VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Ministry Child Care Center
4044 Plank Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
(540) 786-7320 (8)

Current Inspector: Sharon Allen (540) 272-2941

Inspection Date: Jan. 5, 2021 and March 3, 2021

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL SERVICES.

Technical Assistance:

Provided consultation on: Standard 80B - Any suspected incident of child abuse shall be reported in accordance with the Code of Virginia 63.2-1509. Standard 350D - during the designated rest period the ratio of staff to children may be double the number of children provided the majority of the children are asleep; Standard 350F - a center may temporarily reassign a child from his regular group and staff members for reasons of administrative necessity but not casually or repeatedly disrupt a child's schedule and attachment to his staff members and group; All child care programs must continue measures to keep children physically distanced and with consistent caregivers, use face coverings, monitor children and staff for symptoms, and maintain ongoing compliance with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health and safety recommendations. All programs are required to notify VDH and the licensing inspector and follow all recommendations if there is a confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19.

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. An unannounced inspection was conducted to investigate a complaint received by the department related to Supervision of Children, Staff-to-Children Ratios, Daily Activities for Infants, Behavioral Guidance, and Forbidden Actions at the center. The inspection was initiated on 1/5/2021 and concluded on 3/3/2021 with an exit interview. Interviews were conducted and documentation was reviewed. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the allegations of non-compliance with standards or law that are documented on the violation notice issued to the facility. If you have further questions about this inspection please contact Donna Liberman at 540-359-5244 or Donna.Liberman@dss.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on staff interviews, it was determined that the center did not ensure the care, protection, and guidance of children in care. Evidence: The center failed to adhere to the health and safety guidelines established due to the COVID-19 pandemic of maintaining the same groups of children day-to-day and not combining classrooms to help reduce potential exposure to COVID-19. Interviews revealed that: 1) classrooms are combined each morning from approximately 6:00 am - 8:30 am, when staff take children to their assigned classrooms, and at the end of each day from approximately 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm; 2) from July, 2020 - December, 2020 the Pre-K class and the toddler/two?s class combined each day for naptime from approximately 12:30 - 2:30pm; 3) the Pre-K and school age classes walk through the toddler/two's classroom daily to enter to and exit from the outdoor play area; 4) staff acknowledged being aware of the guidance to not combine classrooms.
Plan of Correction:	Staffing and enrollment has expanded since dates stated and mixing of children do not occur. The children are in their classroom from arrival to departure though DSS has provided in writing it is allowed to mix children of different age groups as long as social distancing is maintained. If this conflicting information is not correct DSS it is requested updated correct information is provided in writing The church has now provided another door within the church building for the children to safely enter and exit the playground and not have to walk through the unsafe busy parking lot.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews and a review of documentation, not all staff counted in the required staff-to-children ratio were directly supervising children. Evidence: On 11/6/2020 staff #1 was not directly supervising five children in the school age classroom when the staff member was observed sitting with their head down and their hair covering their face.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #1 was observed being not 100% by management for less than a minute of time. Staff #1 was replaced and brought in the office to discuss the situation with management. Staff #1 was sent home for the rest of the day and received disciplinary action.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-E-2
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain the ratio of one staff for every five children, ages 16 months through two years. Evidence: Interviews revealed that children from the Pre-K and school age classes walk through the toddler/two's classroom daily to get to the outdoor play area. During this time, the preschool and school age teachers step out of the classroom to use the restroom or attend to other personal matters, leaving their children in the classroom. Approximately 3-8 preschool (ages 3-4) children or 4-5 school age children (age 5-13) are left with 7-8 toddlers and their teacher(s) for approximately 1-5 minutes before the teachers return to take their class outside to play. Staff stated that the toddler class is therefore out of ratio 2-3 times per week, and has been so since July, 2020. The youngest child in the toddler classroom ranges from approximately 16-20 months old.
Plan of Correction:	Staff is to call on a member of management when in need of using the restroom. Classrooms are staffed most of the time with an extra teacher to prevent the mixing of age groups per Covid precautions and being able to use the restroom.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-400-B
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to provide behavioral guidance that is constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. Evidence: Interviews revealed that on 12/17/2020, child #1 (age nine) was only allowed to read material brought from home or do school work all day as a punishment per mom's request. Child #1 was observed crying off and on throughout the day and was excluded from all activities with his age group including: holiday movie, xbox and free play activities all day. Child #1 attended from approximately 8:06 am - 5:12 pm on 12/17/2020.
Plan of Correction:	Interviews stated in violation were not correct on the date. During child #1 (age nine) day of attendance on 12-18-20, the child spent time with the Director in helping wrap and pick out gifts for the younger children for the holiday season. The child was given the holiday special snack while helping the Director at this time. Child #1 did work on some of their homework due to not turning in any virtual assignments to their teacher for the month of November. Child #1 read material from home and was able to socialize with friends while in classroom throughout the day. The snowball fight that was stated in the violation that claimed they were excluded from did not occur on 12/17/20 or 12/18/20. It was scheduled and occurred on Wednesday 12/16/20 in which child #1 participated in along with the teachers and CEO of the center. The teachers are instructed to provide behavioral guidance that is constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate to redirect children to appropriate behavior.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-2
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews and a review of documentation, the facility failed to ensure that no forbidden action occurs including: not placing children in a small confined space or any space the child cannot freely exit himself and not making verbal remarks that are demeaning to a child. Evidence: Interviews revealed that on 12/17/2020, at approximately 5:00 pm, staff #2 took child #2 (age 2) out of the toddler room and into the infant room to place the child in a crib for time out. Staff #2 stated that this was done because child #2 was throwing things and not listening. Staff #2 stated that they asked the child "are you a baby?" while placing them in the crib. Child #2 was in time out in the crib for approximately two minutes.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #2 had a discussion with management and was retrained on proper procedures of redirecting the children. Staff #2 received disciplinary action for this violation.