Barbie Blanchard

Regulation 5.4.2.5: Soft objects, toys or loose bedding shall not be used in infant sleep areas. Soft or loose bedding includes: bumper pads, pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, blankets, flat sheets, cloth diapers, and bibs. Infants shall not be swaddled for sleep.

“A blanket was observed in each of the pack and plays utilized for infant naps. When asked, the Provider identified that the blankets are not removed from the pack and plays while infants sleep. Corrective Action: Immediately discontinue the use of blankets and/or other soft or loose bedding in infant sleep areas. In the corrective action email identify how you have come back into compliance with this rule and how you will maintain compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 12, 2026

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.

“On the back side of the home, chipping/peeling paint was observed on the roof soffits and the trim around the windows. The soffits and window trim that is chipping is located directly above an area where children play. The Provider having had to pick up paint chips off the ground. Corrective Action: Immediately make the ground beneath the chipping paint inaccessible to children. By 05/30/2025 connect with the Vermont Department of Health to identifiy required remediation. Complete all steps of remediation as set forth by the Vermont Department of Health. Once completed, provide Licensor [name] with photo evidence and confirmation from the Vermont Department of Health that remediation is complete.”

Correction date in the state record: May 23, 2025

Regulation 3.6.3: Emergency preparedness Training: Within 365 days of opening a FCCH, the FCCP shall attend emergency preparedness training which shall include content specifically related to sheltering in place in the event of an emergency in which the FCCP and children present need to remain in the FCCH for an extended period.

“Upon review of the Provider's BFIS Quality and Credential account on on-site files, it was identified that the Provider had not completed and Emergency Preparedness training. Corrective Action: By 06/06/2025 complete an approved Emergency Preparedness training as required by this rule. Submit the certificate of completion to Northern Lights at CCV with a cover sheet and Licensor [name] copied on the submission email.”

Correction date in the state record: May 19, 2025

Regulation 5.10.4.5.7: The FCCP shall ensure that toys and other equipment used by children are sturdy and free from hazards such as but not limited to rough edges, pinch and crush points, splinters, exposed bolts, small loose pieces, areas that cause entrapment, and free from recall from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“Upon arrival to the program it was noted that an infant was asleep in a rocking device identified as a Fisher-Price Rock n' Play Sleeper. Said device was identified to be a product that had been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in April of 2019. Corrective Action: Immediately bar the use of the Rock n' Play indefinitely. The product must immediately be removed from the program. Develop a system to prompt regular checks of recalled products moving forward. In the corrective action email include details of how the program has come back into compliance with this rule and details of the system that has been developed.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 25, 2024

Regulation 5.4.2.3: The FCCP and staff shall ensure that infants sleep in cribs or port-a-cribs. Infants shall not be placed to sleep on soft surfaces, such as a couch or sofa, pillow, quilts, sheepskins or blankets. Infants shall not be placed in car seats, swings, high chairs, jumping chairs or similar equipment for sleep. A child that falls asleep in this type of equipment shall be gently transferred to a crib or port-a-crib as soon as feasible.

“Upon arrival to the program it was noted that an infant was asleep in a rocking device. Provider testimony reflected that the infant had a rough time being put down to sleep so said device is often used to soothe the child while sleeping. After discussing with the provider that if an infant falls asleep in this type of equipment they must be transferred to a crib or port-a-crib, the infant still remained in the device. Further discussion was required to prompt the provider and staff to transfer the child to a port-a-crib. Corrective Action: Immediately bar the use of the rocking device and similar equipment for sleep. In the corrective action email provide details about how the program has come back into compliance with the requirements of this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 25, 2024

Regulation 5.4.2.5: Soft objects, toys or loose bedding shall not be used in infant sleep areas. Soft or loose bedding includes: bumper pads, pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, blankets, flat sheets, cloth diapers, and bibs. Infants shall not be swaddled for sleep.

“Provider testimony reflected that blankets are utilized in port-a-cribs while infants under twelve (12) months are sleeping. Corrective Action: Immediately bar use of blankets in infant sleep areas. It was discussed with the provider that sleep sacks that are approved for safe sleep may be used. In the corrective action email provide details of how the program has come back into compliance to meet the requirements of this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 25, 2024

Regulation 3.6.2.1: The FCCP shall have a written evacuation diagram with evacuation routes posted on each level of the home that is used by the children.

