State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. DC D Great Oaks Preschool & Child Care

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1 RICK SNYDER GOVERNOR State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING MAURA D. CORRIGAN DIRECTOR June 17, 2013 Shannon Donley Great Oaks Preschool and Child Care, LLC th Street Spring Lake, MI RE: Lic./Reg. #: Investigation #: DC D Great Oaks Preschool & Child Care Dear Mrs. Donley: Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. Due to the violations identified in the report, a written corrective action plan was required. On May 21, 2013, you submitted an acceptable written corrective action plan. It is expected that the corrective action plan be implemented within the specified time frames as outlined in the approved plan. Please review the enclosed documentation for accuracy and feel free to contact me with any questions. In the event that I am not available and you need to speak to someone immediately, please feel free to contact the local office at (616) Per MCL g, this report and any related corrective action plans must be filed in your licensing notebook. Sincerely, Debra Purdom, Licensing Consultant Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing Unit 13, 7th Floor 350 Ottawa, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI (616) enclosure P.O. BOX LANSING, MICHIGAN (517)

2 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION License #: Investigation #: DC D Complaint Receipt Date: 04/29/2013 Investigation Initiation Date: 05/01/2013 Report Due Date: 06/28/2013 Licensee Name: Licensee Address: Great Oaks Preschool and Child Care, LLC th Street Spring Lake, MI Licensee Telephone #: (616) Administrator: Licensee Designee: Name of Facility: Facility Address: Shannon Donley, Designee Shannon Donley, Designee Great Oaks Preschool & Child Care th Street Spring Lake, MI Facility Telephone #: (616) Original Issuance Date: 06/14/2012 License Status: REGULAR Effective Date: 12/12/2012 Expiration Date: 12/11/2014 Capacity: 56 Program Type: CHILD CARE CENTER 1

3 II. ALLEGATION(S) On or about 4/22/13, Child A (male, age 30 months) was in care at the center. When Child A s Mother arrived to pick up, Child A ran to the door and opened it as if to go outside to her. On 04/19/13, Child B (male, age 6 months) was initially placed on his stomach to sleep in his crib. It appears bottles are being warmed in a microwave. Toilet training is not consistent. III. METHODOLOGY 04/29/2013 Special Investigation Intake D /01/2013 Special Investigation Initiated - On Site - 9:00AM until 1:30PM 05/02/2013 Contact - Telephone call made to Child A's and Child B's Father, left message 05/02/2013 Contact - Telephone call made spoke with center caregivers 05/02/2013 Contact - Telephone call made to parents of children in care 05/07/2013 Contact - Telephone call made to parents of children in care 05/09/2013 Contact - Telephone call made to licensee, to parents of children in care 05/09/2013 Contact - Telephone call made - second attempt to speak with Child A s and Child B s Mother and Father 05/09/2013 Contact - Telephone call received from Child A and Child B s Mother and Child G's Mother 05/13/2013 Inspection Completed-BCAL Sub. Compliance 05/21/2013 Inspection Completed On-site - unannounced 05/21/2013 Exit Conference 05/21/2013 Corrective Action Plan Requested and Due on 05/21/ /21/2013 Corrective Action Plan Received 05/22/2013 Corrective Action Plan Approved 2

