| Conclusion Summary |
|
On November 4, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that they are constantly short-staffed and constantly out of ratio. This past week or so, there was a time when nobody was there covering breaks. The reporter was standing in the doorway watching four 1-year olds, as well as four 1-year olds on the other side of the half wall, and then also watching 10 2-year-olds all during nap time with no other staff member in the room. 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 25-500.112(1)(A), which states "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On November 4, 2025, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Maria Kirkpatrick, Caregiver Mataya Morales, Caregiver Krista Hopkins, and Caregiver Mia Hampton. Maria stated that she did ask Mia and Krista to stand alone in the doorway of the infant/toddler room that leads to the 2-year-old classroom and cover both classrooms for 30 minutes during naptime. In the infant/toddler room, there were eight children, ages 12 months old to 23 months old. In the 2-year-old classroom, there were eight children aged 2 years old. Mataya stated that she did know about Maria asking caregivers to stand in the doorway to watch two different classrooms while the children were taking a nap. Krista and Mia stated that they had been asked to stand alone in the doorway of the infant/toddler room and cover the 2-year-old classroom during naptime. Krista stated she had four children aged 12 months to 23 months old, and the 2-year-old classroom had eight children, if she recalls correctly.
|