Prior to employment or residency, as applicable, and every 5 years thereafter, all child care staff, substitutes, other employees, and volunteers who may be alone with children or are included in staff to child ratios, and household members age 10 years or older, shall submit for a background record check using NH Connections.

The licensing coordinator observed one staff member in the program whose background record check was not submitted prior to employment. The licensing coordinator also reviewed 8 active staff files as provided by the director and determined that an additional two staff did not submit for a background check prior to employment. Corrective action: As of 7/22/24, two of the staff members have been fingerprinted and are eligible on NH connections. The third has their fingerprints scheduled, and their application was sent through NH connections.

He-C 4002.41(a) · Correction status not published

Child care staff and household members shall not use rough handling on children.

On April 18, 2024 the CCLU received a report of a staff member rough handling a child at the program on April 16, 2024. Staff A stated that they had witnessed the event via live video feed and described witnessing Staff B grab a child by the arm and pull them by the wrist. Staff B stated that the child had been non-compliant with directions, so they picked up the child and carried them upstairs. Staff B further reported that they later learned that they had scratched the child when they picked them up. Corrective action: Staff B who was witnessed rough handling a child was suspended as a result of the incident. Going forward they were allowed to return after the suspension on a probationary term of any instance of rough handling or other licensing violation would result in immediate termination. Staff have all been reminded to use walkies and ask for help any time they are not able to redirect a child with words. Going forward rough handling of any kind from any staff person will not be permitted. Staff were reminded of the definition of rough handling as well to make it clear.

He-C 4002.18(e)(2) · Correction status not published

The staff to child ratios for school-age programs shall be one staff for 15 children age 56 months or older, with a maximum group size of 45, with the following minimum staffing levels: (1) One group leader with up to 15 children; (2) One group leader and one assistant group leader with 16 to 30 children; and (3) One site director and 2 assistant group leaders with 31 to 45 children.

The licensing coordinator's review of the Lion's classroom attendance for April 16, 2021 revealed that there were 26 children signed in at 3:28 p.m., of which 12 were school-age, and none were younger than 48 months. Program staff confirmed that the school-age group was combined with the preschool group as a temporary solution for staffing. Corrective action: For a small portion of time, the school-age children are combined with older preschool children. Going forward, a waiver has been approved to allow for more than 9 school-aged children to combine.