Future Einsteins, LLC-Williston

Regulation 7.2.1: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the CBCCPP submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the CBCCPP.

“During the visit a partner staff entered the program. During a discussion with the partner staff it was revealed that they have been providing services to a child at the program since September 2024. The partner staff is not on the associated parties list. When discussed with the director she confirmed the partner staff has been coming to the program weekly since September 2024 and she was not aware partner staff had to complete a background check to provide services at the program. Corrective Action: Immediately complete and submit a Records Check Authorization form for partner staff that regularly provide services to children at the program. Develp a plan to ensure all partner staff providing services to children enrolled at the program complete a Records Check Authorization form moving forward and send the plan to the licensor by 5/2/2025.”

Correction date in the state record: May 2, 2025

Regulation 3.7.1.1: The licensee shall develop and maintain a written Emergency Response Plan to respond to a full range of emergencies both natural and man-made. A complete plan shall include how the licensee will address and manage the following situations and responsibilities: Evacuations or other emergencies such as leaving the premise and lockdown situations; Specific concerns related to the location of the program, such as proximity to a nuclear reactor, an area prone to flooding or power loss; Notifying the local authorities of the emergency; A system for notifying the parents of the emergency; Notifying the local emergency planning committee regarding the location of the CBCCPP and using the committee as a resource in emergency planning for the program; A system of identifying the children and staff present at the time of the emergency and maintaining knowledge of their whereabouts; A system for handling infants, toddlers, and children with special needs; An established evacuation meeting location within walking distance of the CBCCPP; A system to account for all children and staff at the evacuation meeting place; A process for relocation if necessary, including safe transportation; A system for shelter in place if the staff and children present need to remain in the CBCCPP for an extended period; and Staff chain of command and individual staff roles and responsibilities, (if applicable) during emergencies.

“Upon review of the Emergency Respone Plan it was observed that the document was missing information including emergency services and supports phone numbers, care instructions for children with special needs, and plans for various potential emergency situations including but not limited to natrual disasters. When discussed with the director she stated she was unaware of these requirements. Corrective Action: Update the Emergency Response Plan to include all information necessary to meet this regulation and send the completed plan to the licensor by 5/2/2025. An emergency response plan template can be found on the CDD website at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/doc/cdd/providers/forms”

Correction date in the state record: May 2, 2025

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“A review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and staff files reflected that the program director had not completed any professional development hours for the year of October 2021 to September 2022. The program director confirmed that they had not completed any professional development for that time frame. Corrective Action: For the year of October 2022 to September 2023, plan to have the Program Director complete a total of thirty (30) professional development hours. If you need assistance locating professional development activities, you may reach out to your Northern Lights at CCV resource advisor, Adri Taylo-Behrman at 802-654-0730 or adri.taylo-behrman@ccv.edu. Develop a system which will prompt all staff to complete a minimum of fifteen (15) professional development hours based on individual start dates moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2023

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

“During the visit, a total of seven (7) children's files were reviewed. Out of the seven (7) files, four (4) did not contain General Health Exam forms. All four (4) children missing those forms had been enrolled with the program for at least forty-five (45) days. The program director confirmed that General Health Exam forms had not yet been received for those children. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to review all children's files to check for General Health Exam forms and to collect general health exam forms for all children who have been enrolled for at least forty-five (45) days and do not yet have them on file. Develop a system which will prompt you to collect General Health Exam forms within forty-five (45) days of each child's enrollment moving forward. Include details of: 1. What system will be use to track the collection of required forms for children's files, 2. How often child files will be internally audited for required documentation, 3. How parents will be notified of the need for required documentation and reminded of the continued need for that documentation when it is not presented in a timely manner, 4. Who will be responsible for each step of this process to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2023

Regulation 6.2.6.6: The program director shall ensure that no person be left alone with children without approval from the Division based on the results of a background check that includes fingerprinting; with the exception of a parent may be left alone with his/her own child(ren).

“Upon arrival at the program at approximately 2:10 on 05/31/2022, Staff A, was outside on the playground with 4 preschool children. No other staff or children were present. At approximately 2:17 PM, Staff B, entered the playground and approached this licensor. Staff B stated that the Director was not present and that Staff B was fulfilling Director responsibilities in the Director's absence. Staff B staed that Staff B was not aware that Staff A should not yet be left alone with children. Staff B worked with Staff A and C to rearranged plans for the afternoon to ensure that Staff A would not be left alone. During interviews, Staff A, B, C and the Director stated that over the past month, on days when Staff A has been present, Staff A has been left alone with children for at least 1 hour each day. The director stated that the program had not yet received a final clearance letter following a fingerprint supported background check for Staff A. A review of Staff A's BFIS account reflected the Divsion was still waiting for out of state records check documents and had not yet issued a final clearance letter for Staff A. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to ensure that Staff A is not left alone with children until such a time when the program has received the final clearance letter from the Division for Staff A. Develop a system which will ensure that all staff have received approval from the Division based on a fingerprint supported background check prior to being left alone with children moving forward. Include in the system, details of who will submit Records Check Authorization forms for staff, who will schedule fingerprinting appointments in a timely manner, who will follow-up with any needs for out of state records check forms, how the progress of the results will be tracked, and how all staff will be made aware of this requirement, and made aware of the status of each new staff member to ensure the entire team of staff are aware of who can and cannot be left alone with children moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 8, 2022

Regulation 5.10.3.1.4: If fencing is used, it shall be sturdy, safe, and reinforced to give support, constructed to discourage climbing, and shall not prevent visual supervision of children by staff.

“The fencing which encloses the outdoor play space had many areas of exposed, splintered and jagged wood, broken wooden slats, gaps between the bottom of the fencing and the ground which ranged from 3 to 8 inches in several areas, and one area where two sections of fencing were no longer connected causing a gap of approximately 6 inches between the sections. Corrective Action: Immediately develop a plan with an identified timeline to repair and/or replace all fencing surrounding the outdoor play area in a manner which will eliminate safety issues due to unfinished, rough and/or jagged wood, large gaps in the fencing, and broken wooden slats. Develop a system which will prompt you to regularly check the fencing for safety hazards and to repair or replace fencing as needed in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 17, 2022