VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Children of America - Lee's Hill, LLC
4555 Empire Court
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
(540) 898-8858

Current Inspector: Florence Martus (804) 389-0157

Inspection Date: Jan. 22, 2025

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.

Technical Assistance:

n/a

Comments:

An unannounced inspection was initiated on 01/22/2025 and completed on 01/27/2025, in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 01/21/2025 relating to allegations of supervision. The inspector reviewed one child?s record and one staff record on-site. This inspection included document review, tour of the facility, interviews, and observations. The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports the allegations; therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and the violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five business days from today, which will be the close of business on 04/28/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. At approximately 7:09am on 01/21/2025, Child #1 (3-year-old) ran out of his classroom and through two doors located inside the building. Staff #2, a member of management, was sitting in the lobby behind the front desk when they heard a child running and screaming "mommy, mommy." When Staff #2 got up to check what was happening, Child #1 had exited through the front doors of the building. The second door led to the parking lot, where the child?s parent saw him standing on the sidewalk as they got into their vehicle. The parent and Staff #2 met at the center?s front door and brought the child back into the building. Staff #1 was responsible for the care of Child #1, but reported they did not know the child had left the classroom because the child?s parent did not say goodbye when they dropped the child off. Staff #1 was the only staff in the classroom with 11 children, ranging from 2 to 3 years of age.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "Classroom staff have positioned themselves in the classroom so that they are aware when parents are leaving the room."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-C
Complaint related:	No
Description:	When children are in ongoing mixed age groups, the staff-to-children ratio and group size applicable to the youngest child in the group shall apply to the entire group. On 01/21/2025, Staff #1 was the only staff member in a classroom with 16 children. The youngest child in care was two years old, therefore the applicable staff-to-child ratio was one staff to eight children. It is estimated that Staff #1 was out of ratio for approximately 35 minutes, from 6:55am until 7:30am, when two additional staff members arrived. Staff reported the center regularly combines classrooms in the mornings.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "School schedules have been adjusted to ensure that a teacher is available when children arrive in the morning."