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On January 12, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of on January 07, 2026, Child A (3-years-old), was sent outside around 3:40 p.m. until about 4:40 p.m. in wet clothes, along with no socks or shoes. Parent A was made aware, and Child A went to the hospital for pneumonia and asthma symptoms but was discharged on January 10, 2026. On January 13, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
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 January 13, 2026, CI Hughes conducted in person interviews with director Emma Anderson, assistant director of Jenny Gilliam, Regional Sales Manager Amber Blechle, caregivers Kamora Hardin and Susan Allen and Child A and Child B.
Amber stated that Child A's teacher called up to the office at approximately 3:00 p.m. stating that Child A had another accident and did not have any more spare clothes since it was her third accident of the day, and she advised her to borrow her own daughters if needed. Staff told her that her shoes and socks were wet as well so she advised the staff to take her outside with no shoes on and to let her sit outside with an activity. There were no extra shoes for Child A to use in the entire building and for sanitation reasons she did not want to put the wet shoes back on Child A. She informed the staff that she would contact Parent A to let her know of the situation. It was a beautiful day out and Child A would be fine without shoes on since the temperature was 57 degrees Fahrenheit. She did not see anything wrong with sending Child A outside without shoes and socks. Child A was acting fine and did not show signs of being sick. It is state policy that children go outside daily, and she could not have Child A stay in with her because it is a very busy time of day. She had a family come in to take a tour of the facility and her office is not licensed approved childcare space. She forgot to contact Parent A, and it had been over an hour after the accident when Parent A arrived. She informed Parent A that Child A had an accident and did not have shoes on, but Child A had socks on since there was a bag full of those. When reviewing the footage Child A had children come over and talk to her.
Kamora stated that she is normally Child A's teacher, but she was helping in a 2-year-old classroom. When she noticed Child A was outside with no shoes and socks on, she went in and found a pair of socks for her. Child A was brought out with nothing to do but sit by the door.
Susan stated that Child A had a bathroom accident, so she called up to the office to let them know she had an accident, and she didn't have any more clothes. Management told her they would contact Parent A and to take her outside without shoes and socks on. Child A did not have socks or shoes on when she went outside. Child A was coughing while outside. It was cool outside that day, and Amber was aware that Child A was outside without shoes and socks.
Jenny stated that she is new to the company. She starts packing up to go home around 3:00 p.m. daily. She knew that Child A had a potty accident. She has been told that Child A controls the situation when she is told no by having a potty accident. There is a bin of extra shoes in the laundry room but maybe there weren't any shoes that were Child A's size. The situation should have been handled differently.
On January 13, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed video provided by the facility of Child A going outside at approximately 3:44 p.m. on January 07, 2026. Child A was placed on a ledge to sit by the door. Child A did not have shoes or socks on. CI Hughes could not see that Child A was provided anything to do while sitting. At approximately 4:08 p.m. caregiver Kamora Hardin went into the facility and found socks for Child A. CI Hughes is unable to see the socks being placed onto Child A due to the door she was sitting next to being open. At approximately 4:21 p.m. Parent A arrived to pick up Child A. CI Hughes observed Child A sitting by herself at the door getting up a couple times to walk over to someone to be returned to her spot.
Child A was outside without socks on her feet for approximately 24 minutes and without shoes for approximately 37 minutes. According to Weather Underground, the temperature on January 07, 2026 at 3:51 p.m. was 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
On January 14, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed a photo provided by Compliance Inspector (CI) Kim Kinnaird. The picture showed a bucket of shoes located in the facility laundry room. The shoe bin contained approximately 6-7 pairs of shoes.
On January 29, 2026, CI Hughes conducted an interview via phone with Parent A.
Parent A stated that she never received a call about Child A having another accident and having no clean clothes or shoes and socks. When she arrived at the facility, she was told that Child A was outside and did not have any shoes on. She picked Child A up while she was still on the playground without shoes on. Child A was taken to the hospital and admitted with pneumonia. Child A still attends the facility.
On February 18, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted a re- interview via phone with Parent A. Parent A stated that Child A was admitted into the hospital for a severe asthma attack, not pneumonia.
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