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On March 21, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that the family home has been watching 14 children at a time. There is more than the allowed overlap. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jade Stewart-Martin has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-400.155 (1) ., which states: "There may be situations (for example, to accommodate parents' work shifts or before- and after-school care) when the number of children in care over two (2) years of age may exceed the licensed capacity of the home. The number in care shall never be more than one-third (1/3) over the licensed capacity of the home at the time of overlap. The overlap period(s) shall not exceed two (2) hours total in any twenty-four (24)-hour child-care day. The two (2) hours of available overlap time may be utilized in smaller time periods."
On March 21, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin received an email from Hannah McGrath, Program Coordinator for Child Care Subsidy. She stated that Once Upon a Learning Tree is a licensed family home and per attendance records has been watching fourteen children at a time this year. The provider provides both day and evening care. There are more children than what is allowed during overlap from 3:00 P.M.- 4:30 P.M. when evening children arrive and day children leave.
On April 4, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin observed the attendance records provided from subsidy. These attendance records are from January 5, 2024, and they show on this date that Paula Brooks had fourteen children in attendance from 3:00P.M.- 4:30 P.M.
On April 4, 2024, CI Stewart Martin interviewed caregiver Paula Brooks. She stated she has fourteen children enrolled at her facility, but they are typically not there at the same time. The school aged children arrive at the home around 3:40 P.M. Regarding January 5, 2024, A parent must have been late to pick up their child which caused her to have fourteen children instead of her normal thirteen that she is allowed to have during her overlap.
On April 4, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin observed provider Paula Brooks present with only ten children at 3:40 P.M.
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