Nicole's Nest

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NICOLE'S NEST Facility ID: 92002385 Consultant: KIMBERLY WIMBERLY Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 4/23/2026 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 4/23/2026 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 95 Time In: 09:25 AM Time Out: 11:00 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor the FCCH for NC child care requirements during your annual compliance visit. The FCCH operates with a 3 STAR rated license. You are licensed to care for 8 children ages 0-12 and of these 8 children, only 5 children can be preschool aged. Todays visit was conducted with Nicole Mesu, owner/operator. Upon arrival to the FCCH today, the children were observed finishing breakfast and then washed hands and transitioned to playing with various toys in the child care area. There were four children present and two of the children were Ms. Mesu’s grandchildren. Caregiver interactions were observed to be warm and nurturing. One of the children was observed crying and wanting to be held and Ms. Mesu stated it happens when new people visit the FCCH. There are two infants enrolled at the FCCH. Sleeping baby checks were monitored and observed to be in compliance. We discussed today that Ms. Mesu has numerous children who attend on a part-time, drop-in basis. Due to varied schedules, it is critical that you maintain accurate documentation to assure that your capacity never exceeds five preschool children. Records: Provider and program records were monitored during todays visit. Arrival and departure times for the children were observed documented on a clipboard at the entrance to the FCCH. I also monitored the required posted documents for compliance. CPR, First Aid and SIDS were all current and on file. A current CBC Qualifying letter was on file for Ms. Mesu however as of today’s visit, Ms. Mesu still has not been linked to the Provider Portal for Nicole’s Nest. Ms. Mesu stated that she has reached out to Serena Luke with the CBC Unit but “felt overwhelmed” and has not followed through with finishing this task. I explained to Ms. Mesu that it is a requirement that this step be completed in order to remain in compliance. During a previous visit on 11-4-25, Ms. Mesu was corresponding with Ms. Luke (CBC Unit) but as of today, she still in not linked to the Provider Portal for Nicole’s Nest and we discussed that a violation will be cited. I left Ms. Mesu a printed handout with directions for linking staff to the provider portal. I also advised Ms. Mesu to reach out to Serena Luke again and set aside time that she can work with Ms. Luke when the children are either asleep or not present to assist with concentrating. On-going training hours were monitored. Ms. Mesu will carry forward 5.0 hours to the 2026 to 2027 year. Emergency telephone numbers were readily accessible and emergency procedures were posted. A written daily schedule was posted. The daily schedule reflected outside time. Fire drills, EPR drills and outdoor playground inspections were monitored and observed to be in compliance. The last fire drill was conducted 4-17-26. The last EPR drill was conducted on 4-12-26. The EPR plan was revised 1-31-26. The last outdoor playground inspection was 4-12-26. The FCCH operates on city water. Ms. Mesu has completed lead water and lead paint testing. Ms. Mesu was exempt from asbestos testing due to the age of the home. Please remember to maintain a copy of the results once they are received. Ms. Mesu and I discussed the QRIS rated license assessment. Ms. Mesu stated that she intends to send in her application over the summer and will be applying for Pathway #2 to maintain 3 stars. Child Care Space: The main area that the children use is a room on the front of the home. The home is divided up into a child care space and on the other side is Ms. Mesu’s personal space in the residence. For outside play, the children use fenced back yard. Meals and snacks are eaten in the child care area. Ms. Mesu stated that she allows emergency medications but there are no children on medications at this time. The smoke detector and fire extinguisher were observed to be in working order during my visit today. Transportation requirements were monitored and observed to be in compliance. Ms. Mesu drives a Honda Pilot with license tag DCH 5551. Insurance information was current and on file. *****Violations****** One item of non compliance pertaining to criminal records background checks was observed and must be corrected immediately. A correction letter stating how the violation is corrected is due to me no later than 5-7-26 and can be e-mailed or mailed to me at the information as the end of this report. Violation Number Comment Rule 1847 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The owner/operator of Nicole's Nest was not linked to the provider portal for the facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) *Other Information: *The contact information for Serena Luke (Criminal Background Check Unit) is: Serena S. Luke Administrative Specialist Division of Child Development and Early Education-Criminal Background Check Unit North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 919-814-0175 Office 984-236-8223 Fax serena.luke@dhhs.nc.gov *There is free training which is offered on the MOODLE platform on the DCDEE website. To get to MOODLE, go to https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. From there click the “Services” tab. From there click “DCDEE MOODLE.” You sign in using your NCID credentials. **Go to: www.nchildcare.dhhs.nc.gov for all childcare rules and/or law updates click on “what’s new.” To download any forms you need, click on “provider” “provider documents” find the FCCH forms, & print what you need. *The website to renew your EPR plan is on the NC Risk Management website. https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx Please call me with any questions or concerns. Kim Wimberly 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2201 919-819-9387 Kim.Wimberly@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

