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On April 23, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging Caregiver Sara O'Dell has aggressive behavior with kids including yanking arms to make them sit down and touching their faces to make them look at her. Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an unannounced investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
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."
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A), who stated Caregiver O'Dell has aggressive behavior with the children such as yanking on their arms and touching their faces to make them look at her.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Board Chairperson Tana Betts, who stated on Friday, April 19, 2024, Caregiver Keely Crownover texted Board Chairperson Betts to look at video footage from Friday, April 19, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m. Board Chairperson Betts was not present at the facility at the time and was able to view the footage later that day and over the weekend. On video, she observed Caregiver O'Dell pull Child A by the arm, push him down to the ground and forcefully move him around while he was seated on the ground.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Crownover, who stated on April 19, 2024, she was in the bathroom with another child when she saw Caregiver O'Dell grab child A by the arm and pull him down to the ground.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Malynn Creighton, who stated she had taken concerns of Caregiver O'Dell speaking harshly to the children and making them sit in timeout for long periods of time to the old owner. Caregiver O'Dell would grab children by the face when speaking to them. She cannot recall any specific dates that this occurred.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Child B (2 years old), who stated, "Ms. Sara (O'Dell) hurt me on my arm. Child B was not able to provide any additional details.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer reviewed video footage with Board Chairperson Betts from April 19, 2024, and observed video number one begins at approximately 9:04:00 a.m. At 9:04:46 a.m., Child A stands up and walks towards Caregiver O'Dell. At 9:04:48 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child A by the upper arm near the shoulder and pulls him towards her. At 9:04:50 a.m., it appears Caregiver O'Dell pushes Child A down to the ground. At 9:04:56 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell is reaching down, and Child A's bottom is sliding on the floor next to her chair.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer reviewed video footage with Board Chairperson Betts from April 19, 2024, and observed at 11:05:08 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child C by the chin. Child C pulls back, and Caregiver O'Dell pulls Child C towards her by holding her hands. At 11:05:29 a.m., Child C sits down on the ground away from the group. At 11:05:40, Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child B near the elbow and pushes him toward Child E (2 years old). At 11:05:46 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell pokes Child B with her right index finger on his left side. At 11:05:51 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child B by the arm and pulls him backwards and down to a sitting position on the floor. Child B sticks out his right arm to catch himself and he is moving towards the ground. At 11:07:54 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child B by his left upper arm forcing him to stand on his feet. At 11:08:20 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child B by the back of the neck and turns his head toward Child E. At 11:08:36 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell places her left index finger on Child B's chin and points his face towards her face. At 11:08:44 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell lifts Child B by his left forearm and right elbow off of the ground and then back down to a seated position on the floor. At 11:09:29, Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child C by her hood and drags her backward. At 11:10:23 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child B by his right wrist and lifts him to his feet. At 11:10:50 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child A by his right arm and drags him across the floor towards her. At 11:10:53 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell pulls Child A up off the ground by his right arm to his feet. At 11:10:54 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell scoots backwards in her chair pulling Child A as she moves. At 11:10:58 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child A with her left hand on the back of his neck and her right hand on his chin. At 11:23:56 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell lifts Child B by his forearms onto his feet. At 11:24:48 a.m., Child D has been sitting away from the other children for approximately 16 minutes. At 11:24:48 a.m., the video concludes.
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)5. which states, "Brief, supervised separation from the group may be used based on a guideline of one (1) minute of separation for each year of the child's age."
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Board Chairperson Betts, who stated she observed on camera Caregiver O'Dell grabbing children by the face and making them sit in timeout for extended periods of time.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Crownover, who stated Caregiver O'Dell would often have the children sit in timeout for 20-30 minutes.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Creighton, who stated she had taken concerns of Caregiver O'Dell speaking harshly to the children and making them sit in timeout for long periods of time to the old owner. She remembers children having to sit for 20-45 minutes at times.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer reviewed video footage with Board Chairperson Betts from April 19, 2024, and observed at 9:04:48 a.m., Caregiver O'Dell grabs Child A (2 years old) by the upper arm near the shoulder and pulls him towards her. At 9:09:58 a.m., Child A is still separated from the group and sitting next to Caregiver O'Dell. Child A has been sitting for approximately five minutes.
On April 24, 2024, CI Greer reviewed video footage with Board Chairperson Tana Betts from April 19, 2024, and observed at 11:05:29 a.m., Child C sits down on the ground away from the group. At 11:05:53 a.m., Child B is sitting on the floor next to Caregiver O'Dell separated from the rest of the class. At 11:08:49, Child D sits down on the floor separated from the rest of the class. At 11:21:12 a.m., Child C rejoins the rest of the class after sitting in time out for approximately 15 minutes. At 11:24:48 a.m., Child B has been sitting away from the other children for approximately 18 minutes. At 11:24:48 a.m., Child D has been sitting away from the other children for approximately 16 minutes.
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