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Compliance Inspector Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that on August 21, 2023, Child A (4 years old), was left unattended inside for about 40 minutes. Staff didn't know he was missing until it was time for the bus to pick him up. When they couldn't find him they called 911. Sherry Vance, Director, found him hiding behind a recliner in the main room after police arrived. 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."
On August 24, 2023, caregiver Sherry Vance said that she saw Child A, age 4-years-old, arrive at the center and she signed him in on the tablet. Child A was hanging out by the steps inside the building and then his class went outside to wait on the bus for school pick up. That was the last time that she saw Child A.
Kim Smith, caregiver, stated that Child A was supposed to be outside with caregiver Sapphira Haliburton waiting on the bus to pick him up from school. She saw Child A inside by the steps and told him that his class was going to be going outside. This was around 6:58am. Sapphira took the children outside a few minutes after 7:00am. Around 7:30am is when they realized that Child A was missing because his bus was there to get him and Sapphira could not find him. Sapphira did not have a list of children with her while she was outside.
Sapphira clocked in at 6:30am and saw Child A outside with Parent A as she was going in the building. She never saw Child A inside the building. She took the school age children outside to wait on bus pick up and when Child A's bus arrived she realized he was missing. She did not count the children before going outside and did not have a list of names of the children she was responsible for.
CI Graham observed the sign in sheet used on Monday, August 21, 2023, and Child A was marked in attendance as indicated by the yellow on his name.
CI Graham observed the incident report that was completed by Sherry Vance, caregiver. The report indicated that Parent A was notified at 7:47 via phone. The incident description read: "The bus arrived to pick Child A up, we could not locate Child A. Kim Smith, Sapphira Haliburton and Sherry Vance searched the building numerous times. After not being able to located Child A I (Sherry) called his mother and I (Sherry) called the police department at approximately 7:50. I (Sherry) continued to search for Child A inside the building, Kim an Sapphira were looking for outside for him. The police and his mother arrived approximately at the same time, I (Sherry) continued looking and found him behind a chair in the main area, a few minutes after the police arrived."
The report was signed by Parent A.
While Child A was never left alone in the building, caregivers were not aware that Child A was not in anyone's care for approximately 40 minutes.
On September 5, 2023, Parent A stated that nothing like this had ever happened before at the center and she felt that they handled everything appropriately.
Child A was not able to be interviewed.
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