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On April 13, 2023, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that staff member LaTanya Campbell yelled at Child A (21-months-old) and hit Child B (2-years-old) with a plastic spoon. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Ian Fyfe has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3., which states the following: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states the following: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On April 19, 2023, Compliance Inspector (CI) Ian Fyfe conducted an unannounced inspection to Hilltop Child Development Center and interviewed Director Julie McAfee, Assistant Director Alyssa Chandler, and staff members Erica Marmon, Danielle Washington, and Darrick Johnson. On April 13, 2023, staff member LaTanya Campbell was on the playground with Child A and Child B when the reported concerns occurred. Ms. McAfee heard and then observed Ms. Campbell yell "shut up" at Child A twice, which caused Child A to become upset. Ms. McAfee also observed Ms. Campbell hit Child B on the forehead and head with a toy spoon but stated that Ms. Campbell's actions did not appear to be intended as a form of discipline. Ms. McAfee sent Ms. Campbell home for the day and has not brought her back to the facility since the reported concerns. After leaving the facility on April 13, 2023, Ms. Campbell called Mr. Johnson and informed him that she did yell in a child's face and that she did hit a child, though she never specified to Mr. Johnson which children were involved.
On May 2, 2023, and on May 9, 2023, CI Fyfe attempted to conduct interviews with Parent A (parent of Child A) and Parent B (parent of Child B) but was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts.
On May 9, 2023, CI Fyfe conducted an interview with LaTanya Campbell. Ms. Campbell was familiar with the reported concerns but denied that they had occurred. Ms. Campbell specified that Child C (2-years-old) was the child involved in the reported concerns as opposed to Child A. On the date of the reported concerns, Ms. Campbell was eye-level with Child C and attempting to calm Child C down. Ms. Campbell never told Child C to shut up and never acted inappropriately towards Child C. Ms. Campbell denied having hit Child B with a spoon as mentioned in the reported concerns. Ms. Campbell did have the spoon in her hand when she was separating Child B from another child after an altercation between the children, but never used the spoon to hit the children.
On May 9, 2023, CI Fyfe conducted a follow-up interview with Director Juile McAfee. Ms. Campbell's claim that Child C was the involved child as opposed by Child A was the only discrepancy found facility staff during an internal investigation. Ms. McAfee is certain that Child A was the child involved, however.
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