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On April 20, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on Friday, April 17, 2026, a child (age 2) was left outside while in the care of Brenda Hinkle. 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 25-500.182(1)(A)1., 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 April 21, 2026, CI West interviewed Reporter Sabrina Glynn, who stated that she spoke with Parent A (Parent of Child A), who stated that Child A (2 years old) was outside alone on the daycare's playground when she picked him up on April 17, 2026.
On April 23, 2026, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Owner and Director Brenda Hinkle and Caregiver Rhonda Hoover. Brenda stated that on April 17, 2026, Child A was in her care while at the daycare. She told the children to line up so they could go outside. She noticed that one of the children needed a diaper change. The diapering table is up against the wall, so her back would be to the door while standing at the diapering table. She had two mirrors positioned so that she could keep an eye on the children and the door while changing the diaper. She heard the front door open, and she said, "Shut the door", without looking to see who had opened the door. She turned around at 2:47 p.m. and saw Parent A standing outside the door holding Child A. Parent A stated that when she pulled in to pick up, she saw Child A outside on the playground alone without adult supervision.
Rhonda stated that she was working at the daycare on April 17, 2026. She was in the back with the preschool children. She remembers hearing Brenda say, "Shut the door". She looked around the corner and saw that the door was closed. She saw Parent A coming in the door already holding Child A. Brenda told her that Child A was able to let himself out onto the playground. Child A was outside alone when Parent A arrived to pick him up.
On April 23, 2026, CI West conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed the infant/toddler room and the playground. The diapering table is placed against the wall across from the door. To the left and the right of the diapering table there are mirrors on the wall. The door leading outside leads directly onto the playground. The playground is fenced in with a gate that leads to the driveway.
On May 20, 2026, CI West interviewed Parent A, who stated that on April 17, 2026, she arrived at the daycare around 2:40 p.m. When she pulled into the driveway, she could see Child A outside on the playground alone without adult supervision.
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