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On May 26, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that Codie Southworth, a daycare worker, told Parent A that they tell the kids to hit each other back. Parent A has heard through the grapevine that some of the workers are hitting the children. Codie Southworth smacked a child's hand. Eliza pulling a child's hair and smacking their arm. 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)3. - Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions.
On May 28, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A. She reported that she has sent a screenshot of a conversation where Caregiver Codie Southworth said she tells kids to hit each other back if they are getting hit.
On May 28, 2026, CI Radney received a screenshot of a text message to Parent A from Codie, which stated "I tell a few of the kids that if any of the kids keep hitting and throwing rocks after they've been in trouble for it multiple times to just hit them back and they won't get in trouble."
On May 29, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Caregiver Codie Southworth. She reported she has told children to hit each other back if they get hit because it usually is the same two children who are hitting and they don't listen and time out doesn't work.
Caregiver Codie Southworth telling a child to hit another child back is not age-appropriate or constructive discipline.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. - Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited.
On May 28, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A. She is a parent of a child in the facility. On the videos, she observed Codie and Aunt F hitting different kids; a little boy was smacked in the hand and grabbed by the arm and a little boy's hair was grabbed. She has a screenshot of a conversation where Codie said she tells kids to hit each other back if they are getting hit.
On May 28, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with Director Caitlyn Southworth and Caregiver Aunt F. Aunt F reported she pulled her nephew's hair (Child F) once and tapped his hands once; both were because he was misbehaving. She thought she could do that since it was her nephew. Caitlyn reported she did not observe Codie hit Child C until seen on video. Aunt F is observed in the video grabbing Child F's hair and smacking his arm. Child F is Aunt F's nephew.
On May 28, 2026, CI Radney received and reviewed video footage of the incidents described. Codie is observed using her right hand to smack Child C's right hand while he is sitting at a table. She says "Quit" to the child as she smacks his hand. Aunt F is observed grabbing a child's (blue shirt) hair and pulling it backward while he is sitting at a table. Aunt F is observed smacking a child's (blue shirt) forearm while he is sitting at a table.
On May 29, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Codie Southworth. Child F's mom told her to smack him in the butt or on the hand if he's not listening. It would have been for discipline, like if a child was hitting another child.
Caregivers Codie Southworth and Aunt F were observed on video hitting/smacking children's hands/arms. They reported they did so because the children were misbehaving. Aunt F was observed on video pulling a child's hair and reported it was due to him misbehaving. Physical punishment, including hitting and hair pulling, is prohibited.
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