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On August 14, 2024 the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "On Friday August 2, 2024, Child A was observed with a mark on the side of his right eye that was an abrasion with a bruise. Child A`s great grandmother who picked him up that day stated no one had said anything to her when she picked him up. Child A's grandmother sent a picture of the injury and asked where this had come from. Dawn, the classroom teacher, responded to the message, stating that she was unaware how this injury happened. When asked about how he got hurt on his face, Child A stated `hit me (Child B)`. Child B is another child in Child A's class. Child A pointed at his eye when he said this to indicate this injury. There was no incident report." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.192(5)(A) which states "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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.192(5)(B) which states "Information regarding the date and circumstance of any accident or injury shall be noted in the child's record."
On August 21, 2024 CI Mertz conducted an unannounced inspection and walkthrough at the facility. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed Director Jesse Cox, Caregiver Dawn Ashlock, Child A (3 years old), Child B (3 years old), Caregiver Brenda Taylor and Parent A. Parent A indicated she texted Caregiver Dawn on the date of the incident asking about an injury to Child A's eye. CI Mertz observed these texts in which Dawn states she did see the mark to Child A's face and Brenda observed the accident occur; however, she forgot to mention it when Child A was picked up. Caregiver Dawn and Caregiver Brenda both denied recalling any injuries to Child A. Jesse, Dawn, and Brenda all denied completing any accident reports regarding an injury to Child A's temple on the date of the incident. Child A and Child B could not provide any relevant information.
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