Five Little Stars

AAC R9-3-505.D.9. D. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 9. An enrolled child does not have access to the following on the premises: a. Lawn mowers, ladders, toilet brushes, plungers, and other equipment that may be a hazard to a child; b. An air conditioner, evaporative cooler, heat pump, or furnace; c. A hot tub or spa; d. A pond or fountain; e. An irrigation ditch, abandoned mine, or well; or f. A trampoline.

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 1 inspected the children's restroom and observed that a toilet brush was stored accessible to the children.”

AAC R9-3-507.B.1. B. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. A staff member: a. Cleans, sanitizes, and dries a diaper-changing surface using a single-use paper towel before and after each diaper change; b. Washes the staff member’s hands with soap and running water before and after each diaper change; c. Wears single-use non-porous gloves during each diaper change; d. Washes an enrolled child’s hands with soap and running water or with a washcloth or disposable wipe after the enrolled child’s diaper is changed and uses each washcloth or disposable wipe on only one child and only one time before it is laundered or discarded; and e. Documents the daily diaper changes for each enrolled child in a dated diaper-changing log after changing the enrolled child’s diaper;

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 1 inspected the diaper changing table and observed that dirt and debris had collected along the inside edges of the diaper changing table where the seams were exposed as the caulking had worn off.”

AAC R9-3-301.A.4.b. A. A certificate holder shall: 4. Ensure that the provider: b. Maintains on the premises a file for each staff member, for 12 months after the date the staff member last worked at the child care group home, containing: i. The staff member’s name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number; ii. The staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service; iii. The staff member’s ending date of employment or volunteer service, if applicable; iv. The staff member’s written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis; v. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-897.03(B); vi. For an adult staff member, a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card issued under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 3.1; vii. Documents required by subsection (A)(3); viii.Documentation of the requirements in A.R.S. § 36-897.03(C); ix. If applicable: 1. The form required in A.R.S. § 8-804(I); 2. Documentation of the submission required in A.R.S. § 8-804(C) and the information received as a result of the submission; and 3. Documentation of the completion of the Department-provided orientation training specified in subsection (A)(1)(e), if applicable; x. Documentation of the training required in R9-3-302; and xi. Documentation of a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, associate degree, or bachelor degree, if applicable;

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 2 reviewed the file of Staff 1 (start date 12/14/22) and observed that it lacked a copy of their immunization record or signed statement.”

AAC R9-3-301.G. G. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member posts in a place that can be conspicuously viewed by individuals entering or leaving the child care group home: 1. The child care group home certificate; 2. The name of the provider; 3. The name of the staff member designated to act on behalf of the certificate holder when the provider is not present at the child care group home; 4. The hours of operation for the child care group home; 5. The weekly activity schedule required in R9-3-401(B)(4)(b); 6. The amount of time in minutes enrolled children may watch television, videos, or DVDs at the child care group home; and 7. The weekly menu, required in R9-3-406(F), before the first meal or snack of the week.

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 1 reviewed the postings and observed that the Screen Time policy was not posted and the Designee listed no longer worked at the Group Home therefore the posting needed to be updated.”

AAC R9-3-303.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-309, before a child is enrolled at a child care group home, a certificate holder shall require the individual enrolling the child to complete a Department-provided Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, city, state, zip code, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the child care group home or to be contacted if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner; 6. Written authorization for emergency medical care of the child; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. A written description provided by a child’s parent of the nutritional and dietary needs of the child; 9. A written description provided by the child’s parent noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance; and 10. The dated signature of the individual completing the Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card.

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 1 reviewed the children's emergency cards and observed the following: The card for Child 1 lacked the backside. The questions on the backside of the card for Child 2 were not answered and it was not signed or dated by the parent. The card for Child 3 lacked their doctor's telephone number, the name of the person to call first and the backside of the card.”

AAC R9-3-304.A.1. A. A certificate holder shall not permit an enrolled child to receive child care services at a child care group home until the child care group home receives: 1. An immunization record for the enrolled child with the information required in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, stating that the enrolled child has received all current, age-appropriate immunizations required under 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, that is: a. Provided by a physician, physician assistant, registered nurse practitioner, or another individual authorized by state law to administer immunizations; or b. Generated from the Arizona State Immunization Information System, which is the Department’s child immunization reporting system established in A.R.S. § 36-135; or

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 1 reviewed the children's immunization records and observed that a record was not on file for Child 2.”

AAC R9-3-202.G G. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, before an individual’s starting date of employment or volunteer service, a certificate holder shall comply with the submission requirements in A.R.S. § 8-804(C) for the individual.

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 2 reviewed the files for Staff 1 (start date 12/14/22) and Staff 2 (start date 4/23/26) and observed that they lacked documentation of their Central Registry Background Check results.”

