The Children’s Center- Executive Court

“(Repeat Violation) Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. A spray bottle of disinfectant was located in an unlocked cabinet under the diaper changing table and a can of spray disinfectant, a bottle of glue and residue remover and a bottle of floor cleaning concentrate were located in an unlocked cabinet under the adult handwashing sink. These items were each labeled ?Keep out of reach of children” and were at floor level, within reach of children, in a classroom where six children, ages 23 to 27 months old were napping.”

“The center is required to keep a current list of all known allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions in each room or area where children are present. The list must be dated and kept confidential. Child #8 had a documented food allergy that requires emergency medication following a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Child #9 had documentation of a food intolerance. Child #10 had documentation of a food intolerance. Child #8, child #9 , and child #10 who were in care at the time of the inspection were not listed on the current list of all known allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions posted confidentially in each classroom.”

“Evidence: The Program’s Parent Handbook states that, ?It is the policy of the Children’s Center to provide children with positive, constructive discipline at all times.? Additionally, the handbook states, ?The following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: rough handling [a child] and enclosure in any space that the child cannot freely exit himself.? Video footage of a two-year-old classroom on 3/15/2024, 3/18/2024, and 3/22/2024 revealed incidences of staff responding to children’s behaviors by roughly handling children and blocking a child’s chair against a table so that the child could not freely exit.”

“Evidence: On 3/18/2024, following lunch time, staff failed to provide children in care needed help, comfort, support. Between approximately 12:02 pm when child #1 (two years old) sat at the table following the end of lunch and approximately 12:21 pm when child #1 was given crackers, child #1 moved around the classroom crying and making loud articulations. Staff #2 said to child #1 “Stop crying! Ain’t no reason for that! Ain’t no eat eat eat!”.? Child #1 was observed walking up to staff #1, standing directly in front of staff #1 and crying loudly with no response from staff #1.”

“Evidence: On 3/15/2024 and 3/18/2024, during lunch time, staff failed to administer behavior guidance which was constructive in nature, age, and stage appropriate and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. 1. On 3/15/2024, at approximately 11:47 am, staff #1 lifted child #1 up off of the ground by both arms, attempting to make her pick up the toy she had knocked from the shelf. At approximately 11:48 am, child #2 (2 years old) turned around in his seat and was watching staff #1?s interaction with child #1. Child #2?s plate was moved out of immediate reach at 11:48. At 11:49 Staff #1 states ?go ahead and get it? to child # 2. Child #2 reached and retrieved his plate. 2. On 3/18/2024 at approximately 11:37 am, staff #2, in response to child #2 spitting, repeatedly tapped child #2?s mouth with the disposable wipe she had been cleaning the table with while saying ?No thank you! No thank you!? At approximately 11:37 am, staff #2, in response to child #4 (2 years old) refusing to sit at the lunch table, grasped child #4 by the arm and forcibly pulled child #4 back into the chair.”

“Based on a review of video footage, it was determined that the facility did not ensure that children wash their hands with soap and running water or disposable wipes before and after eating snacks and meals and staff wash their hands with soap and running water before preparing or serving food or beverages. Evidence: Children’s hands were not washed prior to eating lunch or after eating lunch on 3/15/2024 and disposable wipes were not used. On 3/15/2024, Staff #2 did not wash their hands prior to serving food and assisting children with lunch. On 3/15/2024 Staff #1 broke child #2?s hamburger into pieces without washing her hands.”

“Based on a review of video footage, written documentation, as well as the center’s written polices and procedures, the licensee did not ensure that the center’s operational responsibilities include ensuring that the program’s activities and services are maintained in compliance with the center’s own established policies and procedures. Evidence: The Program’s Parent Handbook states that children will be provided ?positive, constructive discipline at all times?. Additionally, the handbook states that following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: ?Physical punishment, striking a child?. Staff #1 failed to follow the program’s discipline policy when she struck a 21 month old child (child #1) in the face with the flat side of a stack of papers in response to child #1 ?blowing raspberries?; with his mouth and tongue.”

