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On July 13, 2023, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: From 6:30 am - 8:00 am only one staff member is present. This means there is a period of time where staff to child ratio is not being met (approximately 30 minutes) as children are of mixed aged group (infants, toddlers, and school age children) and only 1 staff member. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A)., which states: "Birth Through Two (2) Years. Groups composed of mixed ages through two (2) years shall have no less than one (1) adult to four (4) children, with no more than eight (8) children in a group"
On July 27, 2023, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection at the facility and interviewed the Director Kathryn Vandelicht and caregiver Abigail Middaugh. Both caregivers stated that there has been a ratio issue for the last few weeks since another caregiver quit. Caregiver Abigail Middaugh stated she did not know what the ratio was and thought that it only counted for the infants and toddlers. Director Kathryn Vandelicht stated the ratio issue will be corrected immediately.
CI Honea observed caregiver Abigail Middaugh to be the only caregiver with nine children until another parent brought in another 1-year-old child which totals ten children ages 1-years-old to 9-years-old with one 2-year-old and three children under 2-years-old with one caregiver. While conducting the interview with caregiver Abigail Middaugh, Director Kathryn Vandelicht arrived at the facility.
On August 2, 2023, Compliance Inspector (CI) Joy Nichols conducted a re-inspection of the facility and found the facility to be in ratio with two caregivers to ten children with two children ages 9-months-old to 12-months-old and eight children 2-years-old to 9-years-old.
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