AAC R9-3-504.D.2. D. If there are gas pipes that run from a gas meter to an appliance or location on the premises: 2. A certificate holder shall ensure that: a. Each unused natural gas outlet at the child care group home has its valves removed by and is capped at the wall or floor by a licensed plumber or individual authorized by the local jurisdiction; b. A licensed plumber or individual authorized by the local jurisdiction conducts a gas inspection that verifies there are no gas leaks in the gas pipes that run from the gas meter to any appliance or location on the premises at least once every 12 months after the date of the certificate; and c. A copy of a current gas inspection report, including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the gas inspection report, is maintained on the premises.

“FINDINGS: Compliance Officer 2 requested to review the current gas inspection and the one on file was completed 2/18/25, therefore it did not meet the required timeframe.”

AAC R9-3-507.A.1. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member changes diapers only on a nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that: 1. Is kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there was an accumulation of grime and debris in the corner of the diaper changing surface.”

AAC R9-3-504.C.2. C. A certificate holder shall: 2. Ensure that each rechargeable fire extinguisher in the child care group home’s residence: a. Is serviced at least once every 12 months, and b. Has a tag attached to the fire extinguisher that specifies the date of the last servicing and the identification of the person who serviced the fire extinguisher.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the fire extinguisher's tags showed the last service performed in January, 2024.”

A.R.S. § 36-897.03.B. B. Applicants, certificate holders and child care personnel shall attest on forms that are provided by the department that: 1. They are not awaiting trial on or have never been convicted of or admitted in open court or pursuant to a plea agreement committing any of the offenses listed in section 41-1758.07, subsection B or C in this state or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction. 2. They are not parents or guardians of a child adjudicated to be a dependent child as defined in section 8-201. 3. They have not been denied a certificate to operate a child care group home or a license to operate a child care facility for the care of children in this state or another state or had a license to operate a child care facility or a certificate to operate a child care group home revoked for reasons that relate to the endangerment of the health and safety of children.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 lacked a criminal history affidavit.”

AAC R9-3-401.B.2. B. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 2. The areas of the child care group home approved for providing child care services are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that the wooden doll house in the backyard was wobbly and easily tippable when very little pressure was applied.”

AAC R9-3-506.1. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. All areas of the child care group home approved for providing child care services and the furnishings, equipment, supplies, materials, utensils, and toys in those areas are kept clean and free of insects and vermin;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that there were bird droppings on a shelf in the backyard.”

AAC R9-3-504.F.1. F. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. An unannounced fire and emergency evacuation drill are: a. At least once each month; and b. Each fire drill and emergency evacuation drill at a different time of day than the fire and emergency evacuation drill conducted in the previous month;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, it was determined that a fire drill was not documented for December 2024 and January 2025.”

AAC R9-3-504.A.5. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 5. Each electrical outlet in an area of the child care group home approved for providing child care services is covered with a safety plug cover or insert when not in use;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that there was an uncovered outlet in the restroom.”

AAC R9-3-309.H. A certificate holder shall ensure that a child care group home does not stock a supply of prescription or nonprescription medications for administration to enrolled children.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that there were 5 sachets of burn cream, 4 sachets of triple antibiotic cream, and 4 sachets of acetaminophen in the facility's first-aid kit.”

AAC R9-3-302.C. C. A certificate holder shall ensure that each staff member completes a total of 12 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after becoming a staff member in two or more of the following: 1. Child growth and development, which may include sudden infant death prevention; 2. Developmentally appropriate activities; 3. Nutrition and developmentally appropriate eating habits; 4. Responding to accidents and emergencies, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; 5. Recognizing signs of illness and infestation; 6. Detecting, preventing, and reporting child abuse or neglect; 7. Guiding and disciplining children; and 8. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that Staff #2 lacked the 12 hours of annual training for the period 12/14/2023-12/14/2024.”

AAC R9-3-202.D. D. A certificate holder shall ensure that each individual who is a staff member or an adult resident submits to the certificate holder a copy of the individual’s a valid fingerprint clearance card each time the fingerprint clearance card is issued or renewed every six years.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the file for Staff #2 lacked a copy of the staff member's fingerprint clearance card.”

AAC R9-3-305.A.2. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 2. The individual signing the enrolled child into or out from the child care group home: a. Records the time of the enrolled child’s arrival or departure, and b. Signs the attendance record with at least the first initial of the individual’s first name and the individual’s last name; and

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, after a review of 7 children's attendance records, 5 lacked the following: Child #1: No time of arrival or signature on 9/11/2024. Child #2: No arrival signature on 9/11/2024. Child #3, Child #4, and Child #5: No time of arrival or signature on 9/11/2024.”

