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On May 6, 2024, the Office of Childhood received a complaint alleging that Caregiver Brettaney Holle held Child A's (4 years old) wrist while she sat with him as he was in time out. Child A tried to pull away, got up and then said his arm hurt. Child A's mother took Child A to the emergency room and he may have a hairline fracture. CI Radney conducted an investigation and found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. - Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3. - Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions.
On May 7, 2024, CI Radney interviewed Christine Baird, Ashton Davis, Halley Breneman, Child A and Child B. Halley reported Brettaney came to her with Child A who was crying and asked her to look at his arm because he was saying she hurt him. Child A was holding his arm. She called Christine at 12:07 p.m. to notify her that she needs to look at the cameras because she thinks Child A is hurt. She saw on camera that Brettaney called Child A over to time out by the fence. She reached for Child A's left arm, held on to his wrist and Child A leaned back and forth kind of like a tug of war, about two to three times and she continued to hold his wrist. Brettaney was restraining Child A and that is why she was terminated. Christine reported she was notified by phone at 12:07 p.m. that Child A appeared injured and video footage needed to be reviewed. She reviewed video footage when she arrived and found that Brettaney put Child A in time out and held his wrist, which she considers a type of restraint and they are not allowed to do that. When Brettaney returned from lunch, she met with Brettaney and let her go because Child A was injured because Brettaney hadn't followed their policies. Child A reported "Brettaney didn't let my arm go and I was laying down and she didn't let my arm go and I was telling her to." Child B reported Brettaney was holding Child A's arm "really bad". Child A was crying because Brettaney was holding it really bad. He was supposed to be doing time away on the bench.
On May 7, 2024, CI Radney received and reviewed video footage of the incident. The video is not date or time stamped and is four minutes and nine seconds long. At :06, Child A and another child kick at each other. Child A walks toward Brettaney who is sitting against the fence. At :44, Child A hangs his head and continues walking toward Brettany. At :47, Brettany uses her left hand and take Child A's right hand/wrist. At :50, Child A sits in front of Brettaney, facing her, Brettaney continues to hold his hand/arm. At :53, Child A leans back and lays on his back on the ground, Brettaney continues to hold his hand/arm. At :56, Child A kicks at Brettaney. At :57, Brettaney lets go of Child A's right hand/arm and uses her right hand to take Child A's left hand/wrist area. Child A continues laying on his back, moving his right arm, head and legs. At 1:19, Child A sits up, Brettaney continues to hold his hand/arm. At 1:27, Child A uses his right hand to hit Brettaney. Child A leans forward toward Brettaney and then backward away from Brettaney. At 1:34, Child A leans back and lays his head on the ground. At 1:39, Child A sits up facing Brettaney, Brettaney continues to hold his hand/arm. At 1:43, Child A leans away from Brettaney, using his legs to push away from her, Brettaney continues to hold his hand/arm. At 1:48, Brettaney appears to pull Child A toward her to a sitting position. At 1:49, Child A lays his head forward and down, near his left hand and Brettaney's lap. At 1:53, Child A brings his head back up. Child A appears to bring his right hand to his left hand a few times. At 2:20, Brettaney appears to let go of Child A and he stands up. Child A does not use his arm or hand as he stands up, walks toward the fence and sits down next to Brettany.
Caregiver Brettaney Holley caused an injury to Child A when she held his wrist while attempting to discipline him. Physical punishment shall be prohibited. Brettaney did not use constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline in this incident that would have allowed Child A to develop self-control and assume responsibility for his actions.
5 CSR 25-500.192(5)(A) - In case of accident or injury to a child, the provider shall notify the parent(s) immediately. If the child requires emergency medical care, the provider shall follow the parent's(s') written instructions.
Christine Baird and Halley Breneman reported that the incident occurred at 11:44 a.m. when Brettaney held Child A's wrist. Christine reported Brettaney realized Child A is hurt immediately and for 12 minutes Brettaney comforts Child A. About twenty minutes later, Brettaney told Halley she thought Child A was hurt. Halley notified Christine by phone at 12:07 p.m. that Child A needed to be assessed and the video reviewed. Christine reported she arrived and did pressure points on his arm, so she went around his arm to see if she could pinpoint where he was hurt. She knew something was wrong because his behavior was different and he wouldn't use his arm. She reviewed the video and observed Brettaney put Child A in time out and hold his wrist. She notified Parent A by phone at 12:56 p.m. Approximately one hour and 12 minutes passed between the time Child A was injured and when Parent A was notified. Parent A was not notified immediately of this injury to Child A.
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