| Conclusion Summary |
|
On August 29, 2024 the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "On Monday August 26, 2024, a child in preschool was sent home with lice. No parents were notified. Another child in a different room was checked and a teacher found a knit that was showed to the assistant. He confirmed that it indeed was lice but failed to make the child's parents or the parents of other children in the center aware." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violations:
5 CSR 25-500.192(2)(B) which states "Each child's parent(s) shall be notified immediately when any contagious disease occurs in the facility."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.192(2)(E) which states "If children exhibit any of the following symptoms, they must be sent home:" 14 "Severe itching of the body or scalp, or scratching of the scalp. These may be symptoms of lice or scabies."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.192(2)(F) which states "Parental contact and the decision made shall be recorded and filed in the child's record."
On September 3, 2024 CI Caylin Mertz conducted an unannounced inspection and walkthrough at the facility. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed Director Kimberly Sunarjo, Assistant Director John McMillan, Caregiver Shelby Bailey, Caregiver Samantha Field, Cook Donna Perez and Parent A. Donna indicated on Monday August 26, 2024 she observed lice in Child A's hair. She notified Kim, who sent Child A home. Kim indicated she did not notify parents of a lice exposure at that time. Sam and Shelby stated on Wednesday August 28, 2024, they observed nits in Child A's hair. Child A was sent home that day as well. John stated on Wednesday he was contacted by Caregiver Natalie Moler regarding nits in Child B's hair. He was not sure if it was lice so he did not contact Child B's parents nor was Child B sent home. Parent A indicated she was contacted on Monday, August 26, 2024, to pick up Child A, as well as two days later, due to lice. CI Mertz did not observe a note in Child A's file indicating she had been sent home with lice. CI Mertz observed a procare post dated August 28, 2024 indicating a lice exposure, which was two days after the first case of lice was discovered.
|