child A's back in an attempt to get him to calm down and rest during nap time. ..........

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