| Conclusion Summary |
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On October 23, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: Two young unknown staff miscounted a headcount on Monday October 20, 2025, leaving an almost one-year-old child alone outside for 15 to 20 minutes. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A). which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(6)(A)3. which states: "Adult supervision shall be provided at all times when children are outside. For children three (3) years of age and above, staff/child ratios may be one and one-half (1 1/2) times the indoor staff/child ratios. The required indoor staff/child ratios shall be maintained on the premises at all times."
On October 28, 2025, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Kitana McWilliams, Parent A (parent of Child A and caregiver at the facility), and teacher Britani Patterson.
CI Honea interviewed Director Kitana McWilliams who stated that she does not know the exact amount of time, or the timeline Child A (23-months-old) was left outside alone on October 20, 2025. The teachers who left Child A out alone were Val and Jonna and they were given verbal warnings. The teachers will not be alone with the children. She is planning on retraining them on using the name to face sheet. The facility does not have cameras.
CI Honea interviewed Parent A (parent of Child A and also a caregiver) who stated that they all go outside around 3:00 p.m. and usually come in at 4:00 p.m. They use the CSR paper that has all the children listed along with the check off for name to face. Val and Jonna just did a head count and not the CSR form on October 20, 2025. Britani found Child A outside at 4:30 p.m. Child A was not injured but was very upset and crying. She attempted to talk with new Director Kitana McWilliams who blew off the subject. Director Kitana McWilliams went into the classroom and announced that Val and Jonna would no longer be alone with the children.
CI Honea interviewed teacher Britani Patterson who stated that they normally go outside from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. she was giving one of her children to Val and Jonna. This is when Val and Jonna realized they didn't have Child A. She ran outside at this point and found Child A at the gate shaking, crying, with poop in her diaper. She told Parent A what happened.
On October 28, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea was not able to review video footage because there are no cameras. CI Honea did observe the play area, which faces the main street, is fully fenced and has a door that connects directly to Child A's classroom. The weather at 4:00 p.m. on October 20, 2025 was approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on staff statements, Child A (age 23-months-old), was left outside alone on October 20, 2025 for approximately 30 minutes on the playground from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On October 28, 2025, CI Honea attempted to call Jonna Harlon, but no contact was made. A message was left for a return call.
On October 31, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea interviewed Val Jimenez, at the facility who stated that on October 20, 2025, her class with Child A was outside when she joined them and then held the door for all the classes to come inside. She thought her co-teacher Jonna had all the children, so she never did the name to face. She did not notice Child A was not with them and does not know how long it was till Child A was found. Britani ran outside to get Child A and then went to get director Kitana. She was pulled from the classroom and is being trained more. She is going to make sure to do the name to face and not just assume the head count is correct from now on.
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