| Conclusion Summary |
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On April 15, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on April 2, 2025, at YMCA-Edward Jones Branch-Early Childhood Education Center, surveillance camera footage showed staff Aaliyah Townsend picking up Child A (21-months-old) with one hand by Child A's arm and display visible frustration with Child A. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
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 April 17, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed a video dated April 2, 2025; the video did not contain audio. The video shows Child A run out of the toddler classroom and stop just outside the door. Aaliyah follows Child A out the door. Aaliyah grabs Child A by the upper left arm. Aaliyah walks back into the classroom, Child A loses her footing, and Aaliyah lifts Child A higher by the left arm and then sets Child A down in the center of the room then Aaliyah sits down on a table next to Child A. After a few seconds, Aaliyah throws both of her arms forward and appears to speak or yell directly into Child A's face; the back of Aaliyah's head is to the camera. Aaliyah leans back; Child A opens her mouth and falls forward out of sight behind a table. Aaliyah picks Child A up from the floor and sits down with Child A on her lap. CI O'Malley also conducted interviews with director Kimberly Heumann and staff Emma Williams.
Director Kimberly Heumann stated that the incident was discovered during a routine video review. The video, dated April 2, 2025, showed Aaliyah grabbing, lifting, and carrying Child A by one arm. The video also appears to show Aaliyah yelling at Child A, but the video does not contain audio. Aaliyah was suspended during an internal investigation and then it was reported to the appropriate agency's and Aaliyah was subsequently terminated.
Staff Emma Williams affirmed that she worked in the toddler room on April 2, 2025. Child A was being whiney that day and Child A was usually the last child to be picked up from the room. Aaliyah was not happy about having to wait for Child A's parents to pick her up. Aaliyah attempted to call Child A's parents several times after 5:00 p.m. Aaliyah spoke aggressively to children and taunted Child A sarcastically several times that day. Child A was too young to understand that Aaliyah was making fun of her. Emma denied that Aaliyah yelled at Child A. Emma denied observing Aaliyah grab, lift, or carry Child A by one arm. Emma had serious concerns about Aaliyah and would not want Aaliyah left alone to work with children. Emma denied ever bringing her concerns about Aaliyah to the director or administration. When asked why she had not spoken to the director about Aaliyah, she stated that she figured a coworker or parent would say something.
On May 27, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with former staff Karli Pruitt, who denied witnessing the incident. Aaliyah was rough with children, calling them "stupid" and "slow." Karli never reported Aaliyah's behavior to the director or administration. Karli no longer worked for the facility.
On May 27, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with former staff Aaliyah Townsend, who stated that she would never intentionally pick up a child by one arm. Aaliyah did not recall the incident in question. Aaliyah did not recall speaking or yelling directly into Child A's face.
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