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On September 4, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on August 18, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Madeline Durham went to Journey With Me Daycare for what she thought was going to be an interview. She arrived and met the director, Brian Rivera, who immediately had her follow him to a classroom to relieve another teacher. While in the classroom, she was with approximately five children, with one child possibly under 24 months and the rest older than 24 months. Having just moved to the area from Kansas and being there for what she thought was going to be an interview, Madeline did not have a background check or new employee orientation paperwork completed. 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 25-600.020 (1), which states "Prior to the employment or presence of a child care staff member in a licensed, regulated, or registered child care facility not exempted by section 210.1080.13, RSMo, the child care provider shall request the results of a criminal background check for such child care staff member from the department."
and
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(K), which states "The child care provider shall ensure that within seven (7) days of employment or volunteering, and before being left alone with children, that caregivers employed on or after August 30, 2019, receive a facility orientation. The facility orientation shall include"
On September 4, 2025, CI West interviewed Madeline Durham, who stated that she arrived at the daycare around 3:30 p.m. on October 18, 2025. She went into where there was one caregiver and five children ages 2 to 4 years old. She was told by Brian that they would be covering the classroom while the caregiver went on a break. She was told by Brian that he had to check on the other caregivers. She was left alone with the five children.
On September 5, 2025, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Brian Rivera, who stated that he thought that when he was given the ok to bring Madeline in that all her paperwork and orientation had been completed. He took Madeline to a classroom, and they relieved the caregiver to take a break. He left Madeline alone in the classroom for a minute or two with five children aged 2 years old to 3 years old.
On September 5, 2025, CI West interviewed LLC Manager Princess Harris, who stated that she advised Brian that Madeline was hired as a caregiver. She hadn't completed the background check on Madeline. She didn't advise Brian that Madeline hadn't had a background check yet. She hadn't completed the orientation process for Madeline. She didn't advise Brian that Madeline needed to complete her orientation.
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