State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING RICK SNYDER
MAURA D. CORRIGAN
GOVERNOR
DIRECTOR
July 3, 2013
Julie Thorsen The Hop Inc. Child Care Center 2495 Holton Road Muskegon, MI 49445
RE: Lic./Reg. #: DC610274252 Investigation #: 2013D1076017 The Hop Inc. Your Neighborhood Child Care Center
Dear Ms. Thorsen: Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. Due to the violations identified in the report, a written corrective action plan is required. The corrective action plan is due 15 days from the date of this letter and must include the following: • • • • •
How compliance with each rule will be achieved. Who is directly responsible for implementing the corrective action for each violation. Specific time frames for each violation as to when the correction will be completed or implemented. How continuing compliance will be maintained once compliance is achieved. The signature of the responsible party and a date.
If you desire technical assistance in addressing these issues, please feel free to contact me. In any event, the corrective action plan is due within 15 days. Failure to submit an acceptable corrective action plan will result in disciplinary action. 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) 356-0100.
P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150 www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124
Per MCL 722.113g, this report and any related corrective action plans must be filed in your licensing notebook.
Sincerely,
Katherine DeKoning, Licensing Consultant Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing 2700 Baker St. P.O. Box 4290 Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 (616) 916-4553 Enclosure
P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150 www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT
I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION License #:
DC610274252
Investigation #:
2013D1076017
Complaint Receipt Date:
05/07/2013
Investigation Initiation Date:
05/09/2013
Report Due Date:
07/06/2013
Licensee Name:
The Hop Inc. Child Care Center
Licensee Address:
2495 Holton Road Muskegon, MI 49445
Licensee Telephone #:
(231) 744-4540
Administrator:
N/A
Licensee Designee:
Julie Thorsen
Name of Facility:
The Hop Inc. Your Neighborhood Child Care Center
Facility Address:
2495 Holton Road Muskegon, MI 49445-1680
Facility Telephone #:
(231) 719-9100
Original Issuance Date:
06/27/2005
License Status:
1ST PROVISIONAL
Effective Date:
12/10/2012
Expiration Date:
06/09/2013
Capacity:
59
Program Type:
CHILD CARE CENTER
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II.
ALLEGATION(S) • • • • •
III.
Field trip drivers do not have clearances or self-certifying statements. Drivers don’t carry the child information cards. Parents have not been notified about the licensing notebook. Children are not getting enough food and food substitutions were not noted on the menu. There is insufficient staffing on the preschool/school-age playground.
METHODOLOGY 05/07/2013
Special Investigation Intake 2013D1076017
05/07/2013
Contact - Telephone call made spoke to complainant
05/08/2013
Special Investigation Initiated - On Site 1:45pm-3:15pm Interviewed Julie Thorsen, Owner and Melissa Thorsen, Program Director
05/10/2013
Contact - Telephone call made Left message for Child A and B’s Mother
05/10/2013
Contact - Telephone call made 10:50 am - call to Taylor Grevious, Caregiver
05/10/2013
Contact - Telephone call received 12:10pm Spoke to Child A and B’s Mother
05/10/2013
Contact - Telephone call received 12:45pm - Spoke to Ms. Grevious
05/10/2013
Contact - Telephone call received 1:20pm - Spoke to Sally Cooper, Caregiver
05/14/2013
Inspection Completed On-site 2:00 - 3:00pm Interviewed caregivers Nancy Hoeft, Kim Eldridge and Kelcey Ingalls
05/15/2013
Contact - Document Sent email sent to Ms. Thorsen requesting copy of her volunteer supervision policy
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05/15/2013 06/07/2013
Contact - Document Received FAX copy of Staff Screening Policy (including volunteers) Inspection Completed on-site 3:15pm - 4:00pm
06/10/2013
Contact - telephone call made Left message for Child C’s Mother
06/10/2013
Contact - telephone call received Spoke to Child C’s Mother
06/27/2013
Contact - telephone call made Left message for Child D and E’s Mother
06/27/2013
Contact - telephone call made Spoke to Child F’s Mother
06/27/2013
Contact - telephone call made Left message for Child G’s Mother
06/27/2013
Contact -telephone call received Spoke to Child G’s Mother
07/01/2013
Exit Interview Spoke to Ms. Thorsen
ALLEGATION: Field trip drivers do not have clearances or self-certifying statements. Drivers don’t carry the child information cards. INVESTIGATION: On 5/8/2013, I made an unannounced inspection visit to The Hop child care center. I explained the nature of the complaint to the owner/licensee, Julie Thorsen, and asked her about the allegations. Ms. Thorsen couldn’t remember the most recent field trip they took and stated that they do not keep a record of where they went or who drove. I also spoke to the Program Director, Melissa Griffen, who remembered that they went to Kangaroo Palace in March 2013 and Deanna’s Playhouse in October 2012, but she wasn’t sure who drove. Ms. Thorsen and Ms. Griffen both stated that parent volunteer drivers always had the children’s emergency cards with them. Ms. Thorsen said that she keeps all paperwork for parent volunteer drivers in their child’s file. I reviewed all the files for current preschool and school-age children and found 11 parents with a Driver Verification (Motor Vehicle Operator) self-certifying statement.