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NICOLE'S NEST Facility ID: 92002385 Consultant: KIMBERLY WIMBERLY Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 11/4/2025 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 11/4/2025 Age: From 1 To 3 Total Minutes: 75 Time In: 09:55 AM Time Out: 11:10 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor child care requirements during a Routine Unannounced visit. Today's visit was conducted with Nicole Mesu, owner/operator. The FCCH operates with a 3 STAR rated license and is licensed to care for eight children ages 0-12 years old and no more than five children present can be preschool age. One of Ms. Mesu's daughters, Onyx M., was observed present during my visit. During today's visit, there were 4 preschool aged children observed present which included Ms. Mesu’s grandchild who was being cared for by the child’s mother on the other side of the home. The children were observed playing with various toys in the child care area. The child care area is the converted room on the right side of the home. Outside play is in the fenced back yard. Capacity and supervision were observed in compliance. Caregiver interactions were observed to be warm and nurturing. The license and all required documents were observed posted. A partial review of provider records was conducted. Ms. Mesu stated that one of her adult children (O. Mulenda) recently moved into the FCCH but they had not received her criminal background check qualification letter that was submitted prior to Ms. Mulenda moving into the FCCH. During my visit today, I viewed the ABCMS portal and I observed that there is not a qualification for Ms. Mesu’s daughter. The HH member is listed as beginning the process but in the ABCMS Portal it states "New application must be submitted." Ms. Mesu stated to me that her daughter (O. Mulenda) will move out and live with her other daughter until a criminal background check qualification letter can be obtained. I reminded Ms. Mesu the importance of assuring that criminal background check letters are on file prior to allowing anyone to move into the home. Failure to do so, may jeopardize the status of your FCCH license and your license may result in being placed on inactive status and you will not be allowed to care for children. We also discussed that Ms. Mesu has established a ABCMS account for Nicole’s Nest but the only qualification letter that is linked is for one of her children (Onyx M.) who does not reside in the home and that letter which is linked has expired. I did verify that there is a current CBC qualification letter for Onyx M. but it is not connected to the ABCMS portal due to the fact that she no longer resides in the FCCH. Since Onyx does come by for visits as was present during my visit today caring for her child, it would be advantageous for you to go ahead and link her CBC to Nicole's Nest as well. I reminded Ms. Mesu that she will need to take some time to follow up on getting the ABCMS portal account for Nicole’s Nest cleaned up and assuring that she as well as her daughter are both linked under the staff roster. Please refer back to previous e-mails which I have sent to my child care providers in my territory regarding directions on how to do this. I also encouraged you to go to the DCDEE website, go to the Provider tab and then “Background Check.” This will launch information on the process and the ABCMS portal. Read through this information to assist you with completing this required process. Program records were also reviewed and it was observed that fire drills, EPR drill and outdoor playground inspections were all in compliance. The last fire drill was conducted on 10-23-25 and the last EPR drill was conducted on 10-15-25. The last documented outdoor playground inspection was on 10-24-25. Arrival and departure times are documented on a clipboard located at the entrance to the FCCH. The following items were observed posted: Emergency Medical Care Plan, Safe Sleep poster, First Aid Information Sheet, and Emergency Telephone Numbers. CPR, First Aid and SIDS were all monitored and observed to be in compliance. Ongoing requirements were not monitored. All hazardous items were observed locked up or out of reach of the children. Ms. Mesu stated she does not do medications and there are no children on emergency medications at this time. Transportation requirements were monitored and observed to be in compliance. Ms. Mesu drives a 2007 Honda Pilot with license plate DCH 5551. Insurance for the vehicle was current and on file. One violation regarding criminal background checks was observed out of compliance and must be corrected immediately. As we discussed, Ms. Mesu’s daughter will need to move out of the FCCH temporarily until a criminal background check qualification letter can be obtained and this is effective today at the close of business. Please let me know once this information has been submitted so that I can track it. Violation Number Comment Rule 1831 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available for review at the facility. A CBC qualification letter was no on file for a household member who recently moved into the home. Application was submitted to CBC Unit but the application was not processed and the ABCMS portal states that a "New Application Must Be Submitted." G.S. 110-90.2 (b) & (d) & .2703(e) .1702(b)(1) Technical Assistance: *During today’s visit, we discussed your transition to the new QRIS Rated License. We reviewed the different Pathway options and the requirements within each of them and you stated to me you will probably pursue Pathway #1. I shared resource and planning documents with you. I also encouraged you to read all posted information on the DCDEE website under the “What’s New” tab and then under “QRIS Modernization.” Resources to help prepare for the rated license assessment: Early Years NC: https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/ Smart Start: https://www.wakesmartstart.org/ North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP): https://www.ncrlap.org/ A 3-month self-study is required for PATHWAY 1 for family childcare homes. Visit the link for more information on the 3 month self-study. Self-study for FCCH providers: https://ncrlap.org/Resources/SelfStudy/FCCH/ You can find more information about each Pathway and it’s requirements here: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Kim Wimberly PO Box 609 Knightdale, NC 27545 919-819-9387 Kim.Wimberly@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