“Camera footage of the outdoor area on 8/26/2022 was viewed on site, by the inspector, on 9/13/2022. The footage showed child #1 attempting to climb into the basket of a grocery cart push toy. Using a digital timer, the licensing inspector observed that approximately 23 seconds passed from the time that child #1 placed his foot into the basket of the push toy and began climbing into it when another child approached the basket, tried to push it, and child #1 fell to the ground. Two staff (staff #1 and staff #2) were in the vicinity of approximately 6 to 8 feet from child #1 and did not intervene. Further video footage showed that after child #1 fell to the ground both staff (#1 and #2) looked at child #1. Neither staff moved toward child #1, following his fall, to assess for injury or comfort the crying child. It was not until child #1 walked over and stood directly in front of staff #1, approximately 26 seconds later, that staff #1 attended to the child. At that point, after noticing blood on child #1?s hand when he moved it from his head, staff #1 moved quickly, in a sudden motion, to examine child #1?s head. Staff #2 said that when she ?saw he had fallen? I went to go [to him], but then he attempted to get up and seemed okay. Then [staff #1] saw the blood on his hand?. When staff #2 was asked why she did not go to child #1 immediately after he fell she stated that they ?don’t force yourself? on children. ?I was going to say `Come here?. I did not know his head had been hit.? 8VAC20-780-400-B. Based on interviews and viewing of video footage, the center staff did not always ensure that behavioral guidance was constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. On 8/26/2022, a two year old child climbed into the basket of a toy shopping cart, stood up in the basket and then fell, striking his head and incurring a cut on his scalp. During interviews at the center on 9/13/2022, staff #1, stated that she heard a third staff member yelling from the deck area across the playground for child #1 to get down from the toy when he was standing in it. Staff #1 described seeing another child push the toy shopping cart while this other child ?Kept saying? to child #1, ?No [child#1]! Stop [child #1]!? Staff #1 stated that child #1?s ?foot got stuck and the whole basket fell?. The inspector asked staff #1 why she did not remove child #1 from the basket when she observed him standing in it. Staff #1 replied ?He is one that will continue to do it, regardless, until he wants to stop. I am pretty sure we also said to get out?. During an interview on the same day, staff #2 stated ?I think he climbed in [the cart]. When I turned around and saw him ? I started laughing and said `why don’t you get down? You can’t??? and ?before I knew it, he fell. I assume he was trying to get out?.”

“On 8/26/2022, a two year old child climbed into the basket of a toy shopping cart, stood up in the basket and then fell, striking his head and incurring a cut on his scalp. During interviews at the center on 9/13/2022, staff #1, stated that she heard a third staff member yelling from the deck area across the playground for child #1 to get down from the toy when he was standing in it. Staff #1 described seeing another child push the toy shopping cart while this other child ?Kept saying? to child #1, ?No [child#1]! Stop [child #1]!? Staff #1 stated that child #1?s ?foot got stuck and the whole basket fell?. The inspector asked staff #1 why she did not remove child #1 from the basket when she observed him standing in it. Staff #1 replied ?He is one that will continue to do it, regardless, until he wants to stop. I am pretty sure we also said to get out?. During an interview on the same day, staff #2 stated ?I think he climbed in [the cart]. When I turned around and saw him ? I started laughing and said `why don’t you get down? You can’t??? and ?before I knew it, he fell. I assume he was trying to get out?.”

“Based on interviews and a review of documentation, the center did not inform the department of an injury to a child that occurred while the child was under the supervision of the center and required outside medical attention. Evidence: A two year old child (child #1) was injured while in care at the center on 8/26/2022 and required outside medical attention to close a cut on child #1?s scalp. Staff #1 stated during the interview on 9/13/2022 that following the injury, she spoke with the child’s family to arrange for him to be picked up and advised them to ?take him to the hospital just to be checked out?. Staff #1 went on to say that she has been certified in First Aid and CPR for 17 years and knows that when a child sustains a head injury ?it is best to have them checked by a doctor?. Despite staff advising the family to seek medical attention, the center did not notify the Department or the assigned inspector of child #1?s injury. Injuries requiring outside medical attention must be reported to the department’s representative as soon as practical, but not to exceed two business days, of the injury occurring.”