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On March 20, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that a minor under the age of 18 has been employed full-time since August 1, 2025. This individual has been placed alone multiple times in charge of a group of eight or more children between the ages of 4 and 5. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(C) - Caregivers eighteen (18) years of age or older shall be counted in meeting the required staff/child ratios. In addition, a Junior Aide as defined in 5 CSR 25-500.010, shall be counted in meeting the required staff/child ratios if the following requirements are met: 1. A Junior Aide-- A. May count in staff/child ratio only if under the direct supervision of an adult caregiver within the same group of children; B. Shall not have the direct responsibility for a group of children as the sole caregiver.
On March 24, 2026, CI Radney conducted interviews with Candice Branstetter and Callie Branstetter. They reported Callie is 16 years old.
On March 30, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A and Parent B. Parent A stated she has observed Callie caring for children without an adult present. She assumed Callie was 18 years old. Parent B stated that Callie has been one of the caregivers present at drop off. She isn't sure how often Callie is alone at drop off, but it happened once last week.
On April 2, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent I. Her child is with Callie at drop off or pick up sometimes. She has observed Callie caring for children without an adult present.
On April 3, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent O and Parent R. Parent O stated that Callie is her child's teacher. She has seen Callie caring for children without an adult present all the time. Callie is their main teacher, and she assumes Callie is 16 or 17 years old. Every time she has picked up her daughter, she's observed Callie in ratio without an adult present. Parent R stated that Callie is her child's teacher. She has observed Callie caring for children without an adult present once a day at pick up.
Based on the information from staff and parents, the allegation is substantiated. Callie Branstetter is 16 years old and, therefore, is a Junior Aide. She has been observed by parents counting in ratio while not under the direct supervision of an adult caregiver within the same group of children, and she has been observed to have direct responsibility for a group of children as the sole caregiver.
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