| Conclusion Summary |
|
On May 10, 2023, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that Child A, 3-years-old, was left outside on the playground on 5/8/23 for about 4 minutes. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violation:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3., which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1., which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent adult supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(E)., which states: "Caregivers shall have knowledge of the needs of children and shall be sensitive to the capabilities, interests, and problems of children in care."
CI Graham observed video footage at the facility with director Jeannine Bommarito-Warren. The footage is of Classroom D and the playground and begins at 11:40am.
-11:40:14 Lilly is in the classroom setting out cots. No children are seen on the playground screen.
-11:40:19 children start entering the classroom from the playground door.
-The children come into the room and get on their cots.
-Child A is not seen on video, but is believed to be under the slide on the playground screen.
-11:41:11 Rachel enters the classroom and the playground door is shut.
-11:41:45 Rachel leaves the room with one child into the hallway. Lilly is in the classroom with the others.
-Child A's cot is along the side of the wall under cubbies and is empty.
-11:42:49 Rachel enters the classroom from the hallway and looks around the room. Lilly has been diapering.
-11:43:52 Rachel leaves the classroom into the hallway.
-11:44:20 Rachel enters the classroom from the hallway along with Hannah who comes to fix the radio.
-Rachel walks over by Child A's cot then back to the radio where Hannah is.
-Hannah opens the hallway door and stands in the doorway.
-11:42:20 Rachel looks around the classroom.
-11:45:23 Rachel walks to the playground door and Hannah comes back in the room.
-11:45:26 Rachel walks out the playground door.
-Hannah walks out also and Lilly is seen on screen in the room.
-11:45:32 Hannah comes back into the classroom.
-11:45:36 Rachel is on the playground screen on the side of the slide bending down to Child A and picks him up.
-11:45:54 Lilly opens the playground door for Rachel and Child A.
-Rachel is holding Child A.
-Rachel sits Child A on the floor and the video ends.
After viewing video footage, it was determined that Child A was outside unsupervised for approximately 4 minutes. According to weatherunderground.com, the temperature on May 8, 2023, at 11:50 a.m. was 81 degrees with zero precipitation.
Caregivers Lilian Powers and Rachel McClain were in the classroom with Child A on May 8, 2023. They have both worked with Child A before and were aware of his specials needs requiring him to be carried inside and outside to the playground. Rachel took the children out to the playground around 11:30 a.m. and carried Child A outside. Rachel and Lilian both stated they count the children before going outside and before coming inside but that may have not happened that day. Rachel sent a few children inside to Lilian to go to the bathroom and lined the rest of the class up to go inside. The last child went into the building around 11:42 a.m. Rachel did not look around the playground before going inside. She said that she did not count the children once they were inside. Rachel started to get the radio ready for nap time but it was not working so she went to get Hannah to help her. After Hannah fixed the radio, Rachel noticed then that Child A's cot was empty and he was missing. Rachel went to the playground door, grabbed Child A from the playground and brought him back inside. Child A did not appear to be upset or injured in any way.
Caregiver Hannah Hiatt is one of Child A's main teachers. She said that everyone that works in that classroom is aware that Child A has to be carried in and out to the playground. There should be a list used to track the children when going inside and outside as well as doing head counts. She does not feel that any of those things happened on May 8, 2023 while Lilian and Rachel were in her classroom and left Child A outside alone.
Director Jeannine Bommarito-Warren was told about the incident by the caregivers. She reported it and contacted Parent A and spoke with Parent B when he picked up Child A that afternoon.
On May 22, 2023, Parent A stated that she was made aware of the incident. They told her that they found Child A outside by himself. Child A does not walk or talk so it should have been the first clue that they did not have Child A because no one carried him in. Child A also puts things in his mouth and could have choked. Parent A does not feel like they are accommodating Child A's special needs like they said they would.
|