| Conclusion Summary |
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On January 09, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On December 27, 2023, staff member, Gianna Williams, did not follow protocol on how to lift a child and picked up Child A (age 2) by the arm. The child had a subtle nondisplaced fracture. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(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."
AND
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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., which states: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On January 11, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed director Stacey Diblasi-Gordon and assistant director Delaney Wahl. Both caregivers stated that teacher Gianna Williams was the only teacher in the room at the time of the incident. Assistant Director Delaney Wahl stated that she was called into the classroom where Child A (2 years old) was on the floor crying, holding his arm, but would not tell anyone what was wrong. Parent A was called immediately to come pick up Child A. Assistant Director Delaney Wahl stated she reviewed the camera footage and did not notice when the incident happened. Director Stacey Diblasi-Gordon stated that Child A's father came in the next day to let them know that Child A had a subtle nondisplaced fracture. She reviewed the camera footage and was able to see the incident. Teacher Gianna Williams did not follow the lifting child protocol and lifted Child A up by the wrist by one arm. She discussed the situation with her regional manager and then had a meeting with teacher Gianna Williams. Teacher Gianna Williams was put on leave until the internal investigation was completed. Teacher Gianna Williams was terminated on January 5, 2024. Child A is still coming to the facility.
On January 11, 2024, CI Honea reviewed the video (no sound) of the classroom that Child A was in with teacher Gianna Williams. The video was taken on December 27, 2023, at 4:10 pm. The video shows teacher Gianna Williams sitting on a bookshelf in the kitchen area with Child A and two other children. The video shows teacher Gianna Williams getting up and picking Child A up by the wrist by one arm with his feet off the floor, and moving Child A off to the side and placing Child A against the wall. During the video it appears that when teacher Gianna Williams picks Child A up by his wrist, that his arm turns before Child A is set down. CI Honea reviewed the teacher's statement and the termination form completed by director, Stacey Diblasi-Gordon.
On January 12, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A who stated that she does not have concerns about the facility. She was called right after the incident happened, but she was already on the way to pick up Child A. The facility let her know that they were going to put ice on Child A's arm until she gets there. When she picked up Child A, she was not able to get Child A into the car seat, so she called her husband to come help. The doctor in the emergency room stated that the x-ray shows there is a slight fracture under Child A's elbow. Child A was referred to an orthopedic doctor who also stated the x-ray shows a subtle nondisplaced fracture slightly below the elbow. The facility did not realize Child A was hurt until the day next day when they took Child A to the emergency room and let the facility know that he had a fracture. The facility has been forthcoming with information and did let her know what happened with the teacher. Child A is still attending the facility.
On January 12, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Gianna Williams who stated that she noticed the children were not playing with the toys appropriately and asked the children to pick up the plastic dishes on the floor. She was worried the children would fall because of the toys on the floor. She attempted to redirect the children by asking them to pick up the toys and told the children it was time to play in another area. She did not mean to pick Child A up that way. She had the children stand by the wall until she had all the toys picked up. She knows that training was completed with her but does not remember everything. The lead teacher left for the day, and it was almost time for the two remaining classrooms to combine. Once everything was picked up, they all left the kitchen area and Child A laid on the floor crying while holding his arm. She asked Child A what was wrong, but he would not say anything. The other teacher came in, she asked Child A what the matter, and he would not answer her. They got Assistant Director Delaney Wahl to come into the classroom because the director was gone for the day. Assistant Director Delaney Wahl asked Child A what was wrong, and he would not talk to her either. Assistant Director Delaney Wahl called Parent A to let Parent A know something was wrong and to come pick Child A up. She had no idea that Child A was injured. She worked another two days before anyone told her what happened and then she was put on leave. She was terminated on January 5, 2024. She was not able to talk to Parent A and apologize for what happened. She feels horrible for what happened to Child A.
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