Incident investigation·August 26, 2025

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Samuel Lopez arrived at the facility to conduct a case management visit in response to the receipt of an unusual incident report (UIR). The UIR was received by the licensing agency on 8/14/2025. The UIR documented an incident that occurred on 8/13/2025 which involved a child disclosing to their parents/legal guardians that they had been grabbed by their child and hit on the hand. Upon arrival this date on 8/26/2025, LPA Lopez met with facility Site Supervisor Tayler Elms and stated the purpose of the visit. During the visit, records/facility files were reviewed and interview(s) were conducted. The child was asked and was able to disclose that they were hit by a staff in their classroom. Due to the classroom being equipped with video cameras, video footage was screened and reviewed, which confirmed a staff making physical contact with the child's hand, in the form of a swat or slap. There was additional observations made in the video footage which showed the same staff snatching a toy doll away from another child and then grabbing/pulling them by the arm. Same staff continued with similar behavior by hitting yet another child on the head with an empty basket, snapping their fingers in another child's face and snatching the child's shoes from their hand, followed by removing yet another's child's shoe, stepping on it, and then kicking the shoe towards the child. Based on the information gathered, facility failed to comply with Personal Rights, that are to be accorded to children in care. See LIC809-D for cited deficiency. LPA Samuel Lopez informed Site Supervisor Tayler Elms that this report dated August 26, 2025 document(s) (1) Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is/are immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to, the interior side of the main door for 30 days. Also, LPA Samuel Lopez informed the Site Supervisor Tayler Elms to provide a copy of this licensing report dated August 26, 2025 that documents any Type A citation(s) to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Director Tayler Elms.