Incident investigation·July 2, 2024

On 7/2/24, at 1:45 PM, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Elizabeth George and Elvin Baddley conducted an unannounced Case Management Inspection at the abovementioned Child Care Center (CCC) to address an Unusual Incident Report (UIR) received by the Department on 6/18/24. The incident involved a child (C1) in care leaving the CCC and being trailed by a staff member, which ultimately left the facility operating outside of staff to child ratio for 15-18 minutes. LPAs met with Nevaeh Hinton, acting Site Supervisor of the CCC, and explained the nature and purpose of the inspection. LPAs toured the interior and exterior of the CCC and observed 31 children present along with five teachers providing care and supervision. Site Supervisor discussed the incident with LPAs. Site Supervisor informed LPAs the CCC was operating within the staff to children ratio prior to C1 wondering off from the CCC's classroom. Site Supervisor also noted the CCC was operating outside of ratio (1 staff to 20 children) for about 15-18 minutes, before an additional staff member arrived on site. Site Supervisor noted the CCC would have had an appropriate level of staff to children on site had a staff member not arrived late on the given date. Site Supervisor informed LPAs the CCC had been operating two weeks prior to the incident and staff members were aware C1 had a tendency to wonder from the classroom. It should be noted C1 is not longer attending the CCC and C1's caregiver reportedly expressed the CCC's program was not "a good fit" for the child. Given the LPAs\342\200\231 observations, along with interviews and record reviews, it is determined the children at the CCC were not placed at risk given the CCC operating outside of ratio for a brief period of time. Moreover, the staff to child ratio was only compromised given an exigent circumstance of a child wondering. The wondering child was addressed without incident and the children who remained in the classroom with the single staff member were not jeopardized . No deficiencies were cited during today's inspection. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Facility Representative Nevaeh Hinton.