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On March 6, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of teacher Veronica was sitting in the room with Child A but not being attentive to her. She had her strapped in a stroller that was not her stroller. Child A was not authorized to be strapped in a stroller and was strapped in the stroller for about 30 to 35 minutes. During this time, she was crying, and she went pee in her pull up. Child A can say "ee" for pee. The daycare does not watch for her cues to know that she needed to pee. On March 11,2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)9., which states: "Punishment or threat of punishment shall not be associated with food, rest, or toilet training."
On March 11, 2025, CI Hughes conducted in person interviews with director Trina Johnson and caregiver Cassandra Jones. Trina stated that she observed the video of teacher Veronica in the classroom with Child A. She felt that Veronica could have done better with dealing with the situation and that she was on her phone instead of dealing with Child A. Child A had very limited verbal skills and walked around all day saying "eee" "eee". Child A never used the toilet. Child A was put in the stroller and pushed around the center to help calm her and was placed in the stroller one other time. The parents were not aware that they were using the stroller to calm Child A down and the center does not have a policy on using the stroller.
Cassandra stated that she is the assistant director and does not have concerns with Veronica. Child A is an adventurous child who likes to play by herself and is nonverbal. Child A was not capable of letting them know when she needed to go to the bathroom and she was in pull ups. Child A only slept for about 15-20 minutes at naptime and they would remove her so she would not wake the other children.
On March 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed a video provided by director Trina Johnson. At 13:42 CI Hughes observed Veronica walk over to Child A's cot and pull her up by one arm off of the cot and take her out of the room. At 14:55 Veronica returned to the room with Child A in the stroller with a cup of milk. Veronica sat with her back to Child A while making phone calls on her cell phone. At 15:02 Child A reaches for Veronica, and she ignores Child A. At 15:10 Child A gets picked up for the day. Child A was in the stroller for approximately 15 minutes that is visible on the video footage.
On March 13, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an interview via phone with caregiver Veronica ABDullahi. Veronica stated that she has been employed since January of 2024. Child A only sleeps for about 20 minutes and wakes up crying and wakes the other children. She allowed Child A to play out in the middle room before putting her in the stroller. She uses the stroller to calm her down but is unsure if the parents are aware that they use the stroller. Child A was given a bingo dabber to play with. Child A was in the stroller for about 6-7 minutes. Child A is nonverbal and is in pull ups and does not use the toilet.
On March 13, 2025, (CI) Hughes conducted an interview via phone with Parent A. She viewed the video provided by the center and Child A was crying and strapped in a stroller when she was picked up for the day by Parent A. Ms Veronica was sitting at the table on her phone not attending to Child A with her back to Child A. She was not notified that they were using a stroller to calm Child A. Child A is able to use the toilet at home and she is able to communicate when she needs to use the bathroom.
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