4 ALLEGATION: On or about 4/22/13, Child A (male, age 30 months) was in care at the center. When Child A s Mother arrived to pick up, Child A ran to the door and opened it as if to go outside to her. INVESTIGATION: When I spoke with Child A s Mother, she informed me that Child A recently had been moved to the Core classroom in the middle of the center from a younger classroom. Child A s Mother stated that on or about April 9, 2013, caregiver Sara Dobrowski told her that Child A ran toward the outside door like he was going to open it and go outside. Child A s Mother believes Child A was returned to the young toddler room as punishment for the remainder of the day. Child A s Mother stated that Ms. Dobrowski told her it was for Child A s safety that he was placed in the young toddler room, but Child A s Mother was disappointed that Child A remained in the young toddler room for the day and no effort was made to bring him back to the Core classroom that day. Child A was returned to the Core classroom the following day. On or about April 22, 2013 at about 5:15 PM, Child A s Mother arrived at the center. Child A was in the core classroom and ran to the door and held it open for her as she was getting out of her car. Child A s Mother stated she did not see any caregiver approach Child A to get him from the door. I spoke with caregivers Jordan Halloran, Erin Kolbe, and Renoda Hunter. Ms. Hunter stated that Child A had been in her toddler classroom until he was moved to the core classroom. On 04/09/13, Ms. Kolbe brought Child A back to the classroom and told her that Child A had been running to the door and she did not feel Child A was ready to be in the Core classroom yet. The toddler classroom does not open directly to the outdoors, so Child A would be safer in that classroom. When I spoke with Ms. Kolbe she stated that Child A had recently transitioned out of the toddler room. On 04/09/13, Child A was repeatedly running toward the door leading directly outdoors. Ms. Kolbe stated that Child A had been redirected and told not to open the door. For his safety, Child A was returned to the toddler classroom for the day. Each caregiver stated it was for safety reasons only, not to punish. Jordan Halloran was the caregiver in the Core classroom on 04/22/13. She recalled that Child A ran towards the door when his mother arrived. Ms. Halloran stated she was aware that Child A was at the door and was watching Child A the entire time. She saw Child A s Mother tell Child A it was not alright to open the door for her when she arrived at the center. I spoke to licensee Shannon Donley who stated that the doors to the outside open by pressing on the bar and are not locked shut on the inside. She stated that all children are told that they may not go outside without an adult and that caregivers always supervise the children to keep them from going out the doors. Ms. Donley 3

5 stated that she has successfully used visual cues to prevent children from entering other areas of the center, so she will put red tape on the floor as a visual cue to children telling them not to go past the tape without an adult. On 05/21/13, during the follow-up onsite inspection, I observed the red tape that serves as a visual cue for children in the Core classroom. Ms. Donley stated the strategy has been successful in keeping children from approaching the doors. Ms. Donley stated that she is often in the Core classroom and has observed caregivers supervising children at all times. APPLICABLE RULE R Supervision and ratio requirements. (1) The center shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: Caregivers provide appropriate supervision of children in the center at all times. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED ALLEGATION: On 04/19/13 (Child B, male, age 6 months) was initially placed on his stomach to sleep in his crib. INVESTIGATION: Child A s and B s Mother stated that Child B was placed on his stomach to sleep. To her knowledge, Child B was not able to roll from his back to his stomach and from his stomach to his back. She stated that caregiver Sara Dobrowski told her that Child B could roll over so he could be placed on his stomach to sleep. Ms. Dobrowski added that he slept better on his stomach. Child A s and B s Mother stated that she did not think Child B could roll yet and asked Ms. Dobrowski to place Child B on his back to sleep. Ms. Dobrowski stated she would. On 04/23/13, Child A and B s Mother stated that Ms. Dobrowski told her that Child B rolled onto his stomach and slept. Again, Child B s Mother stated that Child B has not been rolling on his stomach at home, and asked Ms. Dobrowski to always start Child B on his back to sleep as she has not observed Child B rolling at home. Ms. Dobrowski stated she would. When I spoke with Ms. Dobrowski, she stated that she has observed Child B rolling from his back to his stomach and from his stomach to his back during play time. Ms. Dobrowski stated she observed Child B roll from his back to his stomach and from his stomach to his back on three separate occasions. Based on her observations, she believed it was okay to initially place Child B on his stomach to sleep, especially since he slept so much better. I reminded Ms. Dobrowski and Ms. Donley that according to licensing rules, even if children can roll, they must be placed initially on 4

6 their backs to sleep. Ms. Donley stated that she will require all infant caregivers to review safe sleep practices immediately, and will cover the topic in the next staff meeting. APPLICABLE RULE R a Infant sleeping and supervision. (1) Infants shall be placed on their backs for resting and sleeping. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: Child B was not initially placed on his back to sleep. VIOLATION ESTABLISHED ALLEGATION: It appears bottles are being warmed in a microwave. INVESTIGATION: From what they could observe and from speaking with caregivers, Child A s and B s Mother and Father suspect bottles are being warmed in a microwave at the center. Child A s and B s Father did ask Ms. Donley how bottles were warmed and was told by placing them in warm water. Child A s and B s Mother stated that she learned that bottle caps were found in the microwave, so the bottles must be warmed in the microwave. Child A s and B s Mother and Father did not observe any separate containers in the infant room to heat bottles in warm water. During the onsite inspection on 05/01/13, I asked Ms. Donley to demonstrate how bottles are warmed. There is a separate area in the infant room with a microwave and refrigerator. Ms. Donley demonstrated the bottle warming process. She showed me a bowl of water in the microwave. Ms. Donley stated that caregivers heat the water in the microwave for approximately 2 3 minutes. They place the bottle in the water after the water is warmed. There is a kitchen timer on the microwave that they set for 2 3 minutes. The microwave itself is not in operation during this phase. Only the timer is operating. Ms. Donley explained that they keep the bowl of warm water and the bottle in the microwave, but they do not run the microwave while the bottle is in the bowl of water. Ms. Donley stated that parents are informed how bottles are warmed when infants are enrolled. At the follow-up inspection on 05/21/13, Ms. Donley showed me that they now place the bowl on top of the microwave after it is heated, put the bottle in the water and use the timer to make sure the bottle is not in the water for more than 2 to 3 minutes. Ms. Donley believes this will eliminate any confusion for parents. A written description of the process for warming bottles is also posted for parents to read. I spoke with Child D s (female, age 2 months) Mother and was told that the bottle warming process was explained to her and that bottles are warmed in a bowl of 5

