Amy Jacobs

Regulation 7.2.1: The FCCP shall ensure that all new staff, and any new individual with unsupervised access to children in the FCCH submits a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“A family member is a frequent visitor at the household during childcare hours and did not complete a record authorization form, prior to coming into the house and left alone with children. Corrective Action: By 10/17/24, have the family members complete a record check authorization form and submit it to the Division or submit a plan on how you will prevent them from having contact with children during childcare hours.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 16, 2025

Regulation 5.10.1.2.5: There shall be at least one (1) easily accessible dry chemical fire extinguisher which has at least a 2-A: 10BC classification. This fire extinguisher shall be maintained in operating condition. It shall bear an official tag, properly signed, attesting to current operating condition.

“The purchase receipt with the fire extinguisher was observed to reflect a purchase date of 11/2024. An official tag with signature was not observed. Provider statements reflected that it's operating condition had not been assessed since it was purchased. This has been previously cited on 08/03/2023, 11/01/2021 and 10/29/19. Corrective Action: By 07/01/2025 provide photo evidence that either the currently present extinguisher has been assessed by a qualified individual and bears and official tag certifying inspection, or that a new extinguisher has been purchased. Develop a system to ensure that fire extinguisher's operating condition be inspected annually moving forward. In the corrective action email include details of the system developed to maintain compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 23, 2025

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff, with the exception of substitutes, shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations.

“Review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential account and conversation with provider determined she did not complete five (5) hours of annual professional development hours as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Develop a plan to complete required five (5) hours of professional development that were missed for the past year in addition to the fifteen (15) professional development hours needed for this year. By 7/23/2024, submit a copy of this plan to this licensor at ann.sparrow@vermont.gov”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 27, 2024

Regulation 3.3.6.1: The FCCP shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.6.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children, staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years.

“The provider stated that she did not have documentation of evacuations drills for 2023. The provider stated that she had not consistently practiced evacuation drills. This is a repeated violation previously cited on 11/01/2021. Corrective Action: It is required to conduct and document monthly evacuation drills. Conduct and record two monthly emergency evacuation drills for August and September. As of October of 2023, conduct and record at least one drill per month. By August 18, submit an improvement plan detailing how you will conduct and record monthly evacuation drills to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 18, 2023

Regulation 2.3.8.3: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCP; all individuals residing in the home; staff; and any individuals who are left alone with children have met ongoing background check requirements by submitting at least once every five (5) years a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and as required shall submit to fingerprinting.

“The provider was sent a letter on 11/14/22 stating that she was due to submit a new record check authorization form and comply with the fingerprint supported background clearance by 01/29/2023. As of 8/3/2023 the provider stated she had not submitted a record check to the Child Development Division nor completed fingerprinting. Corrective Action: Complete the required Record Check Authorization form and submit it to the Child Development Division to be processed. Immediately schedule an appointment to complete the fingerprinting process and send a copy of the receipt to this licensor. By August 18, 2023, submit a program improvement plan that explains how compliance to the background clearance process will be monitored for household members and yourself.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 28, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.2.5: There shall be at least one (1) easily accessible dry chemical fire extinguisher which has at least a 2-A: 10BC classification. This fire extinguisher shall be maintained in operating condition. It shall bear an official tag, properly signed, attesting to current operating condition.

“he fire extinguisher accessible to the program bears a tag dated January of 2022. This has been previously cited on 11/01/2021 and 10/29/19. Corrective Action: By 8/18/23 have your fire extinguisher inspected and properly tagged. Submit a photo of the inspection tag, both front and back . Submit a plan detailing how you will ensure that you are following through with compliance each year.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 28, 2023

Regulation 7.1.2.1: The FCCP shall have successfully completed pediatric first aid and CPR prior to being licensed and must remain currently certified.

“The provider's First Aid and CPR certifications had expired on 01/18/2022 and at the time of the visit on 9/7/2022 had not been renewed. Corrective Action: It is required to renew the CPR and First Aid certification. Develop a system to monitor this certification and the expiration date, so it can be renewed in a timely manner going forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 17, 2022

Regulation 4.4.2: The FCCP shall encourage and facilitate two-way communication between the FCCH and parents. The FCCP shall communicate regularly to parents about FCCH activities and program policies, community resources, and shall allow many opportunities for parents to provide information, identify preferences, ask questions, and share concerns.

“The provider stated that she was no longer responding to the parent and would not respond to future messages. Corrective Action: By 2/14/22, submit a program improvement plan that identifies the steps that will encourage and facilitate communication between you and the parents.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 18, 2022

Regulation 4.4.1: The FCCP shall regularly communicate with parents about their child's daily activities and behavior; for children under twenty-four (24) months of age this shall include feedings, diapering, sleeping, and developmental progress.

“The provider stated that she did not want to communicate with a parent in the program and would not answer any more questions regarding her children's daily activities. Corrective Action: By 2/14/22, submit a program improvement plan that identify how you will communicate with parents about their child's activities.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 18, 2022

Regulation 6.2.1: Maximum Capacity and Staffing in a registered FCCH The registered FCCP shall ensure that the registered FCCH shall not exceed the limits described in this section, including the charts below.