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The Driver Verification forms being used were all older forms from the Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing (BCAL). The self-certifying form included the following statements: (a) Be at least 18 years of age. (b) Possess a valid operator or chauffeur's license with the appropriate endorsement as required by 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.301. (c) Have a personal driving record with not more than 6 active points as determined by the secretary of state. (d) Have proof of automobile insurance and registration. (e) Be familiar with the contents of the first aid kit. (f) Be familiar with the operation of the fire extinguisher, if a fire extinguisher is required. None of the child files I checked had verification that the volunteer drivers had an ichat or submitted a self-certifying statement documenting that they had not been convicted of child abuse or neglect or a felony involving harm to an individual. The files also did not contain a Department of Human Services (DHS) clearance for any of the parents with a Driver Verification form on file. Ms. Thorsen said that they always make sure all the clearances are done for volunteer drivers and they will not let them be alone with children (other than their own child) unless the clearances are complete; she places those clearances in the child’s file. However, she believes a former employee recently went through all the children’s files and removed this information from the files. During the course of the investigation I spoke to Child A and B’s Mother, Child C’s Mother, Child F’s Mother and Child G’s Mother who were all volunteer parent drivers. All of the parents said they drove for field trips within the past year and that there were no caregivers in the vehicle with them. Child A’s and B’s Mother said that she recalls three field trips in the past year; Kangaroo Palace, Holland Aquatic Center and Dr. Kristy’s Dental Office. She said she has driven on field trips but doesn’t recall completing any paperwork for background checks. She also didn’t think she had the child information cards with her. Child C’s Mother said she gives Ms. Thorsen a copy of her Driver’s License a couple of times a year and has completed a volunteer driver’s certification. She said that she didn’t know if Ms. Thorsen had a copy of her criminal history check or DHS central registry clearance, but she was a school employee and the school always runs those checks. She stated that she always has a copy of the children’s emergency cards with her when she is driving. Child D and E’s Mother did not return my call. Child F’s Mother said that she has completed a consent for background check and that Ms. Thorsen gets a copy of her driver’s license and insurance before each field
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trip. She said that she completed a driver’s verification form about a year ago and that Ms. Thorsen always gives her the children’s emergency cards and a snack for the children before they leave. Child G’s Mother said she has driven for about three field trips. She completed a driver verification form and gave the center a copy of her driver’s license. She said the form has a statement at the bottom giving the center permission to do a background check, but she didn’t know if the center had followed through. She also said that on the earlier field trip the teacher kept copies of the child information cards with her in another vehicle. All of the parents are happy with the care their children receive and they have no concerns or complaints about the center. APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5104a Volunteers. (1) A volunteer shall not have unsupervised contact with children in care if he or she has been convicted of either of the following: (a) Child abuse or child neglect. (b) A felony involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of offering to volunteer at the child care center.
