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On June 5, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on 3/1/2024, Child A (age 4), was given peanut butter and crackers. The facility knows the child has a severe peanut allergy and all the documentation is on file. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jade Stewart-Martin has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(E)., which states: "Caregivers shall have knowledge of the needs of children and shall be sensitive to the capabilities, interests, and problems of children in care."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.132(6)., which states: "A child who has a special physical, developmental, or behavioral need shall have on file an individualized plan for specialized care from a professionally qualified source."
On June 13, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed assistant director Channel Thomas and teacher Alisha Butler. On March 1, 2024, Ms. Butler was walking her children up the stairs around 3:30 P.M. to combine classrooms since she was getting off for the day. Ms. Butler stated that she had the peanut butter crackers in her personal desk, and was eating them on the way up the stairs. Ms. Butler stated that Child A(aged 4-years-old) grabbed one cracker from the package and started running down the hall since Parent A(parent of Child A) was at the front door to pick Child A up. Ms. Thomas was there assisting in Child A's dismissal and saw that Child A had a peanut butter cracker. Neither Ms. Thomas nor Ms. Butler saw Child A ingest any peanut butter. Ms. Thomas walked Child A to the door to Parent A and explained what had happened. Ms. Thomas and Ms. Butler were aware of Child A's allergy, but both stated there was no medication at the center for Child A.
On June 13, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin observed Child A's enrollment form. Child A's Medical Statement to Request Special Meals/ or Accommodations and Medical Exam Form were observed. The medical statement listed Child A's allergies and possible reactions but did not list which reactions were for which allergy and did not list what medications should be given if any. In Child A's file, there was not a Specialized Care Form for allergies observed.
On July 15, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted an interview with Parent A (parent of Child A). Parent A stated that during pick-up she observed Child A with a 4 pack of peanut butter crackers. There were only 2 crackers left in the package. Ms. Thomas told her "He only ate one." Later that night Child A was vomiting everywhere, and she had to administer the epi-pen since his tongue was swelling. Parent A stated that she provided the facility with an epi-pen for Child A.
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