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On May 18, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that they are telling kids they are going to be taken outside to be spanked. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8. - No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity.
On May 20, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with Caregiver Judy Mohesky, Caregiver Karissa Rutledge, Parent A (who is also a caregiver), and Parent B (who is also a caregiver). Judy reported they have a parent with their own child in care and they have told their own child she'd take them outside to spank them. Karissa reported Parent B told her own kid she'd take her out and spank her. Parent B reported she's told her own child she would take her outside to spank her. Parent A reported she's threatened to take her own child outside to spank them, and Parent B has also threatened to take her child outside to spank. Caregivers reported no child has actually been spanked.
Based on the information provided, Parent A (who is also a caregiver) and Parent B (who is also a caregiver) used a discipline technique which was threatening by threatening their own children with spankings.
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