Creative Preschool Program

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. 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; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; 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, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Two (2) staff members were missing Orientation training. The director confirmed the staff members have not completed the training. Corrective Action: Staff must complete Orientation training. Submit completed certificates to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 30, 2026

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Three (3) staff members BFIS Quality Credential Accounts were not up to date. All three (3) staff members have been employed by the program for longer than six (6) months. Corrective Action: Submit all documentation needed to ensure staff files are up to date to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026. These documents include qualification documents, CPR/First Aid, Orientation training, and Protecting Vermont's Children certificates.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 30, 2026

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“Four (4) staff members were missing Protecting Vermont's Children training. The director confirmed the staff have not completed the training. Corrective Action: Staff must complete Protecting Vermont's Children training. Submit staff's completed Protecting Vermont's Children certificates to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 30, 2026

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“Eight (8) staff members were missing CPR/First Aid training. Director confirmed staff members had not completed the training. Corrective Action: Staff must complete CPR/First Aid training. Submit completed certificates to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 30, 2026

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Of the nineteen (19) staff employed six (6) months or longer, nine (9) had incomplete BFIS Quality and Credential accounts. Corrective Action: Ensure documentation required to be in all staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts is submitted to Northern Lights at CCV. In the corrective action email, confirm all missing documentation has been submitted for identified staff, and what the system is moving forward to maintain ongoing compliance with this rule. Email corrective action to: kristy.haapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2025

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“One (1) staff was hired into the Substitute role in December 2023 and three (3) staff were hired into the Substitute role in February 2024. As of site visit date these four (4) staff did not have current CPR/First Aid Certifications. Corrective Action: Three (3) staff post visit provided CPR and First Aid certificates. The remaining staff shall complete CPR and First Aid by the stated due date. In the corrective action email, please confirm the final staff has obtained this training and identify the system to ensure ongoing compliance with this rule. Email corrective action to: kristy.haapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2025

Regulation 5.10.1.8: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The licensee 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.

“In consultation with Vermont Department of Health (VDH), it was confirmed the program has not filed their annual Inspection, Repair, and Cleaning (IRC) report. The last filing was completed on 10/5/2022 and was due by 10/5/2024. Corrective Action: Ensure the IRC report is filed with the Vermont Department of Health. In the corrective action email, confirm this has been completed and identify the system to ensure ongoing compliance with this rule. Email corrective action to: kristy.haapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 12, 2025

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“Two (2) staff with February 2024 dates of hire and One (1) staff with a December 2023 date of hire had not completed the required Mandated Reporter Training. Corrective Action: Staff A, C and D shall complete the required Mandated Reporter training. Program will submit completed certificates to Northern Lights at CCV and cc: kristy.haapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 21, 2025

Regulation 3.4.6.1: The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and 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. When the CBCCPP counts lock-down drills as allowed in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations, the licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each lock-down drill, the number of CBCCPP children and staff who participated, and note that the drill performed was a lock-down drill.

“It was determined that the program did not complete an evacuation drill during the months of October 2019, November 2019, November 2020, and February 2021. This is a violation because an evacuation drill must be conducted monthly and documented. Corrective Action: It is required to develop a system that ensures that fire drills will be conducted monthly and documented as required. A description of this system shall be sent to this licensor for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 22, 2021

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“After review of staff files and quality and credential accounts, it was determined that three (3) staff of the program employed longer than six (6) months did not have up to date BFIS accounts and were missing proof of CPR or First Aid certifications or qualification documentation, and these items had not been sent to Northern Lights for entrance into the BFIS accounts. Corrective Action: It is required to review all staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts to determine what is missing and needs to be sent. It is required to develop a system that addresses how accounts will be reviewed, and how items will be sent to Northern Lights to ensure the accounts will be kept up to date in the future. The description of the system shall be sent to this licensor for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 22, 2021

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment, staff working with children and the program director 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“After a review of onsite staff files and BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts, it was determined that six (6) staff employed longer than six (6) months did not have up to date BFIS Quality and Credentialing Accounts as required and were missing qualification information, required trainings, and/or annual professional development documentation. Corrective Action: By 11/13/2019, review staff files and determine what is missing from staff Quality and Credentialing accounts and develop a plan that outlines how those will be updated and kept up to date in the future. Send the developed plan to this licensor for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2020

Regulation 3.7.3: Emergency Preparedness Training: Within 365 days of opening a CBCCPP, the licensee shall attend emergency preparedness training which shall include content specifically related to sheltering in place in the event of an emergency in which the licensee and children present need to remain in the CBCCPP for an extended period.

“It was determined that the Director of the program, as representative of the licensee, had not completed the required Emergency Response training and had been employed as Director for more than 365 days. Corrective Action: By 11/13/2019, the Director must complete the required emergency preparedness training and send confirmation of completion to this licensor. Documentation must also be sent to Northern Lights at CCV for entrance into the Director's BFIS Quality and Credentialing account.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 19, 2019

Regulation 7.1.3: Orientation of Staff The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. 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; * Supervision of children; * Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; * Safe sleep practices; * Administration of medication requirements; * Emergency and evacuation requirements; * Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; * Recordkeeping; * Transportation and child passenger safety; * Release of children; * Respectful engagement of families; * 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, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and * Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“After reviewing staff files and speaking with the Director, it was determined that several staff that are left alone with children had not completed the required Orientation training. This is a requirement. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, ensure staff have completed the required orientation training, and send documentation to this licensor and to Northern Lights at CCV for entrance into their BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts. Staff that have not completed the required Orientation training may not be left alone with children until the course is completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2020