Jeni Bigelow

Regulation 7.1.3: Orientation of FCCP and New Staff The FCCP shall complete an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to beginning care for children. The FCCP shall ensure staff complete an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees shall complete the orientation training within one (1) month of their first date of working with children. 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, trainees, and partner staff; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Background check requirements to include changes in situations, restrictions, and exceptions for those prohibited by these regulations; * Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and * Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“The Registrant stated that she could not remember if she had completed the required Orientation training. There was no evidence of the completion of this training available in her files or in the Registrant's BFIS Quality and Credential Account. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 11/6/19. Corrective Action: By 3/28/2022, submit to your licensor kimberlie.buxton@vermont.gov a Program Improvement Plan on how and when this training will be completed. Include in this plan the steps and strategies you will utilize to ensure completion of the training. Information on this required course is located at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/professional-development/requirements.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2022

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 household member over the age of 16 did not complete a Record Check Authorization form. A letter was sent to the registrant on 9/19/2021 informing her that the household member needed to submit a new Record Check Authorization form. Corrective Action: Immediately submit the required record check authorization form. By 3/28/2022 develop a plan to ensure compliance to this rule is maintained and submit it to your licensor kimberlie.buxton@vermont.gov”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2022

Regulation 3.3.7.3: Within six (6) months of initial date of employment, the FCCP and all staff 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Upon review of the registrant and substitute BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and discussion with the registrant, it was found that the registrant CPR/First Aid certification and a substitute educational documentation and CPR/First Aid certifications were missing from their BFIS Quality and Credential accounts. The registrant stated that she did not believe she had sent the information to Northern Lights. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 11/6/19. Corrective Action: By 3/28/22, submit missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV with the required cover sheet and include your licensor kimberlie.buxton@vermont.gov on the email. The Verification Cover Sheet can be found at: https://northernlightsccv.org/resource/verification-cover-sheet/. Submit a program improvement plan to your licensor, with specific steps on how BFIS Quality and Credentialing Accounts will be updated and maintained in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2022

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.

“After reviewing the BFIS account for the program and speaking with the Registrant directly, it was determined that the registrant, a household member and a substitute have not completed fingerprint supported clearances as required. Fingerprint authorization forms were issued for the- substitute on 8/6/19, the household member on 6/20/2019 and the registrant on 06/13/2018. The registrant stated that she had an appointment scheduled for March 17, 2022, but not the other individuals. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 11/6/2019. Corrective Action: By 3/28/22, schedule an appointment for both individuals affiliated with the programs to comply with the fingerprint supported clearance. Submit confirmation of when fingerprinting appointment is scheduled and has been completed for all three (3) individuals to your licensor kimberlie.buxton@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2022

Regulation 3.3.7.3: Within six (6) months of initial date of employment, the FCCP and all staff 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“The BFIS Quality and Credentialing account of the Registrant was reviewed and found to be missing information on qualifications, as required. The Registrant has been a registered family child care home for over six (6) months, and an updated BFIS Quality and Credential Account, with proof of qualifications is required. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, submit transcripts to Northern Lights at CCV with required cover sheet for entrance into the BFIS Quality and Credential Account. In the required program improvement plan, include strategies for how BFIS Quality and Credentialing Accounts will be updated and maintained in the future. The plan will be sent to and reviewed by this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 27, 2019

Regulation 7.1.3: Orientation of FCCP and New Staff The FCCP shall complete an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to beginning care for children. The FCCP shall ensure staff complete an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees shall complete the orientation training within one (1) month of their first date of working with children. 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, trainees, and partner staff; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Background check requirements to include changes in situations, restrictions, and exceptions for those prohibited by these regulations; * Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and * Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“The Registrant stated that they have not yet completed the required Orientation training. There was also no evidence of the completion of this training available in any onsite files assessed or in the Registrant's BFIS Quality and Credential Account. This is a required training. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, include in the Program Improvement Plan submitted to this licensor, how and when this training will be completed, and strategies for completing it. Information on this required course is located at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/professional-development/requirements”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 25, 2019

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 Registrant stated that they had not successfully renewed their CPR and First Aid Certifications. The last reported first aid certification expired in June 2019, and the last known CPR certification expired in April 2018. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, find a CPR and First Aid Certification course and register for it. If no course is available, include information on how these certifications will be completed in the program improvement plan that is sent to this licensor for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 25, 2019

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.

“After reviewing the BFIS account for the program, onsite files, and speaking with the Registrant directly, it was determined that two individuals affiliated with the program have not completed fingerprinting as required. Fingerprint authorization forms were issued for these individuals on 6/20/2019 and 06/13/2018 respectively. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, make appointments for both individuals to complete the required fingerprinting. Include information on when this appointment will occur in the program improvement plan submitted to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2022

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.

“After a review of staff BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts, onsite files, and discussion with the Registrant, it was determined that the provider had completed two (2) out of the required fifteen (15) hours of professional development for the 2017-2018 registration year. Completing fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development is required. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, submit a program improvement plan that outlines which trainings will be taken to amount to the missing thirteen (13) hours of professional development, and strategies to complete those hours. It is also required to include strategies on how the 2018-2019 professional development will be completed in a timely manner. The program improvement plan will be submitted to this licensor and reviewed.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 25, 2019

Regulation 7.4.1: The FCCP shall ensure that within six (6) months of starting work in the FCCH, the FCCP and/or staff have an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). This shall be documented in the individual's BFIS Quality and Credential Account or in the staff file on site. IPDPs shall be updated at least once every 365 days.

“The Registrant stated that they did not have an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). An IPDP is required and shall be updated annually. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, include information on how and when the IPDP will be completed and strategies to do so, in addition to strategies to ensure it remains updated in the future. The program improvement plan will be reviewed by this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 27, 2019

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 program has several pieces of equipment that can reach a height of more than 30 inches; such as: monkey bars, a geodesic climber, and a tree house structure. Below these items, there is no fall surfacing. The surface that children may fall on is tightly packed dirt that would not provide any protective cushioning. Fall surfacing is required around any structure that allows children to attain a height of more than 30 inches. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, make the structures inaccessible until adequate fall surfacing can be obtained and installed. Provide confirmation via email that these structures have been made inaccessible and include information on how fall surfacing will be addressed in the program improvement plan that will be sent to this licensor by 11/27/2019.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 27, 2019

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.

“The Registrant stated that they had not yet completed the required Emergency Preparedness Training. There was also no evidence that this had been completed in the onsite files or in the Registrant's BFIS Quality and Credential Account. This is a required training. Corrective Action: By 11/27/2019, include information on how and when this training will be completed in the Program Improvement Plan that will be reviewed by this licensor. Information on this required training may be found at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/professional-development/requirements”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 25, 2019