complaint·July 8, 2022

Page 2: age and being non-verbal (infants). Documents obtained and reviewed were as follows: Roster, Tadpole Daily Reports for C1 from 3/8/22 to 4/14/22, Infant Room Standard Operating Procedures, Parent Handbook, Diet Restriction Letter for C1, and C1\342\200\231s Infant schedule completed on 3/10/22. Per complainant, alleges on 4/14/22, around 2:00 p.m., Staff #4 (S4) force fed Child #1 (C1) with a spoon, while feeding C1 pureed baby food, causing child to cry, staff continued force feeding C1. During interview conducted with complainant, complainant stated C1 is given solid foods at home, and C1 has no trouble eating solids provided. Complainant stated that staff were aware of C1 trying new solid foods, and complainant provided all foods to the daycare for C1 to eat. Complainant also alleges facility staff did not document accurate amounts of food given to C1, in facility\342\200\231s Tadpole application. Pertaining to the allegation: Staff are force feeding daycare child. During interviews conducted with staff, S4 stated that on 4/14/22, C1 \342\200\230s authorized representative brought in a new pureed solid food for C1 to try. S4 stated that a verbal authorization by C1\342\200\231s parent was given to introduce and feed, a new pureed food to C1. S4 went ahead and fed C1, C1\342\200\231s food brought from home. S4 also stated C1 was only drinking bottled formula prior to this new pureed food. S4 stated that on 4/14/22, C1 was \342\200\234fussing\342\200\235 prior to C1\342\200\231s feeding. S4 began feeding C1 a little bit of the pureed food brought from C1\342\200\231s home, with a spoon, and C1 began gagging. S4 stated she noticed chunks in the pureed food, so S4 stirred pureed food to make it mushier, and tried to feed C1 for a second time. Per S4, C1 began to gag again, and S4 stopped feeding C1 the pureed food and proceeded to give C1 a premade bottle brought from C1\342\200\231s home. S2 stated that C1 was having difficulty swallowing C1\342\200\231s pureed food brought from home, and S2 called C1\342\200\231s authorized representative to inform of C1\342\200\231s difficulty with the food. During interview with staff, S1 and S2, both staff stated they observed the video footage of the incident on 4/14/22, C1 was observed choking on the pureed solid food, not the spoon. During interviews conducted with staff, 5 out of 5 staff stated premade bottles and infant food are provided by children\342\200\231s authorized representatives. All staff interviewed denied allegation of S4 force feeding C1 with spoon. During interviews conducted with 6 children\342\200\231s authorized representatives, no disclosures were made regarding this allegation. During review of the Parent Handbook, it states, \342\200\234Please provide us with freshly prepared bottles and food daily.\342\200\235 LPA reviewed Infant Room Standard Operating Procedures, which states, \342\200\234The introduction of solid foods will depend on the infant\342\200\231s readiness and only with the permission of the parents or guardians. Infants should be able to sit independently, hold their heads steadily, open their mouths when a spoon approaches, Page 3: and swallows easily.\342\200\235 LPA reviewed the Diet Restriction Letter, completed for C1, by C1\342\200\231s authorized representative. LPA observed Diet Restriction Letter stating reason for C1\342\200\231s diet is, \342\200\234Personal Preference\342\200\235 stating C1 authorized representative will be providing C1 with food and snacks. Pertaining to the allegation: Staff are not properly documenting day care child's feeding, Per 5 out of 5 staff interviewed, 5 staff stated that staff immediately document a child\342\200\231s feeding, after being fed, into the Tadpoles application. S4 stated that staff will document children\342\200\231s daily activities, including meals and mealtimes, on a white board inside the classroom, as a way of communicating children\342\200\231s activities to the parents as well. During review of Tadpole application for C1, it was observed that staff did document C1\342\200\231s food intake for dates 3/8/22 to 4/14/22. LPA observed bottles were offered to C1 approximately every 2 to 4 hours. There were 0 to 8 ounces consumed by C1. LPA observed bottles offered more frequently if C1 consumed 0 to 1 ounces or solid foods were offered in between bottles. Feeding times varied. During review of the Parent Handbook, it stated, \342\200\234Please provide us with freshly prepared bottles and food daily.\342\200\235 During review of Tadpole application for C1, LPA observed C1 was offered both C1\342\200\231s premade bottles and solid foods, provided by C1\342\200\231s authorized representative, during C1\342\200\231s feeding times in C1\342\200\231s Tadpole daily report for dates 3/8/22 to 4/14/22. LPA observed, in C1\342\200\231s Tadpole daily reports, how many ounces were offered and how many ounces C1 consumed, or, the solid foods offered that were eaten or denied. LPA reviewed the Diet Restriction Letter, completed for C1, by C1\342\200\231s authorized representative. LPA observed Diet Restriction Letter stating reason for C1\342\200\231s diet is, \342\200\234Personal Preference\342\200\235 stating C1 authorized representative will be providing C1 with food and snacks. During interviews conducted with 6 children\342\200\231s authorized representatives from the Infant Room and Preschool room, 1 out of 6 children\342\200\231s authorized representatives, from the Preschool program, stated the Tadpole daily reports are completed 3 to 4 days a week on average, and are missing details regarding toileting, feeding, and napping. No other disclosures were made regarding above allegations. On 7/08/2022, LPA toured Room I, younger infant room ages 6 weeks to 18 months, and observed a white board on the wall, that listed bottles, food, nap times, and diaper changing times for each child present in the room. Per Director, the board is used as a visual reminder for staff for estimated times of each child's individual feeding, diapering, and napping schedules. Based on C1\342\200\231s authorized representative providing food for C1 to eat, C1\342\200\231s authorized representative\342\200\231s verbal approval of C1 eating solid foods, no staff disclosures made of S4 force feeding C1 with a spoon, and Tadpole documentation observed for C1\342\200\231s meals and meal times, although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. Page 4: Notice of Site Visit was posted. The notice of site visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The licensee was provided a copy of their appeal right (LIC 9058 1/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. Exit interview was conducted with Director, Tina Trenner. In the area which was investigated no deficiencies were cited today. This report ends here. (End of Report)