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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that today September 24, 2024 Child A (12-months-old), was picked up by one arm aggressively and sort of swung around by her teacher Jessica Nicks. Yesterday, September 23, 2024, Jessica also aggressively yanked Child B (12-months-old), by the arm. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violation.
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 September 25, 2024, caregiver Shanna Gimpelson, director, stated that she was told by caregiver Kristen Fisher that Jessica Nicks, caregiver, had grabbed Child A by the upper arm, swung her and Child A hit a trash can. The previous week Kristen Fisher had told her that Jessica was having a rough time with Child B going to sleep and Jessica was getting frustrated with him. Shanna addressed Jessica about these concerns but Jessica said there was nothing that she did wrong.
Kristen Fisher, caregiver, was working in the classroom with Jessica and witnessed Jessica being rough with Child B and Child C slamming them into the ball pit in the classroom. She also saw Jessica pick up Child A by one arm, lift her off the ground and bump her into a trash can. Child A was crying and Jessica replied "I told you to move".
Kristen Kujawa, caregiver, witnessed Jessica being rough with Child B while trying to get him to sleep. Jessica was rocking Child B, patting him and holding him but was aggravated that he would not go to sleep. Jessica carried him by one arm with one hand and said "here, you can have him" to her.
Marva Marshall, caregiver, has seen Jessica grab children by the upper arm and appear frustrated with them. She heard Jessica say "oh my God, get him before I catch a case" about Child B. Jessica was trying to get Child B to sleep but he was fighting it and she got frustrated. She has seen Jessica be rough with Child A, Child B and Child C.
Jessica Nicks, caregiver, stated that she does grab children by the forearm to redirect them. She said that she did not grab Child A by the arm and bump her into a trash can. She did feel frustrated with Child B during nap time because he would not go to sleep. She told Kristen Kujawa, "oh God, can you take this kid before I catch a case" and then handed Child B to her in the other classroom.
On October 2, 2024, Jarmaria Ragsdale, caregiver, stated that she witnessed Jessica grab Child B by the wrist and the ankle and fling him into the ball pit in the room. Child B was crying. Jessica also moved Child B to the other infant classroom during nap time and when Jarmaria asked her why she stated "she almost got a case so she had to get rid of him".
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