ACE After School Program @ PPS

Regulation 5.40: Before the expiration date on the card, training for First Aid and CPR shall be validated by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other equivalent, state- recognized organization, and the specific certification documentation maintained in the appropriate Afterschool Child Care Program Staff file.

“Staff J and K have been employed for over three (3) months and do not have documentation of having completed First Aid/CPR. Corrective Action: Ensure that Staff J completes First Aid/CPR and submits the certificate to Northern Lights at CCV. Email Licensor [name] when the certificate is submitted. The program director said that Staff K no longer works with the program. Either remove Staff K or ensure that Staff K completes First Aid/CPR and submits the certificate to Northern Lights at CCV.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 26, 2026

Regulation 5.35: The Program Administrator or designee shall ensure a minimum of 8 hours of annual Professional Development Activities for new and returning Afterschool Child Care Program Staff related to the attainable goals defined in each Staff's Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). This training is in addition to any infant/child CPR certificate or recertification and First Aid training.

“Staff G is missing documentation of eight (8) out of eight (8) required hours of annual professional development between 9/6/2024 and 9/5/2025. Corrective Action: Submit a plan to Licensor [name] for the following missing professional development. In the plan include what training Staff G will take, how many hours, and what date it will be taken. Additionally, in the plan, include how the program will track professional development and ensure that all staff complete the required amount of annual professional development and submit it to Northern Lights at CCV. Staff G must provide documentation for or complete eight (8) hours of annual professional development by 9/5/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 29, 2026

Regulation 5.11: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the Afterschool Child Care Program submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the Afterschool Child Care Program.

“Staff A has not sent their out of state child abuse and neglect paperwork to the Division. They may have sent it to the state where they lived previously but have not confirmed this, nor has communication from the state been sent to the Division. Staff B has been employed for over sixty (60) days and has not confirmed they have been fingerprinted. Staff C was present and was found to have been removed from the program's associated parties list on 2/1/2026. Staff D was present and was found to have been removed from the program's associated parties list on 9/10/2025. Corrective Action: Send a program improvement plan to Licensor [name] that describes how the program will ensure that all new or returning staff complete and send a new record check authorization form to the Division prior to beginning or resuming work at the program and how the program will ensure that staff follow through with all portions of their background clearances in a timely manner. For Staff A, contact Stephen Ames (stephen.ames@vermont.gov) and ask for a New York out of state child abuse and neglect registry form. Once received, ensure that Staff A completes the form, brings it to be notarized and mails it to the Division at the address provided by Stephen Ames. For Staff B, send a fingerprint receipt showing date printed, where printed, and the TVT number. For Staff C and D, submit a new record check authorization form to the Division and ensure that the staff follows through with fingerprinting and, if applicable, out of state child abuse and neglect registry checks as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 21, 2026

Regulation 5.36: The Program Administrator or designee shall ensure a minimum of 4 hours of annual Professional Development Activities for new and returning Afterschool Aides related to the attainable goals defined in each Aide's Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). This training is in addition to any infant/child CPR certificate or recertification and First Aid Training.

“Staff H is missing 1.5 out of four (4) required hours of annual professional development between 2/21/2025 and 2/20/2026. Staff I is missing documentation of four (4) out of four (4) required hours of annual professional development between 10/27/2024 and 10/26/2025. Corrective Action: Submit a plan to Licensor [name] for the following missing professional development. In the plan include what training each of the staff will take, how many hours, and what date it will be taken. Additionally, in the plan, include how the program will track professional development and ensure that all staff complete the required amount of annual professional development and submit it to Northern Lights at CCV. Staff H must complete 5.5 hours of professional development by 2/20/2027. Staff I must complete eight (8) hours of annual professional development by 10/26/2026. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.31: Orientation training shall be conducted for every employee before they are left alone with children. This training shall be documented and shall cover material included in the Staff handbook and licensing regulations. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: * Basic knowledge of child growth and development; * Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; * Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; * Positive behavior management and child guidance; * Curriculum development policies and responsibilities; * Supervision of children; * Policies and procedures for reporting a missing child; * Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; * Safe sleep practices; * Requirements for administration and storage of medication; * Emergency Response Plan and emergency procedures, including: staffing emergencies, school closings, evacuation plans such as site evacuations in case of national or environmental emergency, lock-down procedures, responding to a sick or injured child and medical emergencies; * Use of fire extinguishers; * Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; * Recordkeeping, including daily attendance procedures; * Transportation and child passenger safety; * Off-site activities (field trips) * Release of children; * Respectful engagement of families, including daily communication with parents about their child's activities; * Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; * Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; * Preventing the spread of infectious disease; * Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; * Inclusion of children with special needs; * Guidelines for volunteers; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Staffing plans and definitions of related duties to include opening and closing procedures; * Afterschool Child Care Program licensing regulations; * Employee complaint and grievance procedures; and * Assuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Staff B does not have proof of having completed an approved orientation training, to include the approved mandated reporter training. Corrective Action: Ensure that Staff B completes both the orientation training and mandated reporter training and submits the documentation to Northern Lights at CCV.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 29, 2026

Regulation 5.34: The Program Administrator and the Site Director shall annually complete at least a minimum of twelve clock hours of Professional Development Activities which may be applied toward their Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) or equivalent excluding any additionally required training for Specialized Child Care or First Aid and CPR.

