G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: BRITTANY ADAMS Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 4/22/2025 Number Present: 2 Completed Date: 4/22/2025 Age: From 3 To 3 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your last annual compliance visit on May 7, 2024. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. Your program’s compliance history was 91% prior to today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four star license. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children engaging in free choice activities, meal time, staff/child interactions and caretaking routines. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and dining area and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violation(s) were observed and cited during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator did not have a current ITS-SIDS training certificate on file and available for review. .1703(a)(4) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The operator last updated the EPR plan in 2019 and the EPR plan did not contain up to date information. .1714(e ) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: We discussed reviewing the EPR plan annually to ensure there are no changes needed to made. We discussed the Owner/Operator completing an ITS/SIDS training within 14 days, and also reviewing her file every 90 days to ensure no trainings are out of date. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a compliance letter to me at the email address listed below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. List each violation and state how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates with your compliance letter I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 6, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. NEW QRIS MODERNIZATION PLAN: The new QRIS Modernization Plan known as “Pathways to Success” is being added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission will continue the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. Please be reminded any ERS assessment completed on February 1, 2025 and after will be assessed using the ERS-3 versions. DCDEE WEBSITE RESOURCES: -Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. -Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Getting-a-License -Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development -Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings -Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy -DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New ABCMS SYSTEM: The process of notifying the Division of any new child care providers working who are hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Effective immediately, you will need to obtain a Business NCID and complete Provider Portal training in Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/view.php?id=119. No action is needed on your part if you have completed the reference training and are currently using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or residents. Once the training has been completed and access has been given, you must verify your facility roster to ensure current staff are noted on the roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement as stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was completed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (704) 594-0049 or by email at brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: BRITTANY ADAMS Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2024 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 10/10/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 112 Time In: 10:53 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with the walk through. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on May 7, 2024. Your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 96% prior to today’s visit. The NC Child Care law summary, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency phone numbers, tobacco restriction, monthly menu, and Emergency Medical Care Plan were prominently posted. The following was monitored during today’s visit: supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, group size, capacity, adequate and approved space, and hazardous product storage. A walkthrough of the indoor environment was completed. Children were observed engaged in free choice activities, caretaking routines, staff/child interaction, and meal time. Fire drills are being completed monthly as required. Emergency drills are being conducted every three months as required. Playground inspections are being conducted monthly. No concerns were observed. Materials, toys, and equipment throughout the facility was of sufficient quantity, developmentally appropriate, and in good repair. You stated you currently have no medications, Permission to Administer forms, and medical action plans. One staff file was monitored for a criminal background check, First Aid/CPR certificate, Recognizing and Responding certificate, ITS/SIDS and BSAC certificates during today’s visit. The following violations were cited today: Violation Number Comment Rule 102 Number of preschool children exceeded five children, including the provider's own preschool children. There were six preschool children in care today, ranging in age from infants to four years of age. GS 110-91(7)(b) Technical assistance was provided on the following: We discussed that your license restricts the number of preschool children you care for at any time to no more than five children aged 0-5 years. We discussed sending a notice out to parents reminding them what the total amount of children allowed in care at any one time is. We also discussed ensuring that the provider is checking current enrollment and letting parents know whether drop-in care can be provided for their child, or if the provider will not be able to provide care that day, due to already having five preschool children in care. Consultation was provided on the following: Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before November 15, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 470753 Charlotte, NC 28247 Email: brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. You may contact me by phone at (704) 594-0049 or by email at brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov, if you have questions. Thank you for your time today. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: BRITTANY ADAMS Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2024 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 10/10/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 112 Time In: 10:53 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with the walk through. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on May 7, 2024. Your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 96% prior to today’s visit. The NC Child Care law summary, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency phone numbers, tobacco restriction, monthly menu, and Emergency Medical Care Plan were prominently posted. The following was monitored during today’s visit: supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, group size, capacity, adequate and approved space, and hazardous product storage. A walkthrough of the indoor environment was completed. Children were observed engaged in free choice activities, caretaking routines, staff/child interaction, and meal time. Fire drills are being completed monthly as required. Emergency drills are being conducted every three months as required. Playground inspections are being conducted monthly. No concerns were observed. Materials, toys, and equipment throughout the facility was of sufficient quantity, developmentally appropriate, and in good repair. You stated you currently have no medications, Permission to Administer forms, and medical action plans. One staff file was monitored for a criminal background check, First Aid/CPR certificate, Recognizing and Responding certificate, ITS/SIDS and BSAC certificates during today’s visit. The following violations were cited today: Violation Number Comment Rule 102 Number of preschool children exceeded five children, including the provider's own preschool children. There were six preschool children in care today, ranging in age from infants to four years of age. GS 110-91(7)(b) Technical assistance was provided on the following: We discussed that your license restricts the number of preschool children you care for at any time to no more than five children aged 0-5 years. We discussed sending a notice out to parents reminding them what the total amount of children allowed in care at any one time is. We also discussed ensuring that the provider is checking current enrollment and letting parents know whether drop-in care can be provided for their child, or if the provider will not be able to provide care that day, due to already having five preschool children in care. Consultation was provided on the following: Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before November 15, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 470753 Charlotte, NC 28247 Email: brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. You may contact me by phone at (704) 594-0049 or by email at brittany.j.adams@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov, if you have questions. Thank you for your time today. 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

10A NCAC 09 .1703 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .1714 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

