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On February 10, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging there was a teacher, Destiny, who expressed breast milk and gave it to Child A to drink. Child A was weirded out by this. Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an unannounced investigation and found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(A) which states, "Child care personnel shall be of good character and intent and shall be qualified to provide care conducive to the welfare of children."
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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 February 11, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Director Janet Plackemeier and Teacher Alexis Swearingin. Janet stated on February 7, 2025, Alexis gave breast milk to Child A (7 years old). The breast milk was from Teacher Destiny Idom. She does not know why Alexis gave the milk to Child A. Alexis stated on February 7, 2025, Teacher Destiny Idom was hand expressing milk in the break room due to a clogged duct. Teacher Nikki "Omi" Grimpo asked to see the milk, and she carried it into the classroom to show Nikki. The kids in the classroom were asking what was in the cup. She told them it was milk. She asked Child A if he wanted to try the milk. She gave Child A the milk, and he took a sip of it. She thought it was funny and told Child A it was "booby milk" and it was from Destiny. She made a video and sent it to Parent A (Parent of Child A). In the video, Child A said, "I drank booby milk." No other children drank the breast milk. Parent A sent a message back and asked if he liked it. She deleted the video because she later realized it was not appropriate. She did not have good character and intent when she offered the milk to Child A. She didn't think the milk would cause Child A harm. She did not have the proper knowledge of breast milk and how it might be harmful.
On February 11, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Parent A, who stated on February 7, 2025, Alexis sent Parent A a video where Child A said, "I drank booby milk." The breast milk was from Destiny. Child A told her, "They made me drink breast milk." Alexis encouraged Child A to drink the milk.
On February 26, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Teacher Nikki "Omi" Grimpo and Child A. Omi stated she was present in the classroom on February 7, 2025. Alexis came and showed her the milk that Destiny had hand expressed. Alexis was on the other side of the room. Omi observed Alexis hand the cup to Child A. It was the same cup that she had been shown earlier. Child A stated the other day his teacher, Alexis, gave him a cup of milk and she said, "Drink it." He took a drink and did not know what it was. It tasted strange. He thought it was funny, but it also made him feel weird. After he took a drink, Alexis told him it was "booby milk" from Destiny.
On March 10, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Teacher Destiny Idoms, who stated on February 7, 2025, she was in Child A's classroom. She had gone into the break room to hand express because she had a clogged duct, and it was painful. Omi wanted to see the milk, and Alexis took the cup into the classroom to show Omi. Child A asked Alexis what was in the cup. Alexis told him it was milk. Child A said he wanted to try the milk. Child A did not know where the milk had come from. Alexis handed the cup to Child A, and he took a sip of the milk. Alexis made a video of Child A saying he tried the milk and sent it to Parent A.
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5 CSR 25-500.202(1)(H) which states, "The water and milk supply, and the method of dispensing, shall be approved by local or state health authorities, or both. Powdered milk shall not be used except for cooking purposes. Milk substitutes shall not be used for drinking or cooking."
On February 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer interviewed Teacher Alexis Swearingin, who stated she was not aware of the licensing rule about milk and that it needs to be approved by local or state health authorities.
On February 11, 2025, CI Greer reviewed a written notice for Teacher Alexis Swearingin and observed the notice stated that on February 7, 2025, Alexis gave Child A some breast milk to drink. They had a discussion about this being bodily fluids and it not being ok to give this to anyone.
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