“Staff E is missing documentation of 3.5 out of twelve (12) required hours of annual professional development between 10/1/2024 and 9/30/2025. Staff F is missing twelve (12) out of twelve (12) required hours of annual professional development between 10/1/2024 and 9/30/2025. Corrective Action: Submit a plan to Licensor [name] for the following missing professional development. In the plan include what training each of the staff will take, how many hours, and what date it will be taken. Additionally, in the plan, include how the program will track professional development and ensure that all staff complete the required amount of annual professional development and submit it to Northern Lights at CCV. Staff E has completed thirteen (13) hours of professional development between 10/1/2025 and 5/29/2026, therefore, Staff E must complete 2.5 additional hours of professional development by 9/30/2026. Staff F has completed thirteen (13) hours of professional development between 10/1/2025 and 5/7/2026, therefore, Staff F must complete eleven (11) hours of professional development by 9/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 26, 2026

Regulation 5.31: Orientation training shall be conducted for every employee before they are left alone with children. This training shall be documented and shall cover material included in the Staff handbook and licensing regulations. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: * Basic knowledge of child growth and development; * Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; * Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; * Positive behavior management and child guidance; * Curriculum development policies and responsibilities; * Supervision of children; * Policies and procedures for reporting a missing child; * Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; * Safe sleep practices; * Requirements for administration and storage of medication; * Emergency Response Plan and emergency procedures, including: staffing emergencies, school closings, evacuation plans such as site evacuations in case of national or environmental emergency, lock-down procedures, responding to a sick or injured child and medical emergencies; * Use of fire extinguishers; * Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; * Recordkeeping, including daily attendance procedures; * Transportation and child passenger safety; * Off-site activities (field trips) * Release of children; * Respectful engagement of families, including daily communication with parents about their child's activities; * Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; * Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; * Preventing the spread of infectious disease; * Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; * Inclusion of children with special needs; * Guidelines for volunteers; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Staffing plans and definitions of related duties to include opening and closing procedures; * Afterschool Child Care Program licensing regulations; * Employee complaint and grievance procedures; and * Assuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“A review of staff BFIS credential accounts reflected no evidence that Staff B and C had completed an orientation training. Staff B and C have been with the program between 26 and 42 months and hold position titles which allow them to be left alone with children. Staff statement reflected that all documentation had been sent to Northern Lights at CCV via Zendto previous to this visit. An email was sent to the program requesting additional information about these submissions. The response did not include verification that these three staff had evidence of completing a orientation training. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have Staff B and C complete an orientation training and submit documentation of such to Northern Lights at CCV. Ensure that staff B and C are not left alone with children until they have completed the orientation training. Develop a system which will ensure that all newly hired staff complete an orientation training and submit documentation of such to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner moving forward. Include details of what system will be used, who will be responsible for maintaining the system and ongoing communication with staff, and who will be responsible for ensuring documents are submitted to Northern Lights at CCV and uploaded to accounts as expected moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 31, 2025

Regulation 5.40: Before the expiration date on the card, training for First Aid and CPR shall be validated by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other equivalent, state- recognized organization, and the specific certification documentation maintained in the appropriate Afterschool Child Care Program Staff file.

“A review of staff BFIS accounts reflected that Staff A had no evidence of completion of pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certifications. Staff A had been with the program for more than 3 months. Staff testimony reflected that all completed staff training and certification documentation had been sent to Northern Lights at CCV via Zendto previous to this visit. A request for documentation and additional information about what was sent for each staff member was sent to the email address provided by the program. As of 06/25/2025, the program did not provide evidence that staff A had completed the certifiations within the first three months of hire as required by the Memo that was sent to all providers on 07/30/2019. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have Staff A complete approved pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certifications and submit the certificates of completion to Northern Lights at CCV. Additionally ensure that Staff A is not left alone with children until they have successfully completed the required certifications. Develop a system which will ensure all newly hired staff obtain required certifications in CPR and first aid within the first three months of hire and that all staff renew their certifications prior to the expiry date moving forward. Include details of what system will be utilized, who will be responsible for maintaining the system and ongoing comminucation with staff, who will ensure documents are sent to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner and uploaded as expected.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 31, 2025

Regulation 18.77: Within six months of the initial date of employment, Staff working with children and the Site Director and/or Program Administrator shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in Section 5 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Eighteen (18) out of twenty-three (23) staff who have been employed for over six (6) months do not have up-to-date BFIS quality and credential accounts. Corrective Action: By 10/17/2024, ensure that all documentation missing from staff's BFIS quality and credentialing accounts is submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be entered into their accounts. This includes qualification documents, mandatory training documents, and professional development training certificates. Copy Licensor [name] in the submissions.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 19, 2025

Regulation 5.11: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the Afterschool Child Care Program submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the Afterschool Child Care Program.

“There is no documentation to show that one (1) employee has not followed through with the fingerprint supported background clearance. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, ensure that the identified staff member is not left alone with children. Ensure that the identifed staff makes a fingerprint appointment by 10/10/2024. Email Licensor [name] to confirm when the appointment is scheduled. Ensure that the identified staff member prints a Fingerprint Authorization Certificate from the CDD website forms page at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/providers/forms and brings it to the fingerprinting appointment to ensure that the prints are applied to the correct division.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 3, 2025

Regulation 5.40: Before the expiration date on the card, training for First Aid and CPR shall be validated by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other equivalent, state- recognized organization, and the specific certification documentation maintained in the appropriate Afterschool Child Care Program Staff file.

“A review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and confirmation from the program administrator that two (2) program staff had not renewed their CPR and First Aid certificates prior to the expiration date on the card. One card expired on 7/26/2023 and one card expired on 9/16/2023. The two (2) staff had not completed a CPR and First Aid course prior to this licensing visit. Corrective Action: By 10/10/2023, have the two (2) program staff renew their CPR and First Aid certificate and submit the certificate to Northern Lights with the required cover sheet.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 2, 2023