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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that the facility consistently claimed 20 children over capacity for the entire day, for all meals, for the month of October 2024. When staff with the food program contacted the facility about claiming so many children over capacity, the facility stated they actually had that many children in care. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations:
5 CSR 25-500.042(18) which states: "The number and ages of children a group child care home or child care center is authorized to have in care at any one (1) time shall be specified on the license and shall not be exceeded except as permitted within these rules."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.222(1) which states: "The child care provider shall maintain accurate records to meet administrative requirements and to ensure knowledge of the individual needs of children and their families."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.222(10) which states: "All records shall be available in the facility for inspection by the department upon request."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.222(5) which states: "Daily child attendance records shall be maintained and kept on file a minimum of one (1) year."
On March 31, 2025, Theresa Watt, director, stated that during the month of October 2024, Amber Macklemore, caregiver, was in charge of all the attendance and food program claims. Theresa was not aware of the amount of children being claimed, but said that they did not have that many children in attendance during that time. Theresa could not produce records of attendance for October 2024 because of changing computer systems and not having access to those records at the facility. She said that on October 28, 2024, there should have only been nineteen children marked present at the facility. Records submitted for child care subsidy shows that 58 children were claimed for that date. Claims were being made for children from other Little Steps facility sites that were coming over to this location as well.
CI Graham observed the facility's license which is approved for a capacity of 38. Currently they are not approved for overlap. CI Graham also checked attendance during the investigation and not all children present were marked in attendance at the time, leaving current attendance inaccurate.
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