Highland Children'S Center

10A NCAC 09 .2818 · Violation

Name of Operation: HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER Facility ID: 9255436 Consultant: ANTIONETTE WILLIAMS Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/22/2025 Number Present: 81 Completed Date: 4/22/2025 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 35 Time In: 02:05 PM Time Out: 02:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Unannounced Visit Follow-Up Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today was to complete an unannounced follow-up visit to monitor supervision. My visit today was conducted with you, Judy Sprout, Assistant Director. You walked through the child care space with me today. Children were napping, completing quiet activities, and interacting quietly with staff. Staff sat with children who were having quiet time, walked around the room while providing supervision, and talked with children quietly. Supervision, staff/child ratios, capacity, group size, and permit restrictions were monitored, and one violation was cited. There were nine children ranging in age from one to two years old being cared for during rest time by one staff member while the other staff member was at lunch. The other staff member arrived later in the visit and the violation was corrected. Violation Number Comment Rule 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. During naptime there were three (3) children aged three years old and six (6) children aged two years old with one (1) caregiver. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Today you explained there are some staff that are out, and you have had difficulty hiring qualified staff members. You explained you have interviewed over forty individuals but have not been successful in hiring staff. You further explained staff have started but have not been reliable. Today we discussed how you can rearrange staffing and children to ensure staff/child ratios during rest time is maintained for children under two years old. I also suggested reaching out to a child care substitute program for assistance. You also explained you have tried recruiting from a child care facility that you are aware it is closing soon. The visit summary was completed and emailed to the facility after the visit. Contact me at 919-819-9383 or antionette.williams@dhhs.nc.gov if you have any questions. 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 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER Facility ID: 9255436 Consultant: ANTIONETTE WILLIAMS Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/14/2025 Number Present: 82 Completed Date: 4/14/2025 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 95 Time In: 12:20 PM Time Out: 01:55 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for a routine unannounced assessment. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Gretchen Sheffer, Center Director. Your program currently operates with a Five-star license. Staff/child ratios, supervision, capacity, group size, and staff interaction/discipline were monitored, and one violation was cited. You accompanied me as I walked through the facility. I observed different age groups of children for an extended time. Children ate a special lunch today on new plates. Staff talked with the children about the meal and asked how they liked the new plates. In another classroom, staff read a book during group time and asked children open-ended questions about what was happening in the book. Children answered and asked questions and added information while discussing the book. Another staff member cleaned the classroom while children participated in group time. Activities related to the current lesson plan were observed in the classroom including children’s artwork. Younger children were already resting. In a classroom for children ages four and five years old, children were using the bathroom and getting ready for rest time. One staff member stood at the doorway while children walked across the hallway to the bathroom. The bathroom door was open, and the staff member could see some areas of the bathroom. During another instance, children were observed leaving the classroom and walking across the hallway to the bathroom while the two staff members were inside the classroom assisting other children. A few minutes later, one of the staff members moved to the door of the classroom that is directly across from the bathroom. A violation regarding supervision was cited. One new staff member’s file was observed. Staff’s qualifying letter, CPR/FA and special trainings complied. Children’s records were not monitored. Program records were monitored, and one violation was cited. Fire and sanitation inspections were current. The Emergency medical care plan was accessible. General health requirements and medication were monitored, and one violation was cited. The facility continues to meet requirements for adequate and approved space. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed, and the Owner of this facility is listed as current- active. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/4/24. You do not provide transportation. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Children ages four and five years old were allowed to leave the classroom and walk across the hallway to use the bathroom while two (2) staff members stayed inside the classroom with other children. .1801(a)(1-5) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. Fire drills were not completed for the months of February and March 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Three electrical outlets in the hallway were not in use and were uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. Parent's medication authorization for emergency medication expired March 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 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 4/28/2025, 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: Antionette Williams 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Antionette.williams@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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Supervision – Supervision was discussed in detail. Children shall be adequately supervised at all times to ensure children are safe. We discussed staff have been standing at the doorway of the classroom while children use the bathroom across the hallway as a method to maintain supervision and stay within staff/child ratio. You stated that staff can take the required number of children to the bathroom, so the class remains within staff/child ratio instead of standing at the doorway of the classroom. Medication Authorization – Emergency medication authorization can only be given in six months’ timeframes. This helps keep up with any changes that may occur with the child’s medication. You explained the parent was given the wrong authorization form for the emergency medication. You gave the staff member the correct form with the six-month time-period authorization to have the parent complete. A child in a classroom for children ages one and two years old had a birthday and turned three today. You explained you discussed with the parent the child’s development and planned to move the child to the next age group within a week. You did not have a letter from a medical doctor showing the child needed additional support and needed to be with younger children. Moving forward, you will need to have a plan to move children to other age groups when they turn an age that would impact negatively the groupings for their classroom. The visit summary was completed and sent to you after today’s visit. You may contact me with questions at 919-819-9383 or antionette.williams@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

