VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Children of America Deacon Road
2 South Pointe Lane, #105
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
(540) 373-9929

Current Inspector: Cathy Aylor (540) 222-6352

Inspection Date: Feb. 12, 2021 and March 18, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

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

Technical Assistance:

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 self report received by the department related to a Forbidden Action. The inspection was initiated on 2/12/2021 and concluded on 3/18/2021 with an exit interview. Management was contacted by telephone, interviews were conducted and documentation including a picture were reviewed. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the allegation of non-compliance with standards or law. 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
Description:	Based on review of documentation and 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. 1) Classrooms are combined each morning from approximately 6:00 am ? 9:30 am, when staff take children to their assigned classrooms, and at the end of each day from approximately 3:30 pm ? 7:00 pm; 2) The preschool 1A class and the preschool 2A class combine each day for naptime from approximately 12:30-2:30pm. 3) Staff acknowledged that they were aware of the guidance regarding not combining classes.
Plan of Correction:	Have hired new staff to reduce the need to combine classes.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-1
Description:	Based on review of documentation, a photograph, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure that no forbidden action occurs, specifically roughly handling a child. Evidence: On 2/12/2021 at approximately 5:20pm, staff #1 noticed nail marks on child #1's forearm. Staff #1 asked child #1, age 4, what happened and child #1 stated "staff #2 did it yesterday." Staff #1 told management who observed the child, noticed the visible bruise marks, took a picture, and asked again how it happened. Child #1 then demonstrated digging their nails into management's arm. Staff #2 stated that on 2/11/2021 at approximately 9:30am, child #1 and another child were rolling on the floor wrestling/play fighting. Staff #2 stated that they grabbed both children by the arm at the same time to lift them up and pull them apart. Interviews revealed that staff #2 has "grabbed other children by the arm" more than one time before.
Plan of Correction:	Staff will be retrained on proper techniques to separate children.