Grace And Mercy Christian Academy

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: GRACE AND MERCY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Facility ID: 92003692 Consultant: MICHELLE EZZELL Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 7/30/2025 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 7/30/2025 Age: From 2 To 8 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 11:05 AM Time Out: 01:50 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 childcare requirements during your annual compliance visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Ms. Doreen Polk, operator. Your FCCH operates with a 4-STAR rated license. With a capacity of five children for 1st and 2nd shifts. The primary area of the FCCH is a room at the front entrance. The home is a single-level home and the living room, dining room, one bedroom and bathroom are accessible to children. The children play in the fenced in backyard. You are approved for transportation. You stated you did not have any medications for the children at this time. Five (5) children were observed playing outside, learning about space/solar system and later eating lunch. You stated your son Doraen lives in the home with you and is your substitute if needed. He arrived home toward the end of my visit. **VERIFICATION OF RECORDS: *Your last fire drill and outdoor inspection was on 7-17-25. Your last lockdown drill was on 5-19-25. *EPR Training was completed on=2-4-21 and your EPR plan was updated 6-30-25. *Your water test for lead was on 6-7-24 & will be due in 2027. *I reviewed the NC Secretary of State’s website and observed the owner of the facility (Grace & Mercy Christian Academy LLC) is listed as current-active. To maintain compliance with NC laws and rules regarding childcare operation, the following violations must be corrected immediately. Please email a signed and dated corrective action letter BY 8-13-25 to michelle.ezzell@dhhs.nc.gov Please scan me a copy of your ITS-SIDS 2 hours course and an email addressing how the remaining 2 violations has been corrected. Violation Number Comment Rule 305 Home was not equipped with either an electrically operated smoke detector with a battery back-up; or both an electrically operated detector and a battery operated detector located next to each other. The provider does not have an electrically operated smoke detector. NCAC 513.1; .1707(3) 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The Providers ITS/SIDS training expired on 2-21-25. .1703(a)(4) 1847 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The Provider and her son's CBC has not been linked into the ABCMS portal. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) *Training Resources: Go to ncchildcare.net & click on Professional Development. *Contact Early Years (Former CCSA) at 919-403-6950 for training information or go to DCDEE’s website for a list of approved ITS/SIDS trainers. Remember to take the 2-hour ITS/SIDS course. *The home has two (2) battery operated smoke detectors; but does not have an electrically operated smoke detector. During today’s visit, I got on a chair with your assistance and removed the cover to the electrically operated smoke detector outside of the bathroom door; it was not working. Over the top of your bedroom door, there was a circle in the sheetrock with exposed wires where an electrical smoke detector was once there. You stated you will get another detector and/or contact an electrician. *Your CBC letter and Doraen Cutts, (your son’s) CBC letter are current but are not connected to your ID# in the ABCMS portal. The CBC Portal/ABCMS Portal must be completed immediately. Email notifications have been sent out since 2024, and then I sent out another set of instructions on February 4, 2025. A provider meeting was given and Serena Luke (serena.luke@dhhs.nc.gov) with the criminal record department was the guest speaker. I encourage you to contact the criminal record unit at 919-814-6401 or email DCDEE_ABCMS_PROVIDER@dhhs.nc.gov for assistance. The applicant site is https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/Applicant *The town of Knightdale has increased its capacity in FCCH’s. Ms. Polk has the option of having 5 preschool children and 3 school-age children for a total of 8 or an option of 10 children aged 2 to 10 yrs. old. We discussed the pros & cons of both options and how to maintain a 4-star license and changing the quality point for a 3-star license. We discussed the importance of never having more children in care than you are licensed for. I suggest allowing 15 to 30 minutes in between children being dropped off to avoid this issue. LeAnne Simpkins, Lead Childcare Consultant, has made a visit to the home and is working with you to complete this process. Michelle Ezzell, Childcare Licensing Consultant 919-819-9304 www.ncdhhs.gov/dcd If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

G.S.110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: GRACE AND MERCY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Facility ID: 92003692 Consultant: MICHELLE EZZELL Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 1/29/2025 Number Present: 3 Completed Date: 1/29/2025 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 12:50 PM Time Out: 03:35 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 childcare requirements during your annual compliance visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Ms. Doreen Polk, operator. Your FCCH operates with a 4-STAR rated license. With a capacity of five children for 1st and 2nd shifts. The primary area of the FCCH is a room at the front entrance. The home is a single-level home and the living room, dining room and bathroom are accessible to children. The children play in the fenced in backyard. You are approved for transportation. You stated you did not have any medications for the children at this time. The children were observed dancing to music, eating lunch and taking a nap. You stated your son Doraen lives in the home with you. **VERIFICATION OF RECORDS: *Your last fire drill, outdoor inspection and Shelter-in-place was on 1-5-25. *EPR Training was completed on=2-4-21 and your EPR plan was updated on 7-11-24. *Your water test for lead was on 6-7-24 & will be due in 2027. *I reviewed the NC Secretary of State’s website and observed the owner of the facility (Grace & Mercy Christian Academy LLC) is listed as current-active. *To maintain compliance with NC laws and rules regarding childcare operation, the following violations must be corrected immediately. Please email a signed and dated corrective action letter BY 2-12-25 to michelle.ezzell@dhhs.nc.gov You will only need to address item# 1104, since item number #1920 was corrected during the visit. A corrective action letter means you have corrected all the items on non-compliance and is a legal document. Failure to correct any documented violations within the established time, the Division of Child Development & Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). Violation Number Comment Rule 1104 Operator or other transportation provider did not comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning vehicles and the transportation of passengers. The operators sticker on her license plate expired August 2024. She has the vehicle inspected on September 2024, although she has not purchased the 2025 sticker. G.S.110-91 & .1723(2) 1920 Indoor and outdoor area was not checked daily for debris, vandalism, broken equipment, and animal waste. I observed a pink tricycle with a broken wheel, a red plastic wagon that was missing a wheel and a radio flyer pink big wheel that had a broken seat, cracked wheels and the plastic was cracked around the back of the seat that could cause pinching hazards and cuts. These toys were removed during the visit. .1719(a)(17) *Your CPR/1st Aid expires 3-27-25, your SIDS expires 2-21-25 and your CBC expires 7-31-25. *Training Resources: Go to ncchildcare.net & click on Professional Development. *Contact Early Years (Former CCSA) at 919-403-6950 for training information. Training courses are also offered in MOODLE. *We discussed that children’s toys must be in good working condition with no broken or sharp edges. Often outdoor plastic toys are exposed to the elements will not last as long as those stored under a shelter or in a building. I suggest you store the toys under your deck or in your storage unit. It’s important to check toys daily to verify they are free of hazards. *Transportation-You had proof of your inspection, although your license plate sticker expired August 2024 from DMV has not been purchased. We discussed googling to see where the nearest DMV was (I think there’s one in Wake Forest). Or completing the paperwork on-line, if you can’t make the trip within the next ten days. You stated you may get your daughter to help you. *Your vehicle should not be used to transport children until you have your 2025 sticker has been purchased and on your vehicle. Michelle Ezzell, Child Care Licensing Consultant 919-819-9304 michelle.ezzell@dhhs.nc.gov www.ncdhhs.gov/dcd 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