AAC R9-3-507.B.1. B. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. A staff member: a. Cleans, sanitizes, and dries a diaper-changing surface using a single-use paper towel before and after each diaper change; b. Washes the staff member’s hands with soap and running water before and after each diaper change; c. Wears single-use non-porous gloves during each diaper change; d. Washes an enrolled child’s hands with soap and running water or with a washcloth or disposable wipe after the enrolled child’s diaper is changed and uses each washcloth or disposable wipe on only one child and only one time before it is laundered or discarded; and e. Documents the daily diaper changes for each enrolled child in a dated diaper-changing log after changing the enrolled child’s diaper;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, there was dirt and debris on the surface of the diaper changing table.”

AAC R9-3-301.G. G. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member posts in a place that can be conspicuously viewed by individuals entering or leaving the child care group home: 1. The child care group home certificate; 2. The name of the provider; 3. The name of the staff member designated to act on behalf of the certificate holder when the provider is not present at the child care group home; 4. The hours of operation for the child care group home; 5. The weekly activity schedule required in R9-3-401(B)(4)(b); 6. The amount of time in minutes enrolled children may watch television, videos, or DVDs at the child care group home; and 7. The weekly menu, required in R9-3-406(F), before the first meal or snack of the week.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, the current week's menu was not posted.”

AAC R9-3-303.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-309, before a child is enrolled at a child care group home, a certificate holder shall require the individual enrolling the child to complete a Department-provided Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, city, state, zip code, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the child care group home or to be contacted if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner; 6. Written authorization for emergency medical care of the child; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. A written description provided by a child’s parent of the nutritional and dietary needs of the child; 9. A written description provided by the child’s parent noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance; and 10. The dated signature of the individual completing the Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, after a review of 7 children's Emergency information and Immunization Record cards, 2 lacked the following: Child #1: Date of enrollment. Child #2: The 2nd parent/guardian's name, address, and phone number.”

AAC R9-3-407.A.16. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 16. A refrigerator at the child care group home maintains a temperature of 41° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the refrigerator at all times;

“Compliance Officer 1 observed that the refrigerator did not have a thermometer.”

AAC R9-3-305.A.1. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. An enrolled child is signed into and signed out from the child care group home by: a. The enrolled child’s parent; b. An individual authorized in writing or by telephone by the enrolled child’s parent; or c. The enrolled child, if the enrolled child is a school-age child and the enrolled child’s parent has given written permission for the enrolled child to self-admit or self-release;

“Compliance Officer 2 reviewed the sign in and out records and found the following: 1. Child 1 was not signed out on 5/10/24 and not signed in on 5/13/24. 2. Child 2-4 were not signed in on 5/13/24.”

AAC R9-3-301.B. A certificate holder shall ensure that all of the records required to be maintained by this Chapter either are written in English or, if written in a language other than English, include an English translation.

“Compliance Officer 1 observed that the menu was in Spanish.”

AAC R9-3-301.A.4.d. A. A certificate holder shall: 4. Ensure that the provider: d. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member records on the attendance record the staff member’s start time and end time of providing child care services for the child care group home;

“Compliance Officer 2 observed that the Provider had not signed in and out since April 2024.”

AAC R9-3-507.A.3. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member changes diapers only on a nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that: 3. Provides access to running water that is not a kitchen sink and dispensed soap within 15 feet.

“Compliance Officer 1 observed that the plexiglass on the diaper table was loose making the surface not sanitizable.”

AAC R9-3-407.A.17. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 17. A freezer at the child care group home maintains a temperature of 0° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the freezer at all times;

“Compliance Officer 1 observed that the freezer did not have a thermometer.”

AAC R9-3-401.A. In addition to complying with the requirements in this Chapter, a certificate holder shall ensure that the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child is not placed at risk of harm.

“Compliance Officer 2 observed a child on a mat with their head covered by a blanket.”

AAC R9-3-401.B.2. B. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 2. The areas of the child care group home approved for providing child care services are maintained free from hazards;

“Compliance Officer 1 observed a gap under the shed in the outdoor area where no block was placed to cover it. This was corrected at the time of inspection.”

AAC R9-3-401.C.4. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member: 4. Except as specified in subsection (C)(5), labels the personal items of an enrolled child with an identifier that is specific to the enrolled child and stores the personal items separately from the personal items of other enrolled children and residents;

“The Compliance Officers observed a bottle and a jar of Aveeno eczema cream that were not labeled with an identifier.”

AAC R9-3-406.F. F. A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Prepares a weekly menu specifying the foods to be served at each meal and snack on each day, 2. Dates each menu, and 3. Writes food substitutions on a posted menu no later than the morning of the day of the meal or snack to which the substitution applies.

“Compliance Officer 1 observed that the menu was dated for March and not for the current week.”