VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Butterfly House
3800 & 3810 Butterfly Lane
Alexandria, VA 22304
(703) 461-1786

Current Inspector: Leah Pagala (703) 537-6757

Inspection Date: Feb. 8, 2024 and Feb. 28, 2024

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

Technical Assistance was provided regarding mandated reporting of suspected child and abuse and neglect , supervision and ratios.

Comments:

A complaint investigation was initiated on February 8, 2024 with a local agency and ended on March 14, 2024, regarding supervision. The exit meeting was held with the center director on March 26, 2024. Interviews were conducted, documentation was reviewed and video-camera footage was observed. There was a preponderance of evidence to support the allegation regarding supervision; therefore, the complaint was deemed valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined areas of non-compliance with applicable regulations or law, and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the ?plan of correction? and ?date to be corrected? for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to the department within 5 business days from receipt. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Please do not use staff names; list staff by positions only. Any plans of correction not received within 5 business days will result in the plans not appearing on the Violation Notice and public website. If you have any questions about this inspection, please contact the Licensing Inspector, Leah Pagala at leah.pagala@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	SYSTEMIC DEFICIENCY Based on interviews and video footage, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection and guidance. Evidence: 1)Video footage and interviews confirmed that on 1/23/2024 at approximately 3:38pm, Child 1 (3 years old) left the classroom unnoticed and was outside of the building for approximately 6 minutes. 2) Staff were unaware the child was missing until a parent arriving at the center at approximately 3:46pm notified them that the child was outside. 3) The front of the building is adjacent to the parking lot of the school and a through street utilized by campus staff.
Plan of Correction:	Employee disciplinary action was taken such as counseling, final warning, required professional development, and workplace suspension.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	SYSTEMIC DEFICIENCY Based on interviews and video footage, children under 10 years of age were not always within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence 1) Video footage shows, on 1/23/2024 at approximately 3:30pm, Staff 1 and 2 were supervising 11 children in the classroom. Staff 1 was changing diapers and helping children use the restroom. Staff 2 was supervising the remainder of the children in the classroom. 2) Video footage shows that at approximately 3:38pm, Child 1 (3 years old) walked out of the classroom through an open gate of the classroom, down the hallway and out the front door of the school. 3) A parent stated that while approaching the facility, they found Child 1 outside of the facility?s front door. The parent stated Child 1 would not go with them. They went inside and informed the staff inside the building that Child 1 was outside. 4) After being informed by the parent, Staff 3 went outside to get the child, by which time, the child?s mother had already found the child.
Plan of Correction:	Employee disciplinary action was taken such as counseling, final warning, required professional development, and workplace suspension.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-1
Complaint related:	No
Description:	SYSTEMIC DEFICIENCY Based on observation and documentation, the required staff-to-child ratio of 1:4 for infants was not followed. Evidence: On 2/28/2024, from approximately 8:05am until 8:30am there were 5 infants (ages 3 months to 14 months) with Staff 4 in the infant classroom. At 8:31am, Staff 5 went into the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	Employees who arrived after their scheduled shift were warned regarding the importance of punctuality. A verbal was written. Expectations and program policies were clearly stated.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-G
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	SYSTEMIC DEFICIENCY Based on observations and video footage, staff included in the required staff-to-child ratios were not always directly supervising children. Evidence: 1) Video footage from 1/23/2024 shows Staff 1 and 2 in a classroom of 11 children ages 2 ? years to 3 years old. Between 3:27pm and 3:46pm, the video shows both staff members exiting the classroom about 5 times briefly, leaving the other teacher alone with 11 children. Staff 2 left the classroom about 3 times and, while in the hallway, was seen turning their back to their classroom and interacting with teachers and students in the classroom across the hall. At 3:30pm , both teachers stepped out of the classroom, leaving the children unsupervised for about 1 minute. 2) On 2/28/2024 during breakfast from approximately 9:00am until 9:15am, the Blue Butterfly classroom had 9 children (2 years old) and 2 staff supervising. Teachers in that classroom stepped out for a minute or two to obtain breakfast items for their classroom leaving their classroom out of ratio whenever one teacher stepped out. 3) On 2/28/2024 during breakfast from approximately 9:00am until 9:15am, the Orange Butterfly classroom had 12 children (3 years old) and 2 staff supervising. Teachers in that classroom stepped out for approximately 1-2 minutes to obtain breakfast items for their classroom leaving their classroom out of ratio whenever one teacher stepped out.
Plan of Correction:	Employee disciplinary action was taken such as counseling, final warning, required professional development, and workplace suspension. Food is now split into portions for each classroom. Additional food carts were purchased for individual classroom use. Employees were spoken to regarding program/state ratios. Completion of supervision training was required for all staff members. To ensure the safety and well-being of the children. Additional program policies and procedures were implemented such as ratio monitoring, improved tracking sheet, counseling regarding name-to-face, etc