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On December 6, 2023, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on December 5, 2023, at 4:30 p.m., caregiver Jashauntee White forcibility placed four 2- to 3-yearolds in high chairs in the toddler room, and left them there for 30-45 minutes. One of the children, Child A, flipped out of his high chair twice and got hit in the head with the tray of the high chair. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Ian Fyfe found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.132(5), which states: "If infant/toddler care is provided in a unit auxiliary to a licensed facility for older children, the following shall apply:"
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5 CSR 25-500.132(5)(A), which states: "Placement of a two (2) year old in either the infant/toddler unit or the unit for older children shall be determined in consultation with the parent(s); and"
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5 CSR 25-500.132(5)(B), which states: "The infant/toddler unit shall not care for children older than two (2) years unless the total number of children in attendance at the time is four (4) or fewer. "
On December 7, 2023, director Samantha "Sam" Cross stated that on December 5, 2023, at about 4:30 p.m., staff member Terajah came to her to express concerns. She reviewed video footage for the day and observed Ms. Jashauntee bringing five children into the toddler classroom. The five children that Ms. Jashauntee brought with her were Child A (2-years-old), Child B (3-years-old), Child C (2-years-old), Child D (2-years-old), and Child E (3-years-old). The three other children still present in the toddler classroom at that time were Child F (12-months-old), Child G (11-months-old), and Child H (16-months-old).
On December 7, 2023, caregiver Terajah Booker stated that she was working at the facility on December 5, 2023, from about 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Child F was in the toddler classroom with Ms. Kendria on December 5. She saw the 2- and 3-year-old class move downstairs sometime between 3:50 p.m and 4:00 p.m. She knew that this class was not supposed to be downstairs at that time.
On December 7, 2023, and caregiver Kendria Miles stated that she was working at the facility on December 5, 2023, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around 4 p.m., Ms. Jashauntee entered her classroom with a group of 2-year-old children. She has worked with Ms. Jashauntee frequently in the past, primarily in the afternoons.
5 CSR 25-500.112(1), which states: "Staff/child ratios shall be maintained at all times."
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5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A), which states: "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On December 7, 2023, director Samantha "Sam" Cross stated that on December 5, 2023, at about 4:30 p.m., staff member Terajah came to her to express concerns. She reviewed video footage for the day and observed Ms. Jashauntee bringing five children into the toddler classroom. The five children that Ms. Jashauntee brought with her were Child A (2-years-old), Child B (3-years-old), Child C (2-years-old), Child D (2-years-old), and Child E (3-years-old). The three other children still present in the toddler classroom at that time were Child F (12-months-old), Child G (11-months-old), and Child H (16-months-old). Ms. Jashauntee left the classroom after bringing the group of 2-year-olds down, leaving Ms. Kendria alone and out of ratio with eight children, 11-months-old to 3-years-old. Ms. Kendria was alone and out of ratio for about two minutes.
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."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)2., which states: "Expectations for a child's behavior shall be appropriate for the developmental level of that child."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3., which states: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states: "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."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(2)(B)1., which states: "Developmentally appropriate play experiences and activities planned to meet the interests, needs, and desires of the children;"
On December 7, 2023, director Samantha "Sam" Cross stated that on December 5, 2023, at about 4:30 p.m., staff member Terajah came to her to express concerns. She reviewed video footage for the day and observed Ms. Jashauntee bringing five children into the toddler classroom. The five children that Ms. Jashauntee brought with her were Child A (2-years-old), Child B (3-years-old), Child C (2-years-old), Child D (2-years-old), and Child E (3-years-old). The three other children still present in the toddler classroom at that time were Child F (12-months-old), Child G (11-months-old), and Child H (16-months-old). Ms. Jashauntee went to the infant room and came back with five highchairs. Ms. Jashauntee aggressively handled some of the children while attempting to get the children in their chairs. Child A fell in his highchair and had a knot on his head as a result of his fall. Child A also had some discoloration around his eye as a result of the fall. Child B fell in his chair but did not seem to have any injuries when she looked him over.
On December 7, 2023, caregiver Terajah Booker stated that she was working at the facility on December 5, 2023, from about 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Child F was in the toddler classroom with Ms. Kendria on December 5. She saw the 2- and 3-year-old class move downstairs sometime between 3:50 p.m and 4:00 p.m. She knew that this class was not supposed to be downstairs at that time. When she walked into the room, she saw that the children from the 2- and 3-year-old classroom were in highchairs. The highchairs are not supposed to be used in the toddler classroom. One child was having a meltdown in a chair. She asked Ms. Jashauntee why she had brought the older class to the toddler room, but Ms. Jashauntee did not answer her. She was in the room for about five minutes before she left. Ms. Jashauntee does not have the patience to work with children. Ms. Jashauntee gets frustrated easily.
On December 7, 2023, caregiver Kendria Miles stated that she was working at the facility on December 5, 2023, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around 4 p.m., Ms. Jashauntee entered her classroom with a group of 2-year-old children. Ms. Jashauntee went to go get highchairs from another classroom after bringing the children in. She saw Ms. Jashauntee put the older children in the highchairs. She did not say anything to Ms. Jashauntee about putting the children in highchairs. She did hear Ms. Jashauntee tell Child A to, "sit his ass down", in the chair. She has seen Ms. Jashauntee place older children in highchairs every afternoon that she has worked with her. Ms. Jashauntee would only do this whenever she brought the class down to the toddler classroom. Ms. Jashauntee would do this to keep the children from doing things. Ms. Jashauntee would also use the highchairs to restrain the children. She did not know that Ms. Jashauntee was not supposed to be doing this. Ms. Jashauntee is not good with the children. Ms. Jashauntee is aggressive with the children. Ms. Jashauntee will tell the children to hit each other back if a child hits them. Ms. Jashauntee has told her in the past to not change a child because Ms. Jashauntee had issues with that child's parent.
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