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On April 23, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "Sometimes bigger kids are with the infants." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violations:
5 CSR 25-300.090 (2)(F)2 which states "A facility with a capacity of more than twenty (20) children or more than four (4) infants and toddlers shall have infant and toddler space separate from the older children. The space shall be separated by floor-to-ceiling walls with separate play, sleeping and bathroom space;"
On April 29, 2025 and May 12, 2025, CI Caylin Mertz conducted unannounced inspections and walkthroughs. During the inspection on April 29, 2025, CI Mertz observed infants to be cared for in the same room as older children. The areas were separated by a baby gate but no floor to ceiling walls were observed. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed Caregiver Philip Stotts, Caregiver Kimberly McGinnis and Caregiver Tamara Allen. Tamara and Kimberly both indicated infants are sometimes cared for in the front of the facility in the large room with older children, separated by a baby gate as observed during inspection. Philip indicated he would notify staff that infants cannot be cared for in that area.
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