A Child's Garden Childcare

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: A Child's Garden Childcare Facility ID: 32002364 Consultant: MANDY ANNUNZIATA Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 11/19/2025 Number Present: 0 Completed Date: 11/19/2025 Age: From 0 To 0 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 09:55 AM Time Out: 11:55 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Announced The purpose of today’s announced visit was to monitor applicable child care requirements during your annual compliance visit. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the provider, Chaquitta Nichols, who assisted me during today’s visit. LICENSE STATUS The family child care home currently operates with a Two Star license issued on May 22, 2025. The program received three points for Staff Education, two points for Program Standards, and one Quality Point. INSPECTIONS/DRILLS STATUS -This is the program’s first annual compliance visit. The last temporary time period visit was on 4/23/25. -The last documented monthly outdoor play area inspection was completed on 3/31/25. -The last documented monthly fire drill was conducted on 3/31/25. -There is no record of a lockdown/shelter in place drill since there were no children enrolled when it was due. MONITORING I completed a walk-through of the home, including the children’s space, kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor learning environment. At the time of the visit, no children were enrolled. The provider said children were last enrolled in mid-April 2025. A full assessment of child care requirements was conducted. I used a checklist to monitor all applicable requirements, including but not limited to health and safety requirements, equipment and furnishings, and program records. Supervision, safe sleep, children's files, medication, capacity, attendance, and ratios could not be monitored due to no children being enrolled. The provider does not transport children; therefore, this requirement was not monitored. The provider verified that all the information on the FCCH Verification of Required Information for Operator and Additional Caregivers form was correct. INDOOR/OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT Inside the home, children are cared for in a living room at the front of the home. A variety of items for learning through play are available, including manipulatives, blocks, books, and home living props. The bathroom and changing table are located within sight of the children’s play area. The outdoor play area is an unfenced backyard with a variety of portable gross motor equipment. VIOLATIONS The following violations were observed and documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 305 Home was not equipped with either an electrically operated smoke detector with a battery back-up; or both an electrically operated detector and a battery operated detector located next to each other. The was no operable smoke detector in the child care space. NCAC 513.1; .1707(3) 907 Written record of up-to-date pet vaccinations as required by NC law and local ordinances, including rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, was not available. No vaccination records for the provider's cat were available for review. .1719(b)(1) 1846 An individual over the age of 15, who resides in a family child care home or a center located in a residence on a permanent or temporary basis, or those who had their 16th birthday after the initial licensing of a family child care home; did not complete and submit required forms within five business days. The provider's 16 year old daughter has not completed a background check. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(q) In order to comply with the NC Laws and Rules, any violations documented today must be corrected immediately. I need to receive your compliance letter by December 3, 2025. The letter must address each violation and explain specifically when and how it was corrected, as well as how you will prevent the same violations from happening in the future. Please send this to mandy.annunziata@dhhs.nc.gov and include the following information: -Facility name -Facility ID number -Each item number COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the facility’s compliance history score was 100%. According to NC General Statute 110-90(4)(d), all facilities must maintain a compliance history of at least 75% for the past 18 months. Failure to maintain compliance may result in an administrative action. The facility was not in compliance with all applicable minimum licensing requirements during today’s visit and violations were documented that could impact your overall compliance history score. An updated compliance history score will be generated after today’s visit, and you will be informed of the results during the next visit to your program. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -Criminal backgrounds checks are required to be on file for all household members aged 16 years or older. There is no qualification letter on record for your daughter who turned 16 years old in May 2025. You have 15 days to obtain a new qualifying letter; after that, you will not be able to keep children in child care until she receives her new qualifying letter. To access the background check portal, go to https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/Applicant. You may also contact the CBC Unit via telephone (919) 814-6401 or by email DHHS.CBC.Unit@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions or need assistance. -For the safety of the children in your care, is important that all pets on the premises of a FCCH are vaccinated against diseases and that you keep a record of all vaccinations on file and available for review. Today, you did not have any vaccination records available for your cat. Please obtain any necessary vaccinations and do not enroll children until they are complete. -Safety is a top priority when providing care for young children. Family child care homes are required to have working smoke detectors to alert occupants in case of fire. The smoke detector in your child care space had been removed because you thought the batteries needed to be replaced. You were going to test it today but couldn’t locate it. Please replace the smoke detector and test it to be sure it is working. If you can’t find it, you will need to purchase a new one. CONSULTATION -Before you enroll children again, you will need to repair your smoke detector and clean your gross motor equipment outside, which has not been used for the last seven months. You will also need to rehang your safe sleep poster and have all pet vaccinations on file. -We discussed the new QRIS pathways today. You are currently taking classes for your administrator credentials and are interested in increasing your star rating. Whenever you meet the three star educator standards and are ready for a rated license assessment, please let me know and I will be glad to assist you. Your license is due for renewal in 2028, but you may request an assessment before that if you wish. -The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids Program provides free facility-wide testing for lead in water and inspections for asbestos and lead-based paint hazards without any out-of-pocket costs. Your water was tested on 10/17/24 and no mitigation was recommended. -You can access and update your EPR plan by using your NCID to log into the North Carolina Risk Management Portal at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx. Please review and update your EPR plan yearly. TRAINING REMINDERS -Training from 11/21/24 to 11/19/25 was reviewed today and documented on the Verification of Required Information for Operator and Additional Caregivers form. All training hours for this year have been completed, and you have five hours to apply to next year. -CPR and First Aid must be renewed every two years. Your CPR and First Aid certification expires 3/17/27. -ITS-SIDS training must be renewed every three years. Your training expires on 2/21/26. -Health and safety training must be renewed every five years. RATED LICENSE STATUS The NC State Legislature has extended “hold harmless” status until new rated licensing guidelines are in place, and you may opt to keep your current license and delay your rated license assessment until the new guidelines are adopted. Please use this time to update your WORKS account with your education information. You can visit the North Carolina Rated License Project website (https://www.ncrlap.org) for resources regarding the rated license assessment process and the FCCH self-study. AGENCY UPDATES Please check the Division of Child Development and Early Education’s website frequently for any new policies or rules. Go to https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/, and click on the “What’s New” tab for all agency updates, including QRIS Modernization. I recommend exploring the new pathway options to obtain a rated license. New QRIS rules are in effect, and the Division is preparing for a gradual transition to the new requirements. Resources, forms, and training will be provided to support you in preparing for new options to earn your Two- through Five-Star Rated License. All the newest information will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact me at (919) 971-6255 or mandy.annunziata@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times