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On January 26, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On January 25, 2024, Child A (8-years-old), was left sleeping at the childcare facility alone for approximately 30 minutes after teacher Abby Twitchel and all staff had locked the building and exited the premises. 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)(A)2., which states: "A caregiver personally shall admit each child upon arrival and personally shall dismiss each child upon departure. Children shall be dismissed only to the parent(s), guardian, legal custodian, or to individuals approved by the parent(s), guardian, or legal custodian."
AND
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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1., which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
On January 29, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Michaela Flores, Caitlin Hammons, and Director of Resident Services Justin Anthony. All staff stated that it was assumed that Child A (age 8-years-old), went home with her brother. All staff stated that closing sign-out procedures were not done correctly. The teachers would just sign children out through the Brightwheel app without knowing if the child actually left for the day. They did not know that Child A went to sleep in the playhouse. All staff stated that no one did a sweep of the room to make sure all children were gone before leaving for the day. There are now new closing procedures put into place so this does not happen again. On January 25, 2024, the teachers left for the day and the last two teachers left in the building let the cleaning crew in and then left the building for the day. All staff stated that the cleaning crew found Child A in the playhouse while they were cleaning the activity room. The cleaning crew then called the Columbia Police Department and management after Child A was found. All staff stated that the Columbia Police Department knew Child A and took Child A home.
On January 29, 2024, CI Honea observed the video which shows Child A going into the playhouse area at approximately 5:51 pm and covers up to sleep. All staff leave the room at approximately 6:39 pm to go into the adjoining room and turns the lights off. At approximately 7:00 pm the remaining staff enter the room to look around but do not complete a room sweep so they do not see Child A. Staff let the cleaning crew in at this time and the cleaning crew found Child A at approximately 7:19 pm. The cleaning crew takes Child A outside at approximately 7:40 pm. CI Honea also reviewed the new closing procedures and the disciplinary timeline and consequences for staff.
On January 29, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A who stated that Child A stated that she ate dinner, was tired, and went to lay down in the playhouse. Child A stated she did not remember anything after that. The janitors found Child A and Child A did know where she lived and Parent A's phone number. She spoke to teacher JayVoin, who said, he was sick that day and didn't know what had happened. Child A usually walks home with her brother but sometimes will stay later to socialize. Child A's brother comes home around 5:30 pm and Child A will come home around 6:30 pm. Child A always checks in at 6:30 pm if Child A is not already home. She was doing laundry the night this happened and was worried that Child A had not checked in. She went to the facility twice and knocked on the doors. She did not see a light on in the building. She went to Child A's friend's house to see if Child A was there. She was walking back to the facility for a third time when Columbia Police Department called her about Child A. Child A is no longer allowed to stay at the facility longer than her brother and will come home at 5:30 pm. Parent A met with facility staff the following day regarding the incident.
On January 29, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Abby Terwische who stated that she still works at the facility. She was there the day of the incident with Child A. All the teachers walk children home and that is part of her staff duties. She saw Child A's brother with backpacks and just assumed that Child A left with the brother. She signed Child A out thinking that Child A walked home. The facility uses Brightwheel and all sign-outs are done through the app. Previously there was not specific procedures in place when it came to signing children out for the day. Since this has happened, there are new procedures that are in place. There is now a walk home checklist, one teacher is to walk children home and one teacher is to sign a child out once confirmation (via walkie) is made that child arrived home, and this also goes for car riders. Teachers are to stay, clean rooms, and leave the lights on until the lead teacher does a final walk through after all children have left. If the new procedures are not followed then each staff receives a verbal, along with a written warning, and if it happens again the staff member is terminated.
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