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On June 20, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a compliant alleging that on April 31, 2025 around 5:00p.m., Amy Rogers said Child A (5 years old) was acting like a baby so she treated her like one and put her in a baby crib. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3. - 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 25-500.082(2)(B)2.B.(III) - If a unit for infants and toddlers is auxiliary to a facility for older children, centers initially licensed for infant/toddler care after the effective date of these rules or facilities adding new infant/toddler space, shall have play, sleeping and bathroom space in the infant and toddler unit. This space shall be separated from the space used for older children by floor-to-ceiling walls;
On July 1, 2025, CI Radney conducted interviews with Kyleigh Rolf, Gracie Atwood, Isabella Schepers, Kimber Golden, Child A, and Child B. Kyleigh reported she was not here when this incident occurred. She heard about it from other caregivers. Child A went to the baby room for discipline and was put in a crib. Gracie reported she has been in the baby room when Amy has brought bigger kids there and threatened to put them in a crib. Amy has left them in the baby room and said, "You're going to have to stay with the babies". She's observed this happen one or two times. Katie reported she has not observed this incident. She's heard caregivers talk about it happening. Isabella reported Child A was put in the infant room for about 20 minutes. She was in a crib. Child A was told to sit and be quiet and she was not allowed to go back to her regular room until she was quiet. Child D was put in the infant rooms a lot. Child D had to eat and sleep in the infant room one day. It was for discipline, Amy would tell them "If you're going to act like a baby, you'll go to the baby room." Kimber reported she was sitting in the lobby about 5:00-5:30 p.m. one day when Parent A came to get Child A. Amy walked up to mom and said "I've got to go get her out of a crib because she was acting like a baby so I put her in a crib." Child A told her she was scared when that happened. It was for discipline because she was "acting like a baby". Child D was brought to the infant rooms all the time. Sometimes Child D would be there for a few hours because he was "acting like a baby". Child B reported she is 5 years old. She was being bad. She put her in a crib and she wanted to get out. Child A reported she is 5 years old. If they are in trouble, they have to sit out. There were babies in the baby room and two teachers. She doesn't remember why she had to go there.
On July 29, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Amy Rogers. She reported Child A was kicking and throwing a fit in her office and whining like a baby so she said "You're acting like a baby, do you want to go in the baby room?" Child A said "Yes." She took her down to the baby room and put her in a crib. She stayed with Child A until she calmed down and then they left. She and Jamie tried that with Child D as well. Child D was not put in a crib but was put in the baby room. This was for discipline because he wasn't behaving.
On July 29, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A. She doesn't know how long Child A was in a crib. She thinks it was the only time Child A was put in a crib.
On July 29, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent D. She reported she knows about the allegations. A caregiver told her that Amy was putting Child D in the infant room for discipline. She said he had to get in a crib because he was acting like a baby.
When Amy Rogers brought children who were not infants/toddlers to the infant/toddler classrooms due to their behaviors, she was not using constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline that would help the children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their actions and the space used by older children was no longer separated from the space used by infants/toddlers by floor-to-ceiling walls.
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