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On July 15, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On July 8, 2024, Miranda Reed (staff member) picked up Child A (age 9 months) by one arm and moved her about two feet away. While holding her by one arm, Miranda had Child A dangling about one foot in the air. Child A did not cry and did not have any injuries. The same day, Miranda scooped up Child B (age 4 months) in his crib and moved him forcefully from one side of the crib to the other side. Child B was crying before she did this. Child B did not have any injuries. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea 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."
On July 16, 2024, CI Honea conducted an interview with Parent B who stated that he was told yesterday about the incident that happened with Child B (4-months-old) at the daycare. He talked to the director about the incident, and he was able to watch the video later that day. He asked for the facilities policy and procedures. The incident happened on a Monday and the director was not notified until Wednesday evening. He was every upset over the video where the teacher grabbed Child B and flip him over aggressively. The director never apologized or even attempted to make things right. There were no previous issues before this time. Child B is no longer going to the facility.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Jalisa Coleman, Assistant Director Aliyah Hopan, caregiver Jasmine Donjuan, and Parent A. Aliyah stated that caregiver Jasmine told her about the incident that happened in the classroom on Monday with Meranda Reed and Child B on Wednesday. She called Director Jalisa Coleman and explained the situation. They watched the video the next day and found that Meranda Reed was also aggressive with Child A (9-months-old). Director Jalisa Coleman stated that she was not notified of the incident with Child B until Wednesday evening. She came in the next day and watched the video. Upon watching the video, she discovered another incident with Child A. She did an internal investigation and Meranda Reed was terminated. Neither Child A nor Child B had injuries due to Meranda Reed's actions.
While on premises CI Honea interviewed caregiver Jasmine Donjuan who stated that Meranda Reed appeared to be in a aggravated mood that day and all the kids seemed to be crying that day. She did not hear Meranda Reed say anything to Child A but Child A crying. She did not see the incident with Child A. Child B was in the crib and he has learned how to roll. Child B was crying and was on his stomach. The white noise machine was near Child A's head, so she does not know if that was making Child A cry. She watched Meranda Reed walk over to the crib that Child A was in. She watched Meranda Reed forcibly grab Child A, flip Child A over, and told Child A to go to sleep. She has taken mandated reporter training. She did not say anything because she was concerned that she would get into trouble. Meranda Reed acted like she was above everyone else. She finally told Assistant Director Aliyah Hopan what happened on Monday with Meranda Reed.
While on premises CI Honea interviewed Parent A who stated that she was notified on July 15, 2024, about the incident. She does not know why no one said anything sooner. Director Jalisa Coleman addressed the issue on Thursday with Meranda Reed, who was terminated. Child A is fine and did not have injuries from Meranda Reed's actions. She does not have concerns with the facility or the caregivers working there.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea reviewed the Employee Disciplinary Action Form for Meranda Reed. CI Honea reviewed Meranda Reed's file to show previous written warnings on misconduct. CI Honea also reviewed the video footage which shows Meranda Reed holding a child and lean over to grab Child A by the arm and pulling Child A by the arm, out from under another child on the floor, then placing Child A down behind her on the floor. CI Honea also observed Meranda Reed still holding a child and walk across the room then aggressively flip Child B over by one arm from his stomach to his back, in his crib.
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