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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that in June staff member Kaylee Neel "jerked" Child A (14-months-old) up by the arm, lifted Child A off the ground by the arms, carried Child A to a crib and "possibly slammed" Child A into the crib. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations:
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 August 11, 2025, director Breanna Foust said that she was not working on June 9, 2025, when the incident with Kaylee Neel happened and didn't know anything about it until seeing it posted on Facebook by caregiver Caylee Foster. Kaylee N. is the caregiver in the video and she is usually the caregiver working in that room with Kristina Brown or Katelyn Summers. On this day Caylee F. had come over from another one of their facilities to work in that classroom. There had been reports that Caylee F. had not helped out much when she was working at the other center so she moved her over to see if she would do better at this facility. There were never any complaints from caregivers or parents regarding Kaylee N. The incident in the video was never mentioned to her or Kristina Brown, who was in charge that day while she was out. Caylee F. had sent text messages that day saying that some caregivers were being rough with the babies. She asked Kristina to go in and check on things but Kristina didn't have any concerns.
Kristina Brown is the assistant director and a nursery teacher. She was in charge the day that Caylee F. was working at the facility. She received a text message from Breanna that caregivers were being rough in the infant room and for her to go in and check on them. She went into the classrooms several times trying to help out. During that time Kaylee N. was fine; playing, changing diapers and acting normal. Kaylee N. never said that she needed to step out of the room or take a break. Caylee F. was just sitting in the room and didn't appear to be helping out. Caylee F. never told her about the video that she took of Child A and Kaylee N.
Katelyn had worked with Kaylee N. before and didn't have any concerns about her interactions between her and the babies. She knew that Caylee F. was not much help because when she worked with her she had to ask her several times for help and Caylee F. would just sit there.
On August 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham reviewed text messages that were sent from Caylee Foster, caregiver, to Breanna Foust, director. No date is shown on the text thread and it reads as follows:
Caylee Foster: "Yea everything has been okay idk I just honestly kinda don't like the way they grab the kids by there arms and just slam them into the crib but other then that it's been going okay I'm just adjust to it since it's different compared to it was over at the other day care"
Breanna Foust: "Who?"
Caylee Foster: "Kaylee and Katelyn I think her name is" "In the baby room" "They have been doing it since I've been here"
Breanna Foust: "Like body slamming them?"
Breanna Foust: "I'll be talking with him and did you share the duties 50/50 there and help?"
Breanna Foust: "I'm trying to figure out what's going on so might all just meet tomorrow. I think there's a lot of frustration because they don't want to tell you what to do and they're overwhelmed with having to do a lot more by themselves......"
On August 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham reviewed a Facebook post made by Caylee F. received from Breanna. The message also had a video attached as well as a message thread between Caylee F. and Breanna. The post read as follows:
"!!Please read!! !!Please share!! if your kid goes to Unity Academy in poplar bluff Missouri I would take your kid out there is a girl working there and takes the babies and grabs them by the arm and slams them in the crib the owner that runs the daycare does not care at all about what is going on there is also a girl that vapes in the infant/toddle room infront of the babies to i have told bre and she does not doing anything about it at all she is going around telling other workers that if the kids are hitting other kids or hurting them that they cannot text the parents and tell them bre also tells the workers that they are not aloud to watch the kids and if the kids need something they will come up to you."
On August 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham observed video footage that was posted on Facebook by caregiver Caylee. The incident occurred on June 9th, 2025 at 9:28 a.m. and was recorded by Caylee F. while working in the infant classroom with Kaylee N.
Child A is sitting on a mat on the floor along side another infant. Kaylee N. walks towards Child A, grabs him by both wrists, lifts him off the ground and carries him by the wrists to a crib. Child A's body swings forward, dangling as he is lifted and carried. Kaylee twists him around and places him on his bottom in the crib.
Kaylee N. can be heard saying "everyone can hang out in their cribs today, Child A, you know I'm not sitting here do this with you everyday" while carrying Child A to the crib.
On August 19, 2025, Caylee F. said that she took the video of Kaylee N. and Child A because she could tell that Kaylee N was getting aggravated and then picked Child A up by the arm and swung him into his crib. She had told Breanna about Kaylee N's interactions with Child A by sending a text message to her. She did not tell Breanna about taking the video because she was afraid that she would lose her job. After she saw Kaylee N. acted this way with Child A she stepped in to help out. She was getting up to help and Kaylee N. started stomping towards Child A so she started videoing her.
On August 20, 2025, Kaylee N. said she was aware of the incident in the video that was posted. It happened over a month ago and was in regards to the way that she picked up Child A. She said she was frustrated because she was not getting any help form her co worker, Caylee F. Caylee F. had been in the room with her all day and had not helped out any. Breanna had been asking how Caylee F. was doing since it was her first day in the classroom and she told Breanna that she was not helping out and was on her phone a lot. Breanna didn't do anything to help out or move Caylee F. out of the room for not helping. Child A was not hurt from the way that she handled him. That is not her typical reaction when working with the children or how she handles them but she was just frustrated with the situation and not having any help in the classroom. Caylee F. didn't mention anything to her during that interaction or tell her about the video.
On August 21, 2025, Parent A said that she was not aware of the interaction between Child A and Kaylee N. until Breanna had told her about it being on Facebook.
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