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On September 25, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on September 25, 2025, roughly around 8:50 a.m., Child A (21-months-old) was walking around hitting a staff member. Video footage from YMCA-Bayer Branch-Early Childhood Education Center shows that staff Corliss Pargo placed her hand over Child A's hand for roughly one minute while talking to Child A. Corliss then hit Child A's hand quite hard. Unknown if right or left hand. Child A was placed in the corner. Corliss stood behind Child A resulting in Child A being unable to move. Staff Angela Gude observed this incident. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)2., which states: "Expectations for a child's behavior shall be appropriate for the developmental level of that child."
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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."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)6., which states, "Firm, positive statements or redirection of behavior shall be used with infants and toddlers."
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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."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states, "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On September 30, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed both of Child A's hands but did not observe any marks or bruises. CI O'Malley observed video footage of the incident. The footage is dated September 25, 2025, with a beginning timestamp of 8:50:20 a.m. The footage is in color and does not contain audio. The footage shows the infant/toddler unit at the facility. At 8:51:18, staff Corliss Pargo bends over to assist a child with putting on their socks. At 8:51:23, Child A approaches Corliss and Child A strikes Corliss in the face with Child A's right hand. At 8:51:27, Corliss grabs Child A's right wrist with her left-hand. Corliss then strikes Child A's right hand once with Corliss' open right-hand Corliss points her right index finger at Child A's face. Corliss stands up and walks Child A to a corner directly behind where she was standing. Child A faces the wall with Corliss standing directly behind her. At 8:52:03, staff Brenda Murphy retrieves Child A from the wall and walks her by the hand away from Corliss. The video ends at 8:52:38 a.m.
CI O'Malley conducted interviews with lead staff Theresa Corcoran, staff Angela Gude, Brenda Murphy, and Hydiah Smith. Lead staff Theresa Corcoran stated that on Thursday, September 25, 2025, she was informed by Hydiah that staff Corliss Pargo had struck a child on the hand. Theresa reviewed video footage of the infant classroom and witnessed Corliss strike Child A (21-months-old) on the hand. The strike appeared to be hard, but she could not tell if Child A reacted because the footage did not contain audio. Theresa contacted Parent A (parent of Child A) after she reviewed the footage. Theresa reviewed the footage with Corliss and terminated her employment the same day.
Staff Angela Gude stated that she was changing a child's diaper on the changing table. Angela heard Corliss say, "Don't hit me!" Angela looked up and witnessed Corliss hit Child A's hand. Child A did not appear to be hurt and did not react. Angela said, "We don't hit on our kids." Corliss put Child A in a corner, facing the wall, and Corliss stood behind Child A to prevent Child A from moving. Brenda retrieved Child A from the corner. Brenda told Corliss, "We don't hit kids and we don't use timeout." Theresa removed Corliss from the classroom about twenty minutes later.
Staff Brenda Murphy stated that she was sitting down on the other side of the infant/toddler classroom. Brenda heard Angela say, "You can't hit kids!" Brenda did not hear a strike. Brenda stood up; Corliss said that Child A hit her. Child A was standing in the corner facing the wall. Brenda told Corliss that toddlers were not supposed to be in timeout. Brenda retrieved Child A from the corner. Child A's parents were contacted after the incident and Child A was picked up early. Corliss had not been back at the facility since the day of the incident.
Staff Hydiah Smith stated that she did not see or hear the incident because she was dealing with several other children on the other side of the infant/toddler classroom. Brenda told Corliss to stop. Brenda took Child A away from Corliss, who had not been back at the facility since the day of the incident.
On October 10 and 14, 2025, CI O'Malley attempted to contact Corliss and Parent A via phone, voicemails were left for both individuals. Neither has returned contact.
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