“A review of the provider's attendance on her calendar keeper and CCFAP reporting showed three children listed in CCFAP who were not on the provider's calendar keeper. When asked about this the provider stated that the five (5) children had been in attendance as indicated in the CCFAP reporting and she had omitted to include them on her attendance in the calendar keeper. They are school age children. The provider was out of compliance with staff to child ratios with the provider present for nine (9) days in September (1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10) with 14 children, two (2) under the age of 2, three (3) pre-k and 9 school age. The provider had 12 children (two (2) under the age of 2, three (3) pre-k and 6 school age) in September and October (September 13,14,15,16,17,20,21,22,23,24,27,28,29,30, October 1,4,5,6,7,8,18,19,20,21,22), and with 11 children on October 25 and 26.This is a serious violation. Corrective Action: Immediately reduce your enrollment to ensure compliance with this rule. By 11/30/2021, send a program improvement plan on how you intend to come into compliance and the step you have taken to ensure compliance in the future. Complete the parental notification letter as outlined above. It is required to submit a statement indicating your understanding of this rule and an e-mail with a list of names and phone numbers of parents who were sent the Parental Notification Letter to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 7, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.8: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The FCCP shall comply with the requirements of 18 V.S.A. Chapter 38 Vermont Lead Law and shall ensure that Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) is performed. This includes but is not limited to protecting children from peeling or chipping paint, and dust build up from the friction of moving doors or windows.

“The provider stated that Essential Maintenance Practices for Lead Safety had not been completed since August of 2017. Corrective Action: Complete the Essential Maintenance Practices and file the report with the Vermont Department of Health as required. Forward a copy of the report to ann.sparrow@vermont.gov when these items are completed. Submit to this licensor an improvement plan on how you will ensure the Essential Maintenance Practices for Lead Safety is completed yearly.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 1, 2024

Regulation 3.3.6.1: The FCCP shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.6.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children, staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years.

“The provider could not locate any documentation of completing evacuation drills for 2021. Additionally, the provider stated that she had not practiced any evacuation drills for September and October. Corrective Action: It is required to conduct a monthly evacuation drill and document it. Conduct and record two monthly emergency evacuation drills for November and December. As of January of 2022, conduct and record at least one drill per month. Submit an improvement plan on how the program will conduct and record monthly evacuation drills to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 11, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.2.5: There shall be at least one (1) easily accessible dry chemical fire extinguisher which has at least a 2-A: 10BC classification. This fire extinguisher shall be maintained in operating condition. It shall bear an official tag, properly signed, attesting to current operating condition.

“The fire extinguisher accessible to the program bears a tag dated March of 2020. This has been previously cited on 10/29/19. Corrective Action: By November 30, 2021 your fire extinguisher must be inspected and properly tagged.Submit a photo of the inspection tag, both front and back to ann.sparrow@vermont.gov along with a copy or photo of the receipt for the inspection.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 7, 2022

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the FCCP shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, included recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the FCCP shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, the FCCP shall ensure that the children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“The provider has a combination swing and slide structure that allows children to achieve a height of over 30 inches and therefore requires cushioning material underneath and around it. Corrective Action: The slide/swing set must immediately be blocked from children's use,until it has the required cushioning material under and around it, to a sufficient depth as required by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook. Submit photos of the structure with the required cushioning material in place or block from permanent use.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 11, 2022

Regulation 5.1.4: The FCCP shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The Child Development Division sent the first notice to submit the annual immunization report on 11/11/2019 by email. The Division sent additional notices on 11/25/2019 (by email), 12/8/2019 (letter in the mail), 12/15/2019 and 12/16/2019 (letters posted in each program's BFIS account), and 12/20/2019 (by email). The provider forwarded the annual immunization report on January 6, 2020. Corrective Action: By 02/17/2020, submit to this licensor, a program improvement plan that identifies the steps that will be taken to ensure that the 2020 annual immunization report will be filed between 11/1/2020 - 12/31/2020.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 27, 2020

Regulation 2.3.10.5: The FCCP shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable state and federal laws even when they are more stringent than the rules in this set of FCCH regulations.

“The provider did not submit the required water samples to the Vermont Department of Health for Lead Water Testing. Reminder emails were sent on 9/4/2019 and 10/3/2019 and a telephone call reminder was made on 9/29/2019. Reminder emails and previous communication provided links to resources to assist providers with the Lead Water Test process and contact information for the Vermont Department of Health for questions or challenges with submitting the water samples. Corrective Action: By 11/15/2019, submit required water samples to the Vermont Department of Health according to the instructions that were included with the collection kit.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 6, 2019

Regulation 5.10.1.2.5: There shall be at least one (1) easily accessible dry chemical fire extinguisher which has at least a 2-A: 10BC classification. This fire extinguisher shall be maintained in operating condition. It shall bear an official tag, properly signed, attesting to current operating condition.

“The inspection tag on the fire extinguisher was dated February of 2018. Corrective Action: By 11/20/2019 your fire extinguisher must be inspected and properly tagged. Submit a photo of the inspection tag, both front and back to ann.sparrow@vermont.gov along with a copy or photo of the receipt for the inspection, by November 22, 2019. Create a system to ensure that you are following through with compliance each year.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 10, 2020