ANALYSIS:
There is insufficient evidence to indicate the center did not have this clearance for their volunteer parent drivers.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
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APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5104a Volunteers. (2) A volunteer shall provide the child care center with documentation from the Department of Human Services that he or she has not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect before having unsupervised contact with a child in care. ANALYSIS:
There is insufficient evidence to indicate the center did not have this clearance for their volunteer parent drivers.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5610 Motor vehicle operator. (2) The following documents shall be on file in the center: (b) A self-certifying statement that all volunteer drivers comply with subrule (1) of this rule. ANALYSIS:
Volunteer drivers have signed a self-certifying statement that they meet the requirements of sub-rule (1).
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
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APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5610 Motor vehicle operator. (3) Drivers shall be provided with a copy of the child information card or comparable facsimile for each child being transported in their motor vehicles. ANALYSIS:
Child A and B’s Mother and Child G’s Mother stated that they did not have child information cards with them. Child C and Child F’s Mothers stated that they always have the child information cards with them. It appears the practice of giving volunteer drivers the child emergency cards has been inconsistent.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION ESTABLISHED
ALLEGATION: Parents have not been notified about the licensing notebook. INVESTIGATION: During the onsite inspection I reviewed the licensing notebook. The licensing notebook was kept in the foyer of the preschool/school-age building and was missing the summary sheet and a corrective action plan dated 3/7/2012. I also reviewed 28 children’s files. Nine families (thirteen children) did not have a signed statement that they were aware the center had a licensing notebook. They were mostly families that have enrolled within the past year. While I was at the center on 5/8/2013, a new parent was enrolling. I asked Ms. Thorsen for a copy of the information given to the parent including what they sign and return and what they keep. There was nothing about the licensing notebook in any of the parent information. Ms. Thorsen said that the licensing notebook had been completed and she thought a former staff person must have taken those pages out of the book. She also thought all parents knew about the licensing notebook. Child A and B’s Mother and Child G’s Mother stated they were not aware the center had a licensing notebook and there was no signed Parent Notification of Licensing Notebook in their child’s file. Child C’s Mother said she had not been notified about the licensing notebook; however, Child C’s file contained a Parent Notification of Licensing Notebook that she had signed. Child D & E’s file contained a signed Parent Notification of the Licensing Notebook and Child F’s file did not have a signed Parent Notification of the Licensing Notebook.
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APPLICABLE RULE MCL 722.113g Licensing notebook. (1) The operator of a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home shall maintain a licensing notebook on its premises. The licensing notebook shall be made available for review to parents or guardians of children under the care of, and parents or guardians considering placing their children in the care of, the child care center, group child care home, or family child care home. (2) The licensing notebook described in subsection (1) shall include the reports from all licensing or registration inspections, renewal inspections, special investigations, and corrective action plans. The licensing notebook shall also include a summary sheet outlining the reports described in the subsection. The information in the licensing notebook shall be updated as provided by the department and must be made available to parents, guardians, and prospective parents or guardians at all times during the child care center’s, group child care home’s, or family child care home’s normal hours of operation. (3) The department shall include on its "Child in Care/Receipt" form or any successor form used instead of that form a check box allowing the parent or guardian to acknowledge that he or she is aware of the information available in the licensing notebook available for his or her review … ANALYSIS:
All parents have not been informed about the licensing notebook. The licensing notebook was missing a summary sheet and one corrective action plan.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION ESTABLISHED
ALLEGATION: Children are not getting enough food and food substitutions were not noted on the menu. INVESTIGATION: During the inspection on 5/8/2013, I observed the breakfast and lunch menu written on the whiteboard in the front lobby where it is highly visible to parents. The monthly menu with changes noted was posted in the preschool /school-age room near the kitchen. Ms. Thorsen said that she always writes what was actually served on the whiteboard and then makes changes on the planned menu. The monthly menu that I saw for May 2013 indicated that juice was usually
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served with breakfast instead of milk and that only one food component was served for snack. Ms. Thorsen said the monthly menu I reviewed was correct. I asked Ms. Thorsen about serving sizes and she showed me a few charts she had hanging in the kitchen from various health department sources. Most of them were adult portions and she said she would usually give about half an adult serving size to the children. She indicated that she usually gives children about half a glass of milk. She also said that seconds are only offered if available. Before I left on 5/8/2013, I gave Ms. Thorsen resources on appropriate serving sizes and meal components for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). I spoke to former caregivers, Taylor Grevious and Sally Cooper. Ms. Grevious said that at a staff meeting earlier in the year Ms. Thorsen had forbidden caregivers to offer seconds to children at meal times and that snack was usually crackers of some kind with water to drink. Ms. Cooper said that portion sizes seemed small for preschoolers, about a tablespoon of vegetables and only a couple of ounces of milk. She also said that when noodles or spaghetti was served there wasn’t always a meat component with the meal. I spoke to caregivers Nancy Hoeft, Kim Eldridge, and Kelcy Ingalls on 5/14/2013. When I asked what a typical serving size of vegetables was they all said ½ cup (even for toddlers) and while they might start out with a small amount of milk, children could request more up to about ½ cup. They all said that children could have seconds.
APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5110 Food services and nutrition. (2) Food provided by the center shall be of sufficient quantity and nutritional quality to provide for the dietary needs of each child according to the minimum meal requirements of the child and adult care food program as administered by the Michigan Department of Education based on 7 C.F.R. Part 226, 1-1-05 edition, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Child and Adult Care Food Program and is hereby adopted by reference. … ANALYSIS:
Based on observations of the planned menu and my interview with Ms. Thorsen on 5/8/2013, the center was not meeting the meal component requirements of the CACFP.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION ESTABLISHED
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APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5110 Food services and nutrition.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(5) Menus shall be planned in advance, shall be dated, and shall be posted in a place visible to parents. Food substitutions shall be noted on the menus. The menu was dated and posted and food substitutions were noted on the menu. The meals for the current day were posted in a place highly visible to parents. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
ALLEGATION: There is insufficient staffing on the preschool/school-age playground. INVESTIGATION: Ms. Thorsen said they always maintain the proper ratio on the playground. In separate interviews with current caregivers Ms. Hoeft, Ms. Eldridge and Ms. Ingalls they each said that the ratio of 1 caregiver to 10 preschoolers and the ratio of 1 caregiver to 4 toddlers are always maintained on the playground. When I spoke to former caregiver, Ms. Grevious she said that when she worked at the center there were times in the afternoon when there was one caregiver to eleven or twelve younger preschoolers. Former caregiver, Ms. Cooper stated that occasionally there was one caregiver to eleven children including three year olds. On 6/7/2013, I observed two caregivers with 18 children between the ages of 3 years and 12 years. During the transition when some children were finishing snack and some going outside they maintained the correct ratio of 1 caregiver to 10 children at all times.
APPLICABLE RULE R 400.5105 Supervision and ratio requirements. (3) The ratio of caregivers to children present at all times shall be based upon all of the following provisions: (c) If there are children of mixed ages in the same room or in a well-defined space, then the ratio shall be determined by the age of the youngest child, unless each group of children is clearly separated and the appropriate child/staff ratios for each age group are maintained.
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ANALYSIS:
The center maintained the correct ratios on the playground.
CONCLUSION:
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION FOR FIELD TRIPS When using volunteer drivers, the preferred Driver Verification form for child care centers to use is “Certification for Field Trip Transportation BCAL-5046 (Rev. 8-10) previous edition obsolete”. It includes the date of the trip, the destination and the group of children participating. This form is completed for each field trip. It is best practice to maintain an ongoing file with this form and other field trip information. In addition to the Driver Certification, volunteer drivers who are alone with children (no staff person in the vehicle with them) must also have a criminal history background check (ichat or selfcertifying statement that they have not been convicted of child abuse or neglect and they have not been convicted of a felony involving harm against another person during the past 10 years) AND clearance from the Department of Human Services (DHS) on file; it is best practice to obtain this information no less than annually and file it separately from the child’s file.
IV.
RECOMMENDATION On receipt of an acceptable corrective action plan, I recommend no change in the status of this child care center license.
7/3/2013 ________________________________________ Katherine DeKoning Date Licensing Consultant
Approved By: 7/3/2013 ________________________________________ Yolanda Sims Date Area Manager
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