Kids Arizona

AAC R9-5-501.A.3. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 3. For enrolled infants and children five-years or younger, drinking water is available to meet the needs of each enrolled child;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, drinking water to the children on the 1/2's playground. There were 4 children present and only water bottles for 2 children.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.8.c. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: c. Is furnished with clean, sanitized, crib-size bedding, including a fitted sheet and top sheet or a blanket;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the cribs in the Infant room lacked a top sheet that was sized for the mattress. The sheets were bunching in the corners of the mattresses throughout the room.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the there was a post in the 3/4's room that had drywall and metal edging exposed, that was accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-603.B. B. Except as provided in subsection (D) a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area: 1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the main facility playground had a stucco wall that had deteriorated and had holes and gouges accessible to enrolled children. Additionally, the plastic climber connections had become detached near the slide on the 1/2's playground.”

AAC R9-5-512.C. C. A licensee shall ensure that floor coverings are: 1. Clean; and 2. Free from: a. Dampness, b. Odors, and c. Hazards.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the carpets on the floor of the 1/2's and 3/4's classrooms were stained and contained an accumulation of debris on the surfaces of the carpets.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the water temperature in 1/2’s diaper changing sink faucet measured a temperature of 78 degrees F.”

AAC R9-5-512.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that toilet bowls, lavatory fixtures, and floors in toilet rooms and kitchens are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain them in a clean and sanitized condition or at least once every 24 hours.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the caulking at the base of the toilet in the 3/4’s restroom had become detached from the base of the toilet and the flooring beneath, causing the floors of the restroom unable to be sanitized.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, there were seams along the diapering surface of the 1/2's classroom, and 2 gouges on the surface causing the surface to be unsanitizable. Additionally, the diapering surface of the Infant room had an accumulation of grime and debris along the edges and corners of the surface.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.11. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 11. Label each food container received from the parent with the infant's name.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the Infant room's refrigerator contained a bag of breast milk without a label of the infant’s name.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation. the 3/4's classroom had chipped paint along the southern wall and the purple posts in the room had exposed drywall.”

AAC R9-5-404.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that at least the following staff-to-children ratios are maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children: Age Group/Staff: Children - Infants/1:5 or 2:11; 1-year-old children/1:6 or 2:13; 2-year-old children/1:8; 3-year-old children/1:13; 4-year-old children/1:15; 5-year-old children not school-age/1:20; School-age children/1:20

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the 1/2's classroom was operating at a staff-to-child ratio of 1:9 instead of the state mandated ratio of 2:9.”

AAC R9-5-309.C. C. A licensee shall maintain on facility premises: 1. A current fire inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the fire inspection report; and 2. If there are gas pipes that run from a gas meter to an appliance or location on the facility premises, a current gas inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the gas inspection report.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the facility lacked documentation of a current fire permit as the permit provided had expired on 12/31/24.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the roster in the 1/2's classroom reflected the presence of 9 children, however there were actually only 8 children present.”

AAC R9-5-603.C. C. Except as provided in subsection (D), a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area:1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the plastic climber on the small playground had a large crack in the yellow step that was sharp to the touch. Additionally the slide connection on the climber was detached and at risk of falling apart.”

AAC R9-5-511.A. A. A licensee shall provide each enrolled child who naps or sleeps at the facility with a separate cot or mat or a crib that meets the requirements of R9-5-502(A)(8) and ensure that:1. A cot, mat, or crib used by the enrolled child accommodates the enrolled child’s height and weight; 2. A staff member covers each cot, crib mattress, or mat with a clean sheet that is laundered when soiled, or at least once every seven days and before use by a different enrolled child; 3. A clean blanket or sheet is available for each enrolled child; 4. A rug, carpet, blanket, or towel is not used as a mat; and 5. Each cot, mat, or crib is maintained in a clean and repaired condition.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, there were 3 children laying directly on cot surfaces without sheets in-between the children and the cot surfaces in the 1/2’s classroom.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.18. C. A licensee shall ensure that:18. A staff member: a. Prepares a weekly menu at least one week in advance, b. Includes on the menu the specific foods to be served on each day, c. Dates each menu, d. Posts each menu at least one day before the first meal on the menu will be served, and e. Writes food substitutions on a posted menu no later than the morning of the day of meal service;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation it was determined that the food substitution was not documented on the menu for 4/3/2024. The menu posted for lunch listed HM Scrambled eggs, spinach and bell pepper salad and apple slices but the children were actually served pasta, salad and mixed greens.”

AAC R9-5-504.5.c. A licensee providing child care services for 1-year-old and 2-year-old children shall: 5. Ensure that: c. If a child is fed with a bottle, a staff member complies with the requirements in R9-5-502(C)(3); and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that that there was a toddler child lying on a cot drinking a bottle in the 1’s classroom.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the roster was not accurate in the 2's classroom. There were 9 children present in the classroom but the roster reflected the presence of only 8 children.”

AAC R9-5-301.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a facility director: 1. Designates, in writing, an individual who meets the requirements of R9-5-401(2) to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility; 2. Supervises or assigns a teacher-caregiver to supervise each staff member who does not meet the qualifications of R9-5-401(3); 3. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member documents on the attendance record the time of each arrival and departure of the staff member; and 4. Maintains on the facility premises, the dated attendance record required in subsection (B)(3) for 12 months after the date on the attendance record.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, it was determined that Staff #1 (start date: 12/20/2023) was not supervised by a teacher-caregiver. Staff #1 lacked the required experience to qualify the staff as a teacher-caregiver.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that there were 2 plants in the diaper handwashing sink in the 2's classroom.”

AAC R9-5-512.A. A. A licensee shall maintain facility premises free of insects and vermin.

“Per allegation findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and interview with the facility staff, it was determined that a staff member has seen 2 water bugs in the facility. The facility owner stated that there is a rat trap in the kitchen only as a preventive measure.”

AAC R9-5-404.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that at least the following staff-to-children ratios are maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children: Age Group/Staff: Children - Infants/1:5 or 2:11; 1-year-old children/1:6 or 2:13; 2-year-old children/1:8; 3-year-old children/1:13; 4-year-old children/1:15; 5-year-old children not school-age/1:20; School-age children/1:20

“Per allegation findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and interview with the facility staff, it was determined that ratios were not maintained at all times. Staff stated that due to being short staffed and staff running late, the classrooms have been out of the ratio in the past.”

AAC R9-5-401.3. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:3. A teacher-caregiver is 18 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Six months of child care experience and: i. A high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; or ii. At least 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; b. Associate or bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or c. N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, it was determined that Staff #1 (start date: 12/20/2023) lacked the required experience to qualify the staff as a teacher-caregiver.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the roster was not accurate in the 2's classroom. There were 11 children present in the classroom but the roster reflected the presence of 12 children.”