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On August 18, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that Child A (2 years old) is stating that other children are getting spanked. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-400.175 (1)(C)7. - Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited.
On August 21, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with Owner/Provider Linda Swadley and Steven Swadley. Linda reported Steven is here and helps her sometimes with the care of children. Steven fills in for her when she is gone as well. She heard that Child A threw a toy and Steven scolded him and told him "no." She wasn't here when the incident occurred. Steven stated that Child A threw a toy and knocked off a picture frame. For discipline, he swatted Child A on the butt with an open hand. He said "Quit and leave that alone." He took Child A's toy away that Child A had thrown. This is not the only time he has swatted Child A. He swatted Child A's hand for trying to take another child's toy. Child A threw a fit when he was swatted on the butt and hand. On August 21, 2025, a follow-up interview was conducted with Linda Swadley. She did not know that Steven had spanked Child A on the butt or the hand.
On October 6, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A (Child A's parent) and Parent B (Child A's parent). Parent A stated that her husband (Parent B) went to pick Child A up, and Child A was crying on the couch. Steven told Parent B that Child A knocked off a picture frame, and he spanked him for that. Parent B stated that Child A said "papa" spanked him. He walked in to pick up his kids, and Child A was crying uncontrollably on the couch. He asked Child A what was wrong. Steven said "He just got his butt smacked." Steven said Child A knocked over the picture frame and it broke, so he got his butt spanked.
Physical punishment was used when Steven Swadley swatted Child B on the butt for throwing a toy and on the hand for trying to take a toy away from another child.
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