7 warm water that has been heated in a microwave. Child D s and E s Mother stated she has not seen any bottles warmed in a microwave. I spoke with Child G s (male, age 7 months) Mother who stated that she has seen bottles warmed in a bowl of warm water that was heated in the microwave. Child G s Mother has never had any concerns for her child s care at the center. APPLICABLE RULE R Formula; milk; foods generally. (1) When infants and toddlers are fed at the center, the center shall assure the following: (c) If bottles or food are warmed, then it shall be done in a safe, appropriate manner. (i) Warming bottles in a microwave oven is prohibited. (ii) Warmed bottles and food shall be shaken or stirred to distribute the heat, and the temperature tested before feeding. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: Bottles are warmed by placing them in warmed water from a microwave, not by microwaving the bottles. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED ALLEGATION: Toilet training is not consistent. INVESTIGATION: Child A and B s Mother and Father stated that sometime around middle to late January of this year they were informed by the center that Child A had stopped using the potty while at the center at least 2 3 weeks earlier. Child A s Mother and Father stated they were not aware of this and were surprised as Child A is fully potty trained at home. They stated that caregivers made little to no effort to reinforce potty training at the center, and Child A refused to use the bathroom at the center. Child A had accidents and would often hold it for so long he would dance around holding himself. They continued their efforts to communicate with caregivers at the center and noted some improvement in late March when Ms. Donley would take Child A kicking and screaming and put him on the toilet. Child A and B s Mother and Father stated they continued to communicate with the center on potty training for Child A, but feel the center is inconsistent. They were upset that the center refused to adopt a reward system and schedule that was successful at home. Ms. Donley stated that she worked with Child A s parents to assist in potty training. She stated she spoke with both parents on numerous occasions about different techniques and agreed to use a reward system and schedule as Child A s parents requested. She would take Child A to the bathroom on a schedule, but often Child A 6

8 would fight it and not want to go. She let him choose which toilet to use, and would allow him to choose a book as a reward afterward. Many times, Ms. Donley told me, Child A would simply refuse to go and it became quite an ordeal for everyone. Ms. Donley stated she tried to be very relaxed with Child A and allow Child A to choose when he was ready. Ms. Donley stated that Child A s parents wanted her to reward Child A with jelly beans since that was working at home, but Ms. Donley was concerned about the choking hazard of jelly beans and did not want to take that risk. Ms. Donley stated that she thought the parents understood this and that was why after further discussion they agreed to try books or being able to call Mom or Dad as a reward. Ms. Donley denied that she was inconsistent or refused to work with the parents or offer other suggestions. I spoke with Child C s (male, age 3) Mother and Child D s and Child E s (male, age 3) Mother regarding their experience with toilet learning at the center. Both Child C s Mother and Child D s and E s Mother stated that they were very satisfied with how the center worked with them. They had no concerns about the center s method of toilet learning. I attempted to contact Child F s Mother regarding toilet learning at the center, but did not receive a return telephone call. APPLICABLE RULE R Diapering; toileting. (11) Toilet learning/training shall be planned cooperatively between the child's primary caregiver and the parent so that the toilet routine established is consistent between the center and the child's home. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: The center planned toilet learning cooperatively with Child A s parents. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED 7

9 IV. RECOMMENDATION An acceptable corrective action plan has been received. I recommend no change in the status of the license. June 17, 2013 Debra Purdom Date Licensing Consultant Approved By: June 17, 2013 Yolanda Sims Date Area Manager 8