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On August 18, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on Thursday, August 14, 2025, around 10:30 a.m., Child A was stepping on Staff Member Shelly Boulais' toes. Shelly got upset and took her foot to Child A's belly and pushed him. Child A did not fall but stumbled. Shelly then repeated this action, and this time Child A fell to his bottom. Child A cried, and Shelly's response was "Well you are not going to step on me". 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)(C)3. Which states, "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 25-500.182(1)(C)6. Which states, "Firm, positive statements or redirection of behavior shall be used with infants and toddlers."
and
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. Which states, "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On August 20, 2025, CI West interviewed Director Sarah Jones, Caregiver Breanna Border, Caregiver Emmalee Talbott, and Caregiver Shelly Boulais. Sarah stated that on August 14, 2025, she received a text message from Emmalee requesting a meeting. Emmallee stated that she saw Shelly use her foot to push Child A twice. Emmallee heard Shelly tell Child A, "Well, you"re not going to step on me". The second time Shelly pushed Child A with her foot, Child A fell and began to cry. Breanna stated that she sat in on the meeting with Emmallee and Sarah on August 14, 2025. She was present when Emmallee discussed how Shelly had pushed Child A with her foot. She thinks Shelly was using her foot to discipline Child A. Emmalee stated that she had a meeting with Sarah and Breanna the afternoon of August 14, 2025. She told Sarah and Breanna that she saw Shelly push Child A with her foot twice. She told Sarah and Breanna that she heard Shelly tell Child A, "Well, you're not going to step on me." Shelly stated that on August 14, 2025, Child A had stepped on her foot several times. She became frustrated when Child A stepped on her foot one final time. She used her foot to push Child A. She pushed Child A with her foot a second time. Child A fell and began to cry. She said, "Well, you're not going to step on me," to Child A. She let Child A cry until he was ready to rejoin the reading group.
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