VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

First Baptist Church of Clarendon Child Development Center
1306 N. Highland Street
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 522-6477

Current Inspector: Leslie Perez (703) 537-6013

Inspection Date: March 28, 2023

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs.

Comments:

On 3/17/2023 an incident regarding supervision of children was self-reported to the Fairfax licensing office. Interviews were conducted and documentation was reviewed on 3/28/2023 and 3/29/2023. Based on the preponderance of evidence gathered, a violation was cited regarding the self-reported incident. The findings from today's visit can be found on the Violation Notice. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Maria Soto at 571-835-5058 or maria.soto@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews, the licensee did not ensure that staff followed the center's own policies and procedures regarding supervision, required by the standards, and the terms of the current license issued by the department. Evidence: The center's missing or lost child policy states: A) No child should ever be left alone. B) It is all staff's responsibility to know where the children in attendance are at all times. Staff #1 did not see Child#1 leave the classroom and they did not know the whereabouts of Child#1 for approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
Plan of Correction:	The center's missing or lost child policy will be reviewed with those with whom it has not already been reviewed at the next Professional Growth and Development training. Further, the policy is being included in care and early learning setting observations for feedback, mentoring and coaching. Finally, the policy is under review with the intention of possible modification/expansion/definition/clarity to avoid any and all future infraction and failure to insure sight and sound supervision the health safety, welfare and well-being of each child enrolled with the FBCC CDC for care and early learning.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews, a child was not within actual sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Evidence: 1. On 3/17/2023, Child #1 (4 years old) was dropped off in the Sea Turtles classroom at approximately 8:43am. Staff #1, #2 and #3 were in the classroom with 8 students when Child #1 was dropped off. At approximately 8:45am as other parents were dropping off their children, Child #1 exited the classroom alone and unsupervised. 2. Staff #1 stated that 5 children arrived to be dropped off at the same time, between approximately 8:43am and 8:45am. On the day of the incident, families were dropping off food for their St. Patrick's Day celebration, Staff #1 instructed Staff #2 to take the food that had been dropped off to the refrigerator in the kitchen. 3. Staff #3 stated that right after Staff #2 left, Staff #1 scanned the classroom and immediately realized that Child #1 was not in the classroom. Staff #1 asked Staff #3 where is Child #1?, then they immediately began to look for the child. 4. Child #1 went down the stairs from the third floor to the first floor, through a door that had been left open during drop off. Once Child #1 reached the first floor, they sat down on the steps at the bottom of the stairwell. 5. Adult #1 was exiting the center, when they saw Child #1 sitting on the steps crying, alone and unsupervised. Staff #2 was walking back from the kitchen to the Sea Turtles classroom, when they observed Adult #1 and Child #1 walking towards the reception desk. The child had been out of sight and sound supervision for approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
Plan of Correction:	On 17 March as soon as the Program Representative was made aware the child (child #1) was out of sight and sound supervision all caregivers - teachers (staff #1, staff #2 and staff #3 were interviewed and statements were taken, FBCC CDC's Licensing Representative was contacted and a self-report was made, other caregivers - teachers and staff were interviewed, adult #1 was contacted - adult #1 was interviewed and a statement was taken later int he day and a parent of child #1 was notified. On March 17 additional signs were posted on the door that should not have been opened/propped open through which the child (child #1) accessed the stairwell in which adult #1 found them. On March 17 individual caregivers - teachers and staff were spoken to/reminded that door is not to be propped open. On March 17 an e-mail was distributed to parents of all children enrolled reminding them that while they are welcome to exit the first and third floor though the (Hartford Street) doors, they are NOT to be propped open under any circumstance. On March 17 the lead caregiving - teaching team member of the c=school family in which child #1 is enrolled posted a sign on the door to the care and early learning setting that the door was to remain closed - that parents/guardians/those approved to drop-off and pick-up children should come into the care and early learning setting when dropping off and picking up rather than stand with the door open to engage in good-bye/reunion rituals and/or speak with caregivers - teachers.