| Conclusion Summary |
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On August 11, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on August 8, 2025, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Child A's guardian arrived to pick up Child A (3 years old). He was not with the other children or teachers. The staff did not know where he was. Child A's guardian called his name, and he walked into view from the center of an adjoining, darkened room. The room Child A was in was the 2-year-old room, which is separated from the front area by a hall wall. He was quiet, had his fingers in his mouth, and appeared scared. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of a licensing rule violation that occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. Which states, "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
And
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. Which states, "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On August 14, 2025, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Jenifer Dalberg, Caregiver Cydney Bane, and Caregiver Gabriella Delacerda. Jenifer stated that on August 8, 2025, she wasn't at the daycare when Parent A (Parent of Child A) came for pick-up. She spoke with Parent A about her concerns that Child A was alone in a dark room without adult supervision.
Cydney stated that on August 8, 2025, when Child A saw Parent A coming in for pick-up, he ran and hid. When Parent A walked in, Child A was hiding, so she didn't know where he was. She went to get the incident report from the director's desk. She heard Parent A call out for Child A to come so they could leave. She walked over to the 2-year-old room and saw Gabriella exiting the room at the same time Child A came out from hiding.
Gabriella stated that she was working at the daycare on August 8, 2025. She left the daycare at 5:06 p.m. on August 8, 2025. She was already gone before Parent A picked up Child A. She doesn't remember Child A coming into her classroom to hide from Parent A.
On August 27, 2025, CI West interviewed Parent A, who stated that she arrived at the daycare to pick up Child A around 5:30 p.m. She entered the building and could not see Child A. She called out to Child A, letting him know she was there to pick him up. Child A came out from around the corner of a dark room. Child A was in this area alone without adult supervision.
On September 4, 2025, CI West interviewed Caregiver Destanie Alarcon, who stated that she was working at the daycare on August 8, 2025 as a closing teacher. She remembered seeing Parent A come in to pick up Child A around 5:30 p.m. Child A has a habit of running to hide when he knows Parent A is there for pick up. She doesn't remember if Gabriella was still in the building at the time of pick up. The 2-year-old space is open, so Child A may have been hiding from Parent A in there at pick up.
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