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On June 26, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that a staff member forgot Child A was in the bathroom, turned off the light and shut the door. Child A was left unattended and locked in the bathroom for 30 minutes before being discovered by another staff member. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3 which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)4 which states: "Children under three (3) shall be supervised and assisted while in the bathroom."
On July 8, 2024, Compliance Inspection Supervisor (CIS) Romena Fox and CI Curtis West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Tammy Dodd, Caregiver Paige Morlang, Caregiver Kayla Horton, Caregiver Casey Evans and Child A. Tammy Dodd stated that on June 24, 2024 at approximately 4:55 p.m., she received an email from Paige Morlang stating that when she returned from lunch, she noticed Child A was missing and later was found in the bathroom inside the classroom. Paige said she returned from lunch to find Child A was missing. She asked Casey if he knew where Child A was or if Child A had gone home and Casey Evans replied no to both. After searching the room, Casey Evans opened the bathroom door to find Child A in the bathroom alone with her pants and pullup on the ground because she needed help. Casey said didn't know Child A wasn't on her cot until Paige Morlang returned. He found Child A in the bathroom on the floor trying to put on her pullup. He doesn't know why he closed the door to the bathroom; it was muscle memory.
On July 12, 2024, CI Curtis West interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A) and Parent C (Parent of Child A). Parent A and Parent C provided consistent information. Both parents stated that they were made aware of the incident during pickup on June 26, 2024. They met with the director on June 27, 2024. During that meeting, they were made aware Child A was left in the bathroom alone for almost 30 minutes.
On August 14, 2024, CI Curtis West interviewed Caregiver Marissa Rangel, who stated that on June 24, 2024, she was the co-teacher in the classroom with Casey Evans. It was nap time, and she was patting a child on the back. She noticed Casey get up to close the bathroom door and thought nothing of it. When she came back from lunch, Paige Morlang advised her while she was on lunch, they noticed Child A was missing and then found her in the bathroom alone. Marissa did not know when Parent A was notified but she did see Casey apologizing to Parent A during pick up a day or two later.
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