Jennifer Hemingway

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.

“A review of the staff members BFIS Quality and Credential account and verbal confirmation from the provider that the assistant had not completed the VT Orientation training and they have been working in the program for about one year. The assistant was working with children during this licensing visit. Corrective Action: By 8/28/2026, have the assistant complete the VT Orientation Training and submit confirmation of completion to this Licensor. Submit and confirm the VT Orientation training certificate has been uploaded into the assistant's BFIS Quality and Credential account.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 7, 2026

Regulation 5.10.4.5.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCH, its furnishings, and toys are kept in a clean and orderly condition.

“In the living room where children were playing during this licensing visit, the floor had old food wrappers, shredded paper and cardboard, tops to food containers, mail, and other garbage amongst the toys. The kitchen table had empty soda cans and bottles, half empty soda bottles, bins, old food wrappers and containers and paper. The table and highchair were dirty with food crumbs and grime. This is the table where children ate breakfast. The kitchen floor had empty food containers, wrapper, dirty paper towels, soda cans on the floor. The room where the infant sleeps and the changing table is located, had a lot of stuff such as backpacks, clothing, toys, empty cardboard container, mismatch shoes piled so you could not get to the changing table or port-a-crib. This rule was cited previously on 5/27/2022. Corrective Action: The provider agreed to close for the rest of the day to prioritize cleaning and creating a safe environment for children. By 11/29/2023, submit photos of the environment and submit a program improvement plan on how the home where children will play will be clean and organized daily.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 29, 2023

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

“There was a bottle of bathroom cleaner and Lysol wipes on the bathroom counter and a bin of hair products and lotions on the bathroom floor in reach of children. This rule was cited previously on 5/27/2022. Corrective Action: Immediately remove all cleaning products, hair products and lotions that state keep out of reach of children. By 12/1/2023, submit a program improvement plan with how cleaning products and hair products will be kept out of reach of children.”

Correction date in the state record: May 28, 2024

Regulation 5.6.11: The FCCP shall ensure that all medication and non-medications described in the rule 5.6.10 of these regulations shall be securely stored and inaccessible to children.

“There was a box of Benadryl and adult vitamins on the kitchen table in reach of children, among the clutter on the table. The provider did not see them on the table. Corrective Action: Immediately always keep all medications and vitamins out of reach of children. By 12/01/2023, submit a program improvment plan with where medications will be stored in the home.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 6, 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 and a substitute listed on the associated parties list did not submit a new record check authorization form or submit to fingerprinting prior to their expiration date of 5/29/2023. The Annual Assurance Letter was sent to the provider through BFIS on 11/28/2022 which had the provider and substitute listed and stated they needed to submit a new record check and submit to fingerprinting before the expiration date. Corrective Action: Immediately submit a new record check authorization form and complete the fingerprint process by 10/27/2023. Submit a confirmation to this Licensor once completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 13, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.1.2: The FCCP shall ensure that children are protected from choking hazards presented by cords on window coverings, electric or electronic appliances or equipment and telephone cords.

“In the living room there were electric cords from two vacuum cleaners that were laying across the floor where children had to walk to the bathroom, to the kitchen and to the front door. In the bathroom there was a hair straightener on the counter with the cord draped off the counter onto the floor where children walk. The electric cords posed as an entanglement and tripping hazard. Corrective Action: The Provider agreed to close her program until she brings her home back into compliance and the Division completes a health and safety check.”

Correction date in the state record: May 31, 2022

Regulation 5.10.4.5.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCH, its furnishings, and toys are kept in a clean and orderly condition.

“In the living room where children were during this licensing visit, the floor was covered with old food wrappers, empty boxes, several empty soda cans, juice bottles, small pieces of food, candy such as M&M's, bags of chips, crumbs, bins of clothing, clothing scattered, shoes, broken toys, debris such as small paper, old masks, cards, cleaning products such as rug cleaner, hand sanitizer, and books. The playroom in the basement where a lot of toys are located, the floor was covered with clothing, shoes, old food, chip bags, soda bottles and cans, mattress, wet and soiled paper towels which were all located on the children's toys. The bathroom floor had a dirty rug, tissues, clothing on the floor. The bathroom counter was full of hazards, such as Windex, hair products, lotions, shaving cream and lots of small rubber bands. The bathroom counter also had a lot of used paper towels. The sink had dirt, debris, and hair around the edges and inside the sink where children wash their hands. The room where the infant was sleeping in a port-a-crib had clothes, toys, shoes all over the floor. The condition of the home was deemed unsafe for children. Corrective Action: The Provider agreed to close her program until she brings her home back into compliance and the Division completes a health and safety check.”

Correction date in the state record: May 31, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.1.5: The FCCP shall ensure that children younger than three (3) years of age do not have unsupervised access to small toys and objects that pose a choking hazard, deemed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as objects being smaller than their Choke Test Cylinder (1.25 inches in diameter and 2.25 inches in length).

“The living room floor was covered with small toys, M&M's, small pieces of paper, food, small rubber bands which are all choking hazards for children under one years old. There was an infant in care during this licensing visit and the living room was the only space where children played. Corrective Action: The Provider agreed to close her program until she brings her home back into compliance and the Division completes a health and safety check.”

Correction date in the state record: May 31, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.1.6: The FCCP shall ensure that sharp objects are kept out of children's reach unless used for a planned activity and closely supervised by an adult.

“There were adult size scissors located on a cardboard box in the living room in reach of children and where children played during this licensing visit. Corrective Action: The Provider agreed to close her program until she brings her home back into compliance and the Division completes a health and safety check.”

Correction date in the state record: May 31, 2022

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

“Located on the living room floor, which is one of the area's where children play, amongst the debris was a bottle labeled as carpet cleaner and bottles of hand sanitizer. Located on the kitchen floor within reach of children was a bottle of shout stain remover and bottle of laundry detergent. In the bathroom next to the sink and hand soap was a bottle of Windex glass cleaner. There were at least seven bottles of hair care and toiletries labeled keep out of the reach of children. The bathroom cupboard was unlocked and had cleaners such as Lysol, Bleach, Windex, Cortisone cream and several other bottles of creams, sprays and hair products that state keep out of reach of the children. Corrective Action: The Provider agreed to close her program until she brings her home back into compliance and the Division completes a health and safety check.”

Correction date in the state record: May 31, 2022