Office review·March 7, 2023

An Informal video conference was held between Licensing Program Manager (LPM), Leslie Lepori, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Melchisedeck Augustin, and Area Leader, Melanie Koontz-DeMarchi (FR), to review the current Non-Compliance Conference (NCC) plan, address recently cited areas, and discuss a plan for increased supervision, facility’s hiring policies, maintaining adequate staffing & ratios, preventing uncleared staff citations, and reinitiating the Technical Support Program (TSP) which is a non-enforcement program. According to FR, she met with facility management on a rotational schedule which includes bi-weekly meeting to discuss matters related to licensing regulatory requirements. The Assistant Director (AD) reviewed Child Supervision Record (CSR) with staff and FR was available to provide the facility with suggestion(s) on how to effectively schedule staff and children into their assigned classrooms. FR stated the facility currently had enough staff to maintain staffing ratio requirements and encourages Director to overstaff to compensate for any staff turnover and increase supervision. The facility currently strives for six additional staff on the roster and has expanded their recruiting efforts, specifically increased outreach to colleges. The facility occasionally has access to a recruiter for six weeks at a time to assist with conducting reference check(s) and initial interviews. To relieve facility management from some onboarding duties and to assist with successful onboarding, the facility intends to have newly hired staff participate in a three-day virtual onboarding, so they may learn about their position and acclimate to their new position, receive hands on training in a classroom environment; and receive a 30-60- & 90-day follow up assessment. FR confirmed there were currently more Aides than qualified teachers recruited but, the facility's overall plan is to develop and train Aides to become fully qualified teacher(s) by means of the facility’s in-house CDA program, the facility offered education reimbursement; it was noted that the facility management worked with the local colleges for efforts to further recruitment. (Continue to LIC 809-C) In an effort to reduce staff turnover, FR discussed recent efforts to increase salaries to retain experienced staff and the implementation of the Service Value Center which acknowledges staff for their efforts and work they do. FR stated staff continue to utilize the ABC chart to address children with challenging behavior(s), as well as facility management to ensure staff understood how to use the chart. FR stated the facility is ensuring a safe indoor and outdoor environment by installing a higher fence to deter vagrants and having staff canvas the outdoor area more frequently each day for hazardous material. FR agreed to participate in TSP, in which LPM, Lepori will reinitiate a referral to cover the areas discussed today. FR further stated that her territory was recently decreased (12 to 10 Centers) which allows more time to her existing territory, including this Kindercare location. FR agreed to increased oversight by being on site every other week with another experience Center Director on site the alternate weeks. FR will be available by phone and follow up meetings with the Center Director when necessary. FR agreed to submit a monthly report to the Department between the first and the fifth of each month for six months to show the current monthly staffing numbers and scheduling compared to children’s census and measurable progress quantifying staff experience and training. FR was reminded of the increased inspection authority during the NCC compliance plan and that the facility is due for a full annual required inspection. LPM, Lepori, further reminded FR of the requirement for substantial compliance during this time to avoid any potential administrative action in which FR acknowledged.