10A NCAC 09 .0606 · Violation

Name of Operation: FREEDOM PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 76000499 Consultant: LORI RIERSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/8/2025 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 7/8/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 190 Time In: 10:10 AM Time Out: 01:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced Today an unannounced annual compliance visit was conducted. A checklist was used to monitor requirements today and a copy was left with you. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 7/11/24. Currently this program operates with a GS110 Notice of Compliance issued 10/10/19. The center director, Stacie Bruchon, was not present upon arrival. She arrived during the visit and provided assistance. Crystal Yarborough, assistant director, assisted me today. I conducted an assisted walk-through of the center. The last sanitation inspection was completed 3/25/25 with a ‘Superior’ classification and 15 demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on 8/15/24. Children were observed playing in large and small group activities, eating lunch, and routine care activities. Transportation is not provided. A full assessment of childcare requirements was conducted today. The following violation(s) were documented and technical assistance regarding maintaining compliance was offered. Violation Number Comment Rule 871 Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. Two infants sleeping in Room 1 were observed wrapped in blankets in their cribs. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A drill was not logged on the drill sheet for April-June 2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) You were provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all childcare requirements. Violations cited during the visit were discussed with Ms. Bruchon. The violation(s) documented above must be corrected immediately. A signed and dated letter of compliance must be received on or before 7/22/25. The letter must include the following: *Facility Name and ID number *List of each violation number *How each violation was corrected All items must be included, or the corrective action letter will be returned for corrections. All requested documentation must accompany the Corrective Action Letter. The letter can be emailed to lori.rierson@dhhs.nc.gov. CONSULTATION AND RESOURCES: We discussed the annual review of the center’s Emergency Preparedness Plan. The plan is registered under the director’s personal NCID. Ms. Bruchon is a new administrator and does not have the NCID to access the center’s plan. You will need to contact NC Risk Management at 800-367-2229. The website is https://rmp.nc.gov. Once you call for assistance, explain that you are a new director and you are trying to access the center’s EPR plan. CPR/FA for A. Moss will expire 9/25. If N. York or M. Roberts return to work, she must have the emergency information and annual health forms completed. In addition to reviewing EPR and EMC plans. The fire inspection must be conducted by the 364th day of the previous year’s inspection. Your next inspection must be completed by 8/14/25. Documents and forms for DCDEE licensure can be found at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Provider-Documents-and-Forms. AGENCY NEWS AND UPDATES: Please refer to the Division of Child Development and Early Education website, http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov for additional information regarding: *’What’s New’ tab If you have and questions or concerns, please call me at 336-816-4826, or email lori.rierson@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: FREEDOM PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 76000499 Consultant: MICHAEL SCOTT MASON Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0424-213A Visit Date: 4/18/2024 Number Present: 46 Completed Date: 4/18/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this unannounced visit was to investigate allegations of violations of child care requirements at this child care facility. Caitlin Smith, Administrator, accompanied me during a walk-through of the facility. During the visit, I discussed the allegations with Ms. Smith and 2 additional staff members. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and/or confirmed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. A staff member kicked a three-year-old child in the abdomen causing the child to fall down and then threatened and spoke harshly to the child. In addition, another staff member abruptly grabbed the same child by the shoulders and took a toy from the child. G.S. 110-91(10) 1810 There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. A staff member failed to meet the physical needs of a child when the staff member kicked the child in their abdomen causing them to fall to the ground and then yelled at the child harshly. GS 110-105.6(a) Violations must be corrected immediately. Within one week, by 4/25/2024, you must submit documentation of the corrections you made and your plan to maintain compliance with the identified child care requirements to me at scott.mason@dhhs.nc.gov. You may contact me, Scott Mason, Lead Investigations Consultant, at phone 919-594-4841, email scott.mason@dhhs.nc.gov, or Elizabeth Nichols, North Central Investigations Team Supervisor at elizabeth.nichols@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time. 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 110-105 · Violation

Name of Operation: FREEDOM PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 76000499 Consultant: MICHAEL SCOTT MASON Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0424-213A Visit Date: 4/18/2024 Number Present: 46 Completed Date: 4/18/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this unannounced visit was to investigate allegations of violations of child care requirements at this child care facility. Caitlin Smith, Administrator, accompanied me during a walk-through of the facility. During the visit, I discussed the allegations with Ms. Smith and 2 additional staff members. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. The following violations were observed and/or confirmed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. A staff member kicked a three-year-old child in the abdomen causing the child to fall down and then threatened and spoke harshly to the child. In addition, another staff member abruptly grabbed the same child by the shoulders and took a toy from the child. G.S. 110-91(10) 1810 There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. A staff member failed to meet the physical needs of a child when the staff member kicked the child in their abdomen causing them to fall to the ground and then yelled at the child harshly. GS 110-105.6(a) Violations must be corrected immediately. Within one week, by 4/25/2024, you must submit documentation of the corrections you made and your plan to maintain compliance with the identified child care requirements to me at scott.mason@dhhs.nc.gov. You may contact me, Scott Mason, Lead Investigations Consultant, at phone 919-594-4841, email scott.mason@dhhs.nc.gov, or Elizabeth Nichols, North Central Investigations Team Supervisor at elizabeth.nichols@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your time. 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: FREEDOM PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 76000499 Consultant: MONA NDIAYE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/14/2023 Number Present: 44 Completed Date: 7/14/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 105 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 11:15 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor for child care requirements applicable to a child care center. Caitlin Smith, Director, was present and assisted me during today’s visit. I completed a walk-through of the facility, attendance was documented, and observations were made. The children were observed playing freely outside on their designated playgrounds. The infants were observed being held and fed and playing freely in the classroom. The last annual compliance visit was conducted July 19, 2022. The center is operating under a Notice of Compliance that was issued October 10, 2019. The last sanitation inspection was conducted June 14, 2023 the center received a Superior rating. The last fire inspection was conducted September 1, 2022. Fire drills and playground inspections were monitored. Six children’s files were monitored during today’s visit. During today’s visit, a full assessment of applicable Child Care Requirements was conducted. The following violations were observed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1320 Children's records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child. One child was missing a medical report. GS 110-91(1);.0302(d)(2); .0304(g) The above violation must be corrected immediately, and a letter must be sent to me no later than July 24, 2023 stating how each item was corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirement. My email address is mona.ndiaye@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by July 24, 2023 and/or if you do not address all violations, a return visit to your program will be made to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the situation has not been corrected or addressed. You were provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all child care requirements. Child care licensing rules and regulations are established to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in care. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all of the licensing requirements that apply to your program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all of the applicable laws and rules at all times. The best way for you to make sure that you are meeting all requirements is to periodically review the child care law and rules. Both are available on the DCDEE website https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ , on the home page under the ‘Services’ tab. Consultation RESOURCES The most current ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit Interim Guidance can be found on the DCDEE website, https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ For information about current rule changes, visit the Division’s website at and look under the “SERVICES” tab for “DCDEE Moodle”. From the Moodle home screen go to “My Courses”; click on “Intro to Child Care Rules”; scroll down to “Child Care Rule Changes Effective February 2021” and then click on the module. If you complete the module, you will receive On-going Training credit. The Health and Safety Trainings are now being offered on the DCDEE Moodle format as well. These trainings are free, and participants will receive training certificates when completed. Child care programs can order free posters from the NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/ . Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care. Thank you for your cooperation during today’s visit. If you need assistance, I can be reached at mona.ndiaye@dhhs.nc.gov or by phone at 336-580-5417. 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: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.