VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
934 & 1000 West Little Creek Road
Norfolk, VA 23505
(757) 423-8469

VDSS Contact: Heather Harrell (757) 334-4329

Inspection Date: Dec. 4, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

32.1 Report by person other than physician 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 22VAC40-665 ADMINISTRATION 22VAC40-665 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING 22VAC40-665 STAFFING & SUPERVISION 22VAC40-665 PROGAMS 22VAC40-665 SPECIAL SERVICES

Comments:

An unannounced Subsidy Complaint inspection was conducted on December 4, 2019 in response to a complaint that was self reported by the center to the licensing office on December 4, 2019 regarding alleged noncompliance in the areas of Behavior Guidance and Forbidden Actions / Physical Punishment. The information gathered during the investigation supports the allegations, so the complaint is found to be valid. Violations were cited in the areas of Forbidden Actions (physical punishment) and Behavior Guidance. These violations appear on the violation notice.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-665-680-A
Description:	Based on interviews and written statements, the vendor did not ensure that behavior guidance by staff is constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. 1. A written incident report completed by staff #1 stated that on December 3, 2019, child #1 (9 years old) and child #2 (8 years old) were seated in the back of the van when she told them to stop throwing another child's hat around. Staff #1 documented that she said "I am going to get ya'll". In a subsequent interview, staff #1 said that she has frequent behavior problems with the children on the bus and that on the morning of December 3. 2019 she told the children "I'll get you! I'll get you when we get back to the center! I'll write you up". 2. Child #1 wrote in a statement on December 3, 2019 that on the way to school in the van he and 2 other children were grabbing and throwing a hat when staff #1 said "I'm gonna get you!". Child #1 wrote that when they got to school, he put his book bag on his head as he exited the bus and staff #1 grabbed his ear as he passed her, causing him to say ?Owww!? In a subsequent interview, child #1 stated that staff #1 "grabbed my ear" and "I kept saying Owwwww but she wouldn't let go?. Child #1 also stated that staff #1 "grabbed [child #2's] head and pushed him out - He almost fell!" 3. Child #2 wrote in a statement on December 3, 2019 that he and child #1 were playing on the van and when they exited, staff #1 hit him on the head and pinched child #1 on his ear. In a subsequent interview, child #2 stated that staff #1 said "in an aggressive way" ... "I'm going to get all of you!" Child #2 went on to say that staff #1 "hit me on the head and pushed me out" then pinched child #1's ear. 4. A public school teacher (staff #3) who greeted children arriving from the vendor's center to public school on the morning of December 3, 2019 stated in an interview on December 4, 2019 that child #1 arrived through the front door of the school and said "I need your phone! I need to call 911! [Staff #1] grabbed my ear!" Staff #3 stated that the top of child #1's ear was red and raised with a clear liquid seeping from it.
Plan of Correction:	The program Director stated that staff #1 has not been scheduled / working in the center since December 2, 2020 and staff #1's employment was terminated as of February 25, 2020.
Standard #:	22VAC40-665-690-1
Description:	Based on interviews and review of written documentation, staff employed by the vendor engaged in forbidden action toward two children in care. Evidence: 1. Interviews, as well as two children's written statements describe forbidden actions by staff #1, to include striking and rough handling children in care, as child #1 and child #2 exited the bus upon arrival to public school at approximately 8:35 a.m. on December 3, 2019 2. In a statement written by a 9 year old child (child #1), on December 3, 2019, child #1 wrote that staff #1 "grabs my ear.... and I was like OWWW!". Child #1 later stated in an interview on December 5, 2019, that staff #1 "grabbed [child #2] and pushed him" and that staff #1 "grabbed my ear and I kept saying Owwww! but she wouldn?t let go". 3. In a written statement by another child (child #2, 8 years old) also dated December 3, 2019, child #2 wrote that when child #1 "came out [staff #1] pinch him on his ears" and that staff #1 "hit me on my head". Child #2 stated in an interview on 12/4/19 "When I tried to get out [staff #1] hit me on the head and pushed me out". Child #2 also said that when child #1 exited the bus after him, child #1 "covered his head with his back pack and [staff #1] pinched his ear". 4. A six year old child (child #3) who was a passenger on the bus on December 3, 2019 stated in an interview on December 5, 2019 that staff #1 "grabbed [child #1's] ear and pinched it". 5. Staff #3 who greeted children arriving to the public school on the morning of December 3, 2019 stated in an interview on December 4, 2019 that at the time of arrival to school, child #1 told her that Staff #1 grabbed his ear. Staff #3 stated that she observed that the top of child #1's ear was red and raised with a clear liquid seeping from it. After speaking with child #1 she had both child #1 and child #2 write a statement about what had occurred. Staff #3 stated that child #2 demonstrated to her how staff # 1 hit him "with a one closed fist on top of the head".
Plan of Correction:	The program Director stated that staff #1 has not been scheduled / working in the center since December 2, 2020 and staff #1's employment was terminated as of February 25, 2020.