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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that the facility claimed subsidy payments for Child A (age 2-years-old) for 51 days of attendance and 5 holidays before he turned 2-years-old and the facility is not licensed for children under 2-years-old. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations:
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."
On April 8, 2025, Hannah McGrath with Child Care Subsidy sent an email to Marla Chrisco, Compliance Inspection Supervisor, showing that Child A had been claimed for attendance at A Place to Grow Childcare Center LLC prior to him turning 2-years-old. These claims started in December 2024.
On April 9, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham reviewed the attendance records of Child A for A Place to Grow Childcare that was submitted to Child Care Subsidy. The records showed that Child A (DOB 1/26/2023) was claimed in attendance for 51 days on this record. Child A did not turn 2-years-old until January, 26, 2025. The dates of attendance ranged from December 20, 2024 through February 28, 2025, showing that Child A attended before he was 2-years-old.
On April 16, 2025, CI Graham spoke to LLC managing member/Parent B via phone and she said that Child A had not attended the childcare facility prior to him turning 2-years-old. She stated that it was a mix up on the paperwork with Child Care Subsidy.
LLC managing member/Parent B sent an email to CI Graham with Child A's attendance record posted through the Playground app used by the facility. This record showed that Child A did not start attending the facility until January 27, 2025, after he turned 2-years-old.
LLC managing member/Parent B also emailed a copy of the enrollment form for Child A and the admission date was listed as 11/18/2024.
CI Graham spoke with Parent A via phone, who said that Child A did not attend the facility until he was 2-years-old and that the date on the form must have been a mistake.
LLC managing member/Parent B sent an email in regards to the enrollment form admission date. The email read:
"Hi this is Parent B owner of A place to grow childcare DVN 003057025 I just checked my file on child a and I talk to his mom that date that I put on his enrollment form that was the date she paid his enrollment fee and he started January 27th. I have reached out to subsidy for them to take care of the back payment for anything I sent in regarding him. I didn't start receiving payments until January of this year."
On April 17, 2025, LLC managing member/ Parent B sent a follow up email stating the following:
"GoodMorning , I called Subsidy & I have not been paid for Child A those months that they are saying. I still have pending payments last year that I haven't gotten paid they & I do believe his was one of those. & I told them not to process that payment it was a mistake. I sent you the attendance for him in January."
CI Graham sent the following email to Hannah McGrath:
"A Place to Grow 003057025 This provider is telling me that no claims were made for Child A until he turned two years of age. Her attendance is attached below."
Hannah's email response was received with the following statement:
"Jessica, Please see the attached attendance for Child A for November until his 2nd birthday in January. I believe you can delete attendance off the third party system after submitting it but this is what was posted in CCBIS by their software. Thank you"
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."
On April 16, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham was at the facility for an unannounced visit. Attendance was taken and Tatiana Hernandez was in the back classroom with four children age 2-years-old, one child age 3-years-old and one child age 4-years-old. Tatiana said she was the only caregiver present watching children. During conversation Grandparent B arrived at the facility and stated that she was Parent B's (LLC managing member) mom. CI Graham finished conversation with Tatiana and Grandparent B went to the front of the building. As CI Graham was walking towards the front of the building to leave, an cry was heard towards the kitchen area. CI Graham walked to the kitchen, opened the door and an infant was sitting on the floor on a bean bag next to the stove in the kitchen, unsupervised. Grandparent B stated that she was watching Child B, age 10-months-old for Parent B but that he would be leaving soon.
A Place to Grow Childcare Center LLC is licensed to care for a total of 51 children with a minimum age of 24-months-old and a maximum age of 13-years-old.
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