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On April 17, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on April 09, 2025, Child A wanted a second snack and grabbed it without asking the teacher, Ms. Ashley. Ms. Ashley then forcibly grabbed Child A causing a hematoma on his entire forearm region. On April 18, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an investigation and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3. which states: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On April 18, 2025, CI Hughes conducted in person interviews with director Taylor Benning, assistant director Tammie Saucier, caregivers Ashley Veit and Kaylee Massey and Child A. Taylor stated she was told that Child A was climbing on the snack cart and Ashley went to get him down and accidently scratched him. Tammie stated that Ashley told her Child A was grabbing more snack, and he would not listen when asked to stop, so Ashley grabbed Child A and scratched him on accident. Kaylee stated that Child A took snack off of the snack cart and began to run away. Ashley went up to Child A and tried to grab him. Ashley told her she did not mean to scratch him. Child A was crying and sustained a pretty good scratch that was bleeding. Ashley asked for her advice as to how to write up the accident report. Ashley stated that Child A tends to run from his teachers when in trouble and she wanted to help the other teacher out so she grabbed Child A by the arm. When she grabbed his arm, she scratched him, he cried, and the scratch was bleeding. She washed him up and put a band aid on it. Child A stated that Ms. Ashley scratched his arm when he was running away and he was scared.
On April 18, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed an accident report dated April 08, 2025, which stated the following: "Child A was getting snack without asking a teacher so I (Ms. Ashley) tried to grab him but accidently scratched his right arm by his elbow."
On April 22, 2025, CI Hughes conducted an interview via phone with Parent A. Parent A stated that she has no concerns with Ashley, or the center and Parent B tends to overreact.
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