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER Facility ID: 9255436 Consultant: ANTIONETTE WILLIAMS Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/14/2025 Number Present: 82 Completed Date: 4/14/2025 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 95 Time In: 12:20 PM Time Out: 01:55 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for a routine unannounced assessment. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Gretchen Sheffer, Center Director. Your program currently operates with a Five-star license. Staff/child ratios, supervision, capacity, group size, and staff interaction/discipline were monitored, and one violation was cited. You accompanied me as I walked through the facility. I observed different age groups of children for an extended time. Children ate a special lunch today on new plates. Staff talked with the children about the meal and asked how they liked the new plates. In another classroom, staff read a book during group time and asked children open-ended questions about what was happening in the book. Children answered and asked questions and added information while discussing the book. Another staff member cleaned the classroom while children participated in group time. Activities related to the current lesson plan were observed in the classroom including children’s artwork. Younger children were already resting. In a classroom for children ages four and five years old, children were using the bathroom and getting ready for rest time. One staff member stood at the doorway while children walked across the hallway to the bathroom. The bathroom door was open, and the staff member could see some areas of the bathroom. During another instance, children were observed leaving the classroom and walking across the hallway to the bathroom while the two staff members were inside the classroom assisting other children. A few minutes later, one of the staff members moved to the door of the classroom that is directly across from the bathroom. A violation regarding supervision was cited. One new staff member’s file was observed. Staff’s qualifying letter, CPR/FA and special trainings complied. Children’s records were not monitored. Program records were monitored, and one violation was cited. Fire and sanitation inspections were current. The Emergency medical care plan was accessible. General health requirements and medication were monitored, and one violation was cited. The facility continues to meet requirements for adequate and approved space. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed, and the Owner of this facility is listed as current- active. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/4/24. You do not provide transportation. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Children ages four and five years old were allowed to leave the classroom and walk across the hallway to use the bathroom while two (2) staff members stayed inside the classroom with other children. .1801(a)(1-5) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. Fire drills were not completed for the months of February and March 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Three electrical outlets in the hallway were not in use and were uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. Parent's medication authorization for emergency medication expired March 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 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 4/28/2025, 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: Antionette Williams 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Antionette.williams@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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Supervision – Supervision was discussed in detail. Children shall be adequately supervised at all times to ensure children are safe. We discussed staff have been standing at the doorway of the classroom while children use the bathroom across the hallway as a method to maintain supervision and stay within staff/child ratio. You stated that staff can take the required number of children to the bathroom, so the class remains within staff/child ratio instead of standing at the doorway of the classroom. Medication Authorization – Emergency medication authorization can only be given in six months’ timeframes. This helps keep up with any changes that may occur with the child’s medication. You explained the parent was given the wrong authorization form for the emergency medication. You gave the staff member the correct form with the six-month time-period authorization to have the parent complete. A child in a classroom for children ages one and two years old had a birthday and turned three today. You explained you discussed with the parent the child’s development and planned to move the child to the next age group within a week. You did not have a letter from a medical doctor showing the child needed additional support and needed to be with younger children. Moving forward, you will need to have a plan to move children to other age groups when they turn an age that would impact negatively the groupings for their classroom. The visit summary was completed and sent to you after today’s visit. You may contact me with questions at 919-819-9383 or antionette.williams@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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER Facility ID: 9255436 Consultant: ANTIONETTE WILLIAMS Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/14/2025 Number Present: 82 Completed Date: 4/14/2025 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 95 Time In: 12:20 PM Time Out: 01:55 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for a routine unannounced assessment. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Gretchen Sheffer, Center Director. Your program currently operates with a Five-star license. Staff/child ratios, supervision, capacity, group size, and staff interaction/discipline were monitored, and one violation was cited. You accompanied me as I walked through the facility. I observed different age groups of children for an extended time. Children ate a special lunch today on new plates. Staff talked with the children about the meal and asked how they liked the new plates. In another classroom, staff read a book during group time and asked children open-ended questions about what was happening in the book. Children answered and asked questions and added information while discussing the book. Another staff member cleaned the classroom while children participated in group time. Activities related to the current lesson plan were observed in the classroom including children’s artwork. Younger children were already resting. In a classroom for children ages four and five years old, children were using the bathroom and getting ready for rest time. One staff member stood at the doorway while children walked across the hallway to the bathroom. The bathroom door was open, and the staff member could see some areas of the bathroom. During another instance, children were observed leaving the classroom and walking across the hallway to the bathroom while the two staff members were inside the classroom assisting other children. A few minutes later, one of the staff members moved to the door of the classroom that is directly across from the bathroom. A violation regarding supervision was cited. One new staff member’s file was observed. Staff’s qualifying letter, CPR/FA and special trainings complied. Children’s records were not monitored. Program records were monitored, and one violation was cited. Fire and sanitation inspections were current. The Emergency medical care plan was accessible. General health requirements and medication were monitored, and one violation was cited. The facility continues to meet requirements for adequate and approved space. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed, and the Owner of this facility is listed as current- active. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/4/24. You do not provide transportation. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Children ages four and five years old were allowed to leave the classroom and walk across the hallway to use the bathroom while two (2) staff members stayed inside the classroom with other children. .1801(a)(1-5) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. Fire drills were not completed for the months of February and March 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Three electrical outlets in the hallway were not in use and were uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. Parent's medication authorization for emergency medication expired March 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 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 4/28/2025, 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: Antionette Williams 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Antionette.williams@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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Supervision – Supervision was discussed in detail. Children shall be adequately supervised at all times to ensure children are safe. We discussed staff have been standing at the doorway of the classroom while children use the bathroom across the hallway as a method to maintain supervision and stay within staff/child ratio. You stated that staff can take the required number of children to the bathroom, so the class remains within staff/child ratio instead of standing at the doorway of the classroom. Medication Authorization – Emergency medication authorization can only be given in six months’ timeframes. This helps keep up with any changes that may occur with the child’s medication. You explained the parent was given the wrong authorization form for the emergency medication. You gave the staff member the correct form with the six-month time-period authorization to have the parent complete. A child in a classroom for children ages one and two years old had a birthday and turned three today. You explained you discussed with the parent the child’s development and planned to move the child to the next age group within a week. You did not have a letter from a medical doctor showing the child needed additional support and needed to be with younger children. Moving forward, you will need to have a plan to move children to other age groups when they turn an age that would impact negatively the groupings for their classroom. The visit summary was completed and sent to you after today’s visit. You may contact me with questions at 919-819-9383 or antionette.williams@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