10A NCAC 09 .1719 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

10A NCAC 09 .1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

10A NCAC 09 .1726 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

10A NCAC 09.1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: CYNTHIA'S CHILD CARE Facility ID: 13000477 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/7/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/7/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 235 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. You, Cynthia Gaither, Owner/Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Brittany Adams, Child Care Consultant, accompanied and assisted me with today’s visit. Dana Stikeleather, Child Care Consultant, conducted your last annual compliance visit on June 14, 2023. We reviewed the facility input form to ensure that there were no changes to your facility information. You stated there were no changes to the facility information. We reviewed the facility permit to ensure that there were no changes to your facility’s operation. The facility is owned/operated by Cynthia D Gaither. As the owner/operator, you are required by Child Care Rule .0102 (19) to reside in the home where the license is issued and according to General Statute 110-91(8) to be the full-time caregiver to the children enrolled at the family child care home. You stated you live in the home and are the person working full-time to care for the children enrolled at your family child care home. We reviewed the restrictions on your family child care home license as well as the capacity, shifts of care, and the age range of the children served at your facility. You stated that you did not have any questions regarding the information reviewed with you regarding your license. Your program’s compliance history was 100% as of May 6, 2024 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued on February 21, 2017, earning seven points in staff education, two points program standards, and one quality point for serving no more than two infants under one year of age. I visited indoor and outdoor spaces today. I observed children playing in the designated child care area of your home and outdoors in your back yard. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room area. Food was stored in cabinets in the kitchen and in a residential refrigerator in the kitchen at a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored supervision of children, capacity, approved space use, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes” during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and cited during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. One aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. .1719 (a)(7) 716 Electrical outlets not in use were not covered. Two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. 10A NCAC .1719(a)(27) 908 Health questionnaire was not completed annually. Your Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. .1703(a)(1) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. One child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024 did not have a health assessment report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 921 Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator's own preschool children. Several departure times were not recorded for 05/06/2024. .1721(e)(6) 1876 The operator did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. The EPR Plan on file was dated 2016. .1714(e ) 2031 Operator did not provide a copy of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy to parents at time of enrollment, and / or within fourteen days of a changes to the policy. The Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy parent acknowledgement statement was not on file for one child with a date of enrollment of 02/21/2024. .1726(b)&(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(1), each family child care home provider should update their Health Questionnaire annually. During today’s visit, the Health Questionnaire on file was dated 01/04/2023. Today, you completed a new Health Questionnaire form to correct this violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you add a reminder to your calendar to update all your annual paperwork requirements by January 1 of each year. 2. Per General Statute 110-91(1) and child care rule.1721(a)(1), a copy of the Children’s Medical Report should be in each child’s file within 30 days of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1726(b) & (c), each child file should have a signed and dated document from the parent acknowledging they received the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy and it was explained to them at the time of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you require all paperwork be completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1714(e), the family child care home operator should review the Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information is current. To correct this violation, I suggest you log on to the portal website at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# to seek assistance with accessing your EPR Plan. You should review your EPR Plan and make any necessary updates. You should print a copy of the cover page, the last page, and any pages within the plan that contained the updated information. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review your EPR Plan in January of each year when you update you other annual paperwork requirements. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled should be kept in locked storage when children were in care. During today’s visit, one aerosol can of cooking spray was stored in an unlocked cabinet in the kitchen and one aerosol can of cook top cleaner was stored on the kitchen counter beside the stove top. Today, you locked both these aerosol cans in a locked storage closet by the bathroom. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you keep all aerosol cans stored in locked closets. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7), all unused electrical outlets and power strip outlets should be covered or made inaccessible to the children. During today’s visit, two electrical outlets by your computer and file cabinets near the dining room area, three electrical outlets on the backsplash area in your kitchen, and one electrical outlet behind the high chairs were left uncovered. Today, you placed outlet protectors in all the uncovered electrical outlets in the kitchen and dining areas. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you conduct daily safety inspections of the spaces in your home you use for child care before the children begin arriving and especially before the children enter the kitchen and dining areas for meals. 7. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(6), an arrival and departure time should be recorded for each child each day the child attends the family child care home. During today’s visit, several departure times were not recorded yesterday. Today, you added the missing departure times to your arrival and departure records. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you record the departure times as each child is leaving out your front door. CONSULTATION: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 3. Today, you asked if we had additional information regarding the new legislation for FCCH capacity increases. We shared that DCDEE management was continuing to work with various agencies to align this new legislation with child care requirements and monitoring expectations. You stated you were registered to receive the “Raise NC” emails. We advised you to continue to watching for updates and information to be released through the “Raise NC” emails. 4. Today, you requested information regarding your rated license reassessment. We verified and shared that your facility is in Cohort 1. We shared that your preparation year was coming to an end on June 30, 2024. We shared that your reassessment year would begin on July 1, 2024 and would need to be completed before June 30, 2025. We explained that the current reassessment process for a FCCH would include a three-month self-study, an education evaluation, a program evaluation, and a quality point evaluation. 5. Please be reminded that Discipline policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled. 6. Please be reminded that Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements should include the date the child was enrolled and the date the policy was given and explained to the parents. COMPLIANCE PLAN: No compliance documentation is needed for those violations corrected during today’s visit. In the visit summary, I documented the corrective actions taken today to correct those violations. All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Address your plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than May 21, 2024. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. An administrative action may be issued based on child care requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .2200 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND CIVIL PENALTIES. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past eighteen (18) months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time today. 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