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On September 29, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on September 23, 2025, Willow Woods CDC, Inc. gave Child A (11 months old) a peanut butter sandwich despite them being notified on August 8, 2025, via email through their app they were not to give Child A peanut products because she had a possible allergy. It was advised by a doctor to avoid peanuts until Child A could see an allergist for testing. Parent A sent the message to Child A's teachers, Joyce and Myra, and the director, Wanda Hewitt. Parent A received a response from a teacher acknowledging the note, but Parent A never heard from Wanda. 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 25-500.202(2)(B), which states "The written diet plan for each infant/toddler shall be followed. The parent(s) shall update the plan according to the individual needs of the child until they grant permission in writing for the child to eat table foods."
and
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(E), which states "Caregivers shall have knowledge of the needs of children and shall be sensitive to the capabilities, interests, and problems of children in care."
On October 3, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A), who didn't state anything that wasn't already reported.
On October 3, 2025, CI West received an email from Parent A that included the Lilio message sent to the Infants classroom at the daycare. The message from Parent A dated August 8, 2025, at 8:40 a.m. read as follows "Good Morning! I'm not sure what snacks look like for babies each day, but we need to keep Child A away from peanuts! We have an appointment with an allergist in October, but until then we are not doing any peanuts/peanut butter. Thanks so much!? The response from Infants dated August 8, 2025, at 8:51 a.m. read as follows "Okay thanks for letting us know".
On October 6, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Wanda Lee, Caregiver Myra Nimrod, Caregiver Joyce Baughman, and Caregiver Chloe Baughman. Wanda stated that she was made aware that Child A had been given peanuts on September 23, 2025. When Child A was admitted, Parent A didn't instruct the daycare of any food allergies. She didn't provide Parent A with the infant and toddler feeding care plan. She did not read the request Parent A made through the Lilio app about restricting Child A from any peanuts. The classroom teachers never relayed the message that Child A may possibly be allergic to peanuts. When Child A transitioned to the older toddler room, the information about a possible peanut allergy was never relayed to Chloe, Child A's new caregiver.
Myra and Joyce provided consistent information. They stated that they received a message through the Lilio app on August 8, 2025, from Parent A (Parent of Child A). The message advised that Child A (11 months old) had possibly developed an allergy to peanuts. Parent A requested that Child A be kept away from peanuts. A response was sent to Parent A from the classroom. They never spoke with Wanda about the message from Parent A. When Child A transitioned to the older infant/toddler room, they never discussed the peanut restriction with Chloe.
Chloe stated that Child A was given a peanut butter sandwich at snack time on September 23, 2025.
On October 6, 2025, CI West conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed the questionnaire Parent A completed covering the feeding habits and schedules of Child A. The document was dated 12/11 and there were no updates made about peanut restrictions.
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