“During the visit it was noted that no written evacuation diagram with evacuation routes was posted at the program. Provider testimony reflected that no evacuation diagram existed. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to create an evacuation diagram including evacuation routes and post it within the program. In the corrective action email please submit a copy of the diagram and include details about where it has been posted.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 25, 2024

Regulation 5.6.8: The FCCP shall ensure that there is a record of the administration of all medications including medication dosage, time of administration, name of staff administering, and any adverse effects observed. These records shall be maintained for 365 days from the start date of medication administration, and may be kept in the child's file or in a medication administration log.

“During the visit provider testimony reflected that there had been no record kept of the administration of medications at this program. Though the provider's practice is to notify the child's parents via text message when medication has been administered, this does not meet the requirements of this rule. Corrective Action: Plan to develop a system for documenting the administration of medication and all other components required by this rule. In the corrective action email include details about this system and how the documentation will be maintained for three hundred sixty five (365) days from the start date of medication administration moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 25, 2024

Regulation 5.4.3.2: Children shall not be required to sleep. Children who do not nap shall be provided space and equipment for quiet play.

“Provider and staff stated that children are required to remain on rest mats during the designated rest time, and that if they don't sleep that they are not provided with books, fidgets, or other quiet activites. Corrective Action: Update practices immediately to include offering quiet activities to children who do not sleep. Quiet activities may be offered on mats, but may also be offered elsewhere as there is no required time on mats. Provide a written description of the new rest time practices for non-sleeping children to sarah.crosier@vermont.gov. Provide detail about when children will be provided quiet activiites, where these will take place, and provide examples of activities that will be offered.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 3, 2024

Regulation 4.2: The FCCP shall ensure that parents have access to the FCCH and to their children without delay at any time children are in attendance and without prior approval. This does not prohibit the FCCP from locking their doors for security purposes or checking parent's identification.

“Provider stated that she told parents not to come to the program during rest time. Additionally, the provider said that a parent had recently called to pick up their child early and was told to wait until after rest time. Corrective Action: Ensure that parents know immediately that they have access to their children at any time while they are in care. Email sarah.crosier@vermont.gov with the information provided to parents, how this information was relayed to them. Additionally, update your parent handbook with this information to ensure that children enrolled from this time forward also have this information available.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 3, 2024

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.

“Under play structures measuring thirty (30) inches or greater from the ground there was insufficient cushioning material. This rule was cited previously on 6/24/22. Corrective Action: Until cushioning material is in place meeting compliance to this rule ensure children do not access those structures.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 29, 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.

“The fire extinguisher was last inspected in March 2022. Corrective Action: Ensure the fire extinguisher is inspected and tagged. Develop a system to ensure compliance to this rule is maintained.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 21, 2023

Regulation 7.2.2: The FCCP shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division for any new individuals, sixteen (16) years of age or older, residing in the FCCH or present more than five (5) times in 365 days during the FCCH's hours of operation as required in the rule 2.3.7.2 of these regulations.

“A record check was required for Household Member A as of 5/11/23. As of the date of the visit a record check had not been received. Corrective Action: Submit a record check for Household Member A. Develop a system to ensure all household members or individuals present more than five (5) times in 365 days submits to record checks as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 22, 2023

Regulation 5.10.3.2.2: Equipment shall be arranged so that children playing on one (1) piece of equipment will not interfere with children playing on another piece of equipment, excluding a multifunction, prefabricated residential play structure.

“The outdoor play area closest to the building had two (2) sections with the bottom of slides are touching or nearly touching other pieces of equipment. Corrective Action: Arrange outdoor play equipment to ensure adequate spacing to meet compliance to this rule. In the meantime of the equipment being arranged to meet compliance, restrict children from accessing those items.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 22, 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 due for an updated record check and fingerprinting by 1/17/23. A reminder letter was provided on 11/28/21 stating this due date. Corrective Action: By 6/23/23 ensure Provider A submits a record check is submitted to the Division and completes fingerprinting by 7/6/23. Develop a system that reminds the Provider when they are due again for a record check and fingerprinting.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 26, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.2.4: The FCCP shall ensure that each floor of the home, and in the corridor to access the home in an apartment building, has an operating smoke detector as well as a smoke detectors in the immediate vicinity where children sleep. The FCCP shall ensure carbon monoxide monitors are located outside of rooms were children sleep.

