| Conclusion Summary |
|
On May 15, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that daycare worker Laurie Grossman was observed on camera striking the 1-year-old child in the face at the daycare. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. which states: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On May 21, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Garret Osgood, Caregiver Ashton Wolfenbarger, Caregiver Jessalyn Townsend, and Caregiver Kristie Jackson. Garret stated that he received a text from Ashton on May 14, 2026, who had heard about a physical discipline concern that she wanted him to look into to verify if the incident actually happened. He heard that Kristie observed former Caregiver Laurie Grossman pop Child A in the mouth after Child A tried to bite her. He immediately observed video camera footage from May 13, 2026 and observed Child A sitting on Laurie's lap at around 3:09 p.m. He observed Child A possibly biting Laurie. Laurie reacted by tapping Child A on the mouth and setting Child A down on the floor in front of her. Jessalyn stated that she heard about the incident from Kristie. Ashton stated that she first heard about the concern from Jessalyn, who had heard about the concern from Kristie. After hearing about the concern from Jessalyn on May 14, 2026, she immediately notified Garret so he could observe video footage of the incident. She also observed video footage of Laurie popping Child A on the mouth after Child A bit Laurie's stomach on May 14, 2026 sometime in the afternoon. Child A appeared to have been crying after she was slapped by Laurie. Kristie stated that she observed Laurie pop Child A in the mouth on May 13, 2026, at around 3:00 p.m. Child A had bitten Laurie's stomach, and Laurie instinctively popped Child A on the mouth. She had told Jessalyn about the concern on May 14, 2026. Child A appeared upset after Laurie had popped her on the mouth.
CI Eddins interviewed Parent A, who stated that Garret had reached out to her the same day the incident happened to let her know about the concern. Garret told her that Child A had bitten Laurie, and then Laurie had placed her hand on Child A's face.
On May 21, 2026, CI Eddins reviewed footage from May 13, 2026. The video footage showed Child A standing next to Caregiver Laurie Grossman and pushing her face into Laurie's stomach. Laurie pushed Child A back with her hands and slapped Child A on her left cheek.
|