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On April 30, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "An employee was allowed to come to work ill on Monday, April 21, 2025 and Tuesday, April, 22, 2025." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violation:
5 CSR 25-500.122(1)(G) which states "Staff or volunteers shall not work when ill if the health or well-being of children is endangered."
On May 5, 2025, CI Caylin Mertz conducted an unannounced inspection and walkthrough at the facility. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed Director Anna Messick, Caregiver Emily O'Connell, Caregiver Kelsee Montoya, Caregiver Taitum Becker, Caregiver Lynsie Thompson, and Caregiver Abigail "Abby" McCord. CI Mertz also received an email from Caregiver Haley Douthit. All caregivers except for Emily indicated that they have had to come to work while ill. Kelsee indicated that she was vomiting and had diarrhea and was working. Taitum indicated that when she tested positive for strep, she was working with infants and toddlers. Lynsie indicated she was aware of people being present with ongoing diarrhea and vomiting. She also indicated she was present with a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Abby indicated that she tested positive for Influenza A and was still asked to come in. Emily indicated that she knows some people have been working while not feeling well. Anna indicated that Kelsee called and told her she had a migraine and diarrhea and she asked Kelsee to come in until she could find coverage for her.
Caregivers working with contagious illnesses, such as strep and Influenza A, as well as working with symptoms that indicate a possible contagious illness, such as fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, endangers the health and well-being of children.
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