“The Provider stated children sleep in the playroom and the adjoining bedroom. The playroom has a carbon monoxide/smoke detector unit in place. The bedroom did not have a smoke detector in place as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Ensure any space where children sleep a smoke detector is in place as stated in this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 29, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.10.3: All poisonous or toxic materials shall be inaccessible to children.

“Several aerosol sunscreens were in a basket on table outdoors next to where children placed their water bottles. In the bedroom where children sleep there were lotions found on the nightstand. Corrective Action: Ensure all poisonous or toxic materials, to include items that state keep out of reach of children are inacessible to children at all times.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 8, 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.

“Children were observed playing on an outdoor play structure measuring thirty (30) inches off the ground that had a swing, tower and slide without cushioning material beneath as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Effective immediately children shall not have access to the play structure that does not have cushioning in place until corrected. Develop a system to ensure any new structures measuring over thirty (30) inches off the ground, as well as existing structures have the appropriate amount of cushioning in place.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 29, 2022

Regulation 3.3.7.5: The FCCP shall maintain a current list of the staff, persons who reside in the FCCH, and non-parental volunteers, as applicable, in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“The Provider stated that Staff A, Staff B and Staff C are no longer employed at the program and haven't been in several months. Corrective Action: Update the associated parties list to remove those staff no longer affiliated with the program. Develop a system to ensure the associated parties list is updated with any change within five (5) days of the change occurring.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 8, 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.

“Between 11/9/2020 and 12/21/2020, CDD sent two (2) separate emails to all programs, one (1) reminder letter using US Postal Service, one (1) reminder letter sent through the program's BFIS account, and a final email reminder. This communication provided the link to be used and CDD contact information for questions or challenges with submitting the report. The program did not submit the report, and Provider A confirmed she missed the requirement to do this. Corrective Action: Submit a program improvement plan that identifies the steps that will be taken to ensure that the 2021 annual immunization report will be filed between 11/1/2021 - 12/31/2021.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 9, 2021

Regulation 6.2.4.4: When children are outside playing, the FCCP and/or staff shall be outside supervising the children. If due to the mixed ages of the children and the need to step away to meet basic care needs of children, the FCCP and/or staff may supervise the school age children from inside the home provided that the children can be seen from inside and the outside play area is fenced to prevent the children from leaving the play area. Children younger than school age shall not play outside without the FCCP and/or staff person present at any time.

“Barbie stated it was common practice for her to watch children play in the backyard, to include pre-schoolers while she tended to the infants inside; often times while they are sleeping. Provider A confirmed this was a common practice. While discussing children playing outdoors without adult supervision Child Y stated that she doesn't like to be outside alone. Corrective Action: Effective immediately discontinue the practice of allowing under school aged children to be outdoors without the FCCP and/or staff person being present at any time. For school aged children, they must be supervised outdoors by the FCCP and/or staff person present unless the FCCP or staff person present can supervise from inside the home provided children can be seen from inside, and the outside play area is fenced to prevent children from leaving the play area. Submit a plan to the Division indicating how you will meet the needs of infants while also meeting the requirement of outdoor play time.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 29, 2019

Regulation 5.1.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCH environment and practices support children's health and safety.

“Upon interviewing Provider A, she admitted to taking Child X outdoors without the proper winter gear and then video taping the child in distress to send to the mother. Provider A indicated she did this to prove a point to the mother that she needed to bring Child X proper winter gear. Provider A confirmed that Child X had special health needs, including a feeding tube. Corrective Action: Implement a policy on how you will meet children's health and safety needs when you are not provided with the proper items from parents in order to do so. Include in this plan what parents are informed they are responsible in providing and maintaing on site, as well as what parents can expect if they do not provide the required items. Submit this policy to the Division for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 30, 2019