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On April 11, 2024, Child A (age 1-years-old), was attacked by another student while teachers were inside the classroom. On the camera it shows that there's no structure and the teachers aren't watching these children. Four children or more are being changed at one time while staff are also cleaning and doing other things so they are not able to keep focus on the children. After conducting the investigation, CI Jessica Graham has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(D)3. which states: "Caregivers shall be alert to various needs of the child such as thirst, hunger, diaper change, fear of or aggression by other children, and the need for attention."
On April 15, 2024, Parent A stated that she arrived to pick up Child A from the facility on April 11, 2024, after received a message on Pro Care that she needed to get him. When she arrived, Child A was in the office with caregivers Secoyia, Victoria and another there. They told her there was an incident with Child A and another child and they showed her scratches that were on Child A's face and neck. Child A had also been bit and scratched on his back and arm. Secoyia told Parent A that she had her back turned and couldn't say how this happened.
Parent A provided photos that she took in the car before leaving the facility. The photos show bite marks on Child A's back, arms and chest along with multiple scratches.
On April 17, 2024, caregiver Secoyia Webb stated that she was in the classroom with Child A and was filling up a tub for the children to have water play. All of the children in the room were playing on the mat and she had to grab one that was going towards the bathroom. She heard her co teacher say "oh my God, he just ate him up" and then she turned to see Alaina holding Child A. There was lots of crying going on in the room next to them (open classroom with half wall) and some in their classroom. Child A's back was red with scratches and two bite marks. She did not see what happened to Child A . Child A did not have a shirt on when this happened because they had removed it while he was eating oatmeal for breakfast, which had just ended. She took Child A to the office for assistance on what to do about the bites.
Alaina Williams said she was cleaning the table from breakfast and she heard Child A start crying. She went over to get him as soon as she heard he was crying. She noticed bite marks on him when she picked him up. Child B was leaning over the top of Child A and Child A was bent over between Child B's legs. She didn't see anything actually happen, but could see that Child A had scratches on his neck, a few bites on his back, on on his arm and one on his chest or stomach. She had not observed any injuries on Child A that morning prior to this incident. She said there are a lot of babies teething in the classroom, but they usually try to keep them separated and give them teething toys.
Both caregivers stated that there was crying going on in both classrooms, but were each engaged in an activity and did not provided attention to the children in that moment. Both caregivers also stated that there were known biters in the classroom due to several children teething.
Victoria Smith said that Alaina had brought Child A to her office and said that Child B had left bites and scratches on him. Parent A was already on her way to the facility because Child A was out of diapers. When she arrived Parent A checked Child A over and seen the scratches and bite marks.
On April 17, 2024, CI Graham observed video footage from the classroom. The video clip is one minute and twenty eight seconds long and shows the classroom of Child A. Secoyia is in a light blue T-shirt and Alaina is in a dark blue T-shirt. At the beginning of the video both caregivers are cleaning off tables and chairs while the children are on a mat against the half wall. Alaina keeps cleaning tables and Secoyia walks to the back corner of the room by the sink and changing table. Child A is in black pants and no shirt. Child A crawls across the mat and is not easily seen on camera due to a low shelf blocking view. Another child (Child B) can be seen next to Child A at times. Child B reaches towards Child A's face and Child A falls forward while still sitting. Alaina is still cleaning the table and Secoyia is in the corner at the sink. Child B climbs on top of Child A at one point (unclear what was happening). Child A looks to be laying on his stomach and you can see his feet kicking. Child B leans down over Child A's back. Child A sits up on his knees and appears to be crying. Child B grabs Child A around his arms and leans into him with his mouth and then they fall to the floor. Alaina stands up from cleaning the table, walks around the shelf towards Child A and Child B and then quickly walks towards them and drops what she has in her hand to pick up Child A. This is the end of the clip. There is no audio on the video footage observed.
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