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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that on May 18, 2023, Maddie Morgan and Haley Wade took Child A, age 6, into a room and questioned her about marks she had on her. Maddie called her mom and Haley called her boyfriend telling them about Child A. Maddie and Haley had Child A pull up her clothes to show other marks she had. The child was crying, screaming and shaking. They asked Child A yes or no questions and asked her if she was being sexually abused. They also asked Child A if she was inappropriately touched. Ms. Brianna felt Child A was being coerced. The allegation is substantiated based on the following information:
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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(F) which states: "Caregivers shall be capable of handling emergencies promptly and intelligently."
On May 24, 2023, director Sydni Darnell stated that on May 18, 2023, Ms. Maddie and Ms. Haley took Child A (6-years-old) into the back room to talk to her because she had two bruises on her; one on her cheek and one on her neck. She was out on lunch break but when she arrived back, they told her that they had asked Child A "yes" or "no" questions about what had happened to her. She explained to Ms. Maddie that they should not have been doing that because that is asking leading questions. Ms. Maddie said they asked her "Who did it? Did mom slap you? Was it stepmom? Was it dad? Do you feel safe?". Child A told them that it was a hickey and they asked Child A if she knew what that meant. They asked Child A if someone put their mouths on other parts of her body. Ms. Haley left the room after they had questioned Child A and then Ms. Maddie asked Child A more questions by herself. Ms. Brianna saw what was going on and took Child A with her back to the infant room because she didn't like what was going on. Ms. Maddie called her mother during the questioning and told her what was going on. Ms. Haley called her boyfriend, who works at the fire station and he told someone else about the situation too.
On May 24, 2023, caregiver Haley Wade stated that she was in the room with Child A and saw what looked like bruises on Child A's cheek and neck. Ms. Maddie asked what it was and then asked Child A to go talk to them. Child A said that she had a hickey on her because Parent B and Parent A give her hickeys. Child A was crying and upset and shaking. Ms. Maddie asked Child A questions like "Do they touch you or anything? Why would they do that?".
On May 24, 2023, caregiver Brianna VanVickle stated that she was working in the baby room and Ms. Maddie came by around 1:30pm. Ms. Maddie said that she needed someone to step out and watch the older children so she could deal with a situation that she had to call her mom about. Child A told Ms. Maddie that she was being abused. Child A told Ms. Maddie that Parent A and Parent B had been beating her, hitting her and giving her hickeys. Ms. Maddie said she knew that her mom also now knew about this situation. She (Ms. Brianna) told Ms. Maddie to call Ms. Sydni and let her know what was going on. She stepped into the room and Ms. Maddie pointed out a bruise on Child A's chest. Ms. Maddie asked Child A who did that to her and Child A didn't say anything. Child A was shaking and crying and she didn't like how the questioning of Child A was going.
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(J) which states: "All staff shall acquaint themselves with the child abuse and neglect law and shall make a report of any suspected child abuse or neglect to the Children's Division at the toll-free number 1-800-392-3738 or online at https://apps.dss.mo.gov/OnlineCanReporting/default.aspx."
On May 24, 2023, caregiver Haley Wade stated that Ms. Maddie told her that they were mandated reporters and she called her boyfriend to ask him because he was a firefighter and would know. She asked her boyfriend if she was a mandated reporter and he told her she was.
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