Incident investigation·April 11, 2024

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Melchisedeck Augustin made an unannounced Case Management (CM) visit and met with the Center Director (CD), Brenda Hardaway, for the purpose of investigating circumstances surrounding an incident involving a staff (S1) which allegedly picked up and threw a child (C1) to the floor. On 04/09/24, the facility initially notified the Department of the incident by submitting a written Unusual Incident Report. During the today's visit, the school age children were not present as they were in school. LPA interviewed CD and staff (S2-S5), requested a personnel record, and obtained facility roster of the children currently in care. According to CD's statement, she was not present during the alleged incident, however; CD did report that she spoke with multiple children in the class that confirmed S1 grabbed C1 by the arm because C1 did not do what S1 had asked. CD said immediately after the incident, she spoke with and removed S1 from the classroom, and the facility intends to initiate its own internal investigation. A follow up visit is required to interview the children. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Center Director, Brenda Hardaway. Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100. The were no Title 22 Deficiencies cited at this time.