La Casita Preschool Childcare

AAC R9-5-605.B.16. B. A licensee shall ensure that:16. The fire extinguisher required in subsection (A): 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; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the Ones/Twos classroom, Threes classroom, and Fours/Fives classroom, the fire extinguisher's service tags were dated 11/2023.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Threes classroom's toilet room, the handwashing sink had paper towels and standing water with bubbles in the basin.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Threes classroom's toilet room, there was water, a long piece of toilet paper, and small wads of toilet paper on the floor in front of the toilet and by the sink.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.m. C. A licensee shall ensure that:1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: m. Posts the current written dietary instructions in the infant room and the kitchen and maintains the instructions on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the instructions; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the kitchen lacked the written, current, and dated dietary instructions for the enrolled infants.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.19. A. A licensee shall ensure that:19. Except as provided in subsection (A)(20), the following are stored separate from food storage areas and are inaccessible to an enrolled child: a. All materials and chemicals labeled as a toxic or flammable substance; b. All substances that have a child warning label and may be a hazard to a child; and c. Lawn mowers, ladders, toilet brushes, plungers, and other facility equipment that may be a hazard to a child;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom's toilet room, there was a toilet plunger next to the toilet and accessible to enrolled children.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children, in the School Age classroom, there was ripped vinyl with exposed foam on the right arm and ripped vinyl/missing foam leaving a hole that exposed the wooden frame on the left arm of the blue couch in the reading center and accessible to enrolled children. In the Infant room, there was a screw protruding out 1-inch on the cabinet door at the base of the diaper changing table and accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 2. Except for an enrolled school-age child, drinking water is provided sufficient for the needs of and accessible to each enrolled child in both indoor and outdoor activity areas;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom, the water bottles used for drinking water were on top of a shelf above a countertop and inaccessible to the enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-403.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each staff member who provides child care services completes 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after the effective date of this Chapter or the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service in at least two topics listed in this subsection: a. Child growth and development, including: i. Infant growth and development, which may include sudden infant death syndrome prevention; ii. Developmental psychology; iii. Language development; iv. Observation and child assessment; v. Developmentally-appropriate activities; vi. Child guidance and methods of discipline which may include training on the appropriate techniques to prevent a child from harm or to prevent the child from harming others; and vii. Developmentally-appropriate activity areas; b. Health and safety issues, including: i. Accident and emergency procedures, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; ii. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; iii. Nutrition and developmentally-appropriate eating habits; iv. Child abuse detection, reporting, and prevention; v. Safety of indoor and outdoor activity areas; and vi. Sun safety policies and procedures; c. Program administration, planning, development, or management; and d. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs; and 2. As part of the required 18 hours of training in subsection (B)(1): a. A staff member who has less than 12 months of child care experience before the staff member’s starting date, completes at least 12 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) in the staff member’s first 12 months at the facility; b. A staff member who has 12 months or more of child care experience, completes at least 6 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; c. A staff member who provides child care services to an infant completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(a)(i) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; and d. A facility director completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(c) every 12 months after the facility director’s starting date.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #3 (start date 06/01/2022) lacked documentation for 12 of 18 hours of annual training for the time period between 06/01/2023-06/01/2024.”

AAC R9-5-203.E. E. If a staff member possesses a fingerprint clearance card that was issued before the staff member became a staff member at the facility, a licensee shall:1. Contact the Department of Public Safety before the individual becomes a staff member to determine whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid; and 2. Document this determination, including the name of the staff member, the date of contact with the Department of Public Safety, and whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer's observation, t was determined that Staff #1's (DOE 07/22/2024) Fingerprint Clearance Card was verified to be valid on 07/23/2024, after the staff member's start date rather than prior to as required. It was determined that Staff #2's(DOE 03/25/2024) Fingerprint Clearance Card validation document lacked the date of when the Fingerprint Clearance Card was verified. The fingerprint clearance cards were verified to be valid through the DPS website at the time of the inspection.”

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 #2's observation, in the 3's classroom, 2 enrolled children lacked sheets on their naptime cots.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. All designated exits, corridors, and passageways that provide escape from the building are unobstructed and unlocked during hours of operation;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, in the 3's classroom, there were 2 naptime cots blocking the designated exit.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.2.b. C. A licensee shall ensure that:2. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room does not: b. Place an infant to sleep using a positioning device that restricts movement, unless the infant’s health care provider has instructed otherwise in writing;

“Findings: Based on staff statements and Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the Infant room, one infant was in a KeaBabies swaddle wrap and a second infant was swaddled in a muslin blanket, staff stated neither infant had written documentation from a health care provider to use the restrictive equipment.”

AAC R9-5-502.B.3. B. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall not: 3. Permit an infant to use a walker; or

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, in the Infant room, there was a Fisher-Price laugh and learn infant walking toy.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 2. Except for an enrolled school-age child, drinking water is provided sufficient for the needs of and accessible to each enrolled child in both indoor and outdoor activity areas;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, the outdoor activity area lacked drinking water and cups for the 16 children that were present.”

AAC R9-5-510.B.4. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not use or permit:4. Discipline associated with: a. Eating, napping, sleeping, or toileting; b. Medication; or c. Mechanical restraint; or

“Findings: Based on staff statements and Compliance Officer #2's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom, there was 1 child sitting in a feeding table chair. Staff stated the child was in the chair for hitting other children.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.9. A. A licensee shall ensure that:9. If a staff member places an enrolled child in a feeding chair when feeding the enrolled child: a. The feeding chair is constructed to prevent toppling; b. The tray or feeding surface of the feeding chair is smooth and free of cracks; and c. The staff member: i Cleans the feeding chair before and after each enrolled child’s use; ii. Sanitizes the tray or feeding surface before and after each enrolled child’s use; and iii. If the feeding chair was manufactured with a safety strap, fastens the feeding chair’s safety strap while the enrolled child is in the feeding chair;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom, there was 1 child sitting in a feeding table chair without the safety strap fastened.”

AAC R9-5-401.4. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:4. An assistant teacher-caregiver is 16 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Current and continuous enrollment in high school or a high school equivalency class; b. High school or high school equivalency diploma; c. Enrollment in vocational rehabilitation, as defined in A.R.S. § 23-501; d. Employment as a teacher-caregiver aide for 12 months; or e. Service as a volunteer in a child care facility for 12 months;

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #1's observation, it was determined after review of 2 staff files, the file for Staff #1 (start date 09/29/2023), lacked documentation of a high school or high school equivalency diploma.”

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 Compliance Officer #2's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom, a one-year-old enrolled child was walking around while drinking out of a bottle.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.16. B. A licensee shall ensure that:16. The fire extinguisher required in subsection (A): 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; and

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the Infant room, the fire extinguisher's service tag expired in November of 2023.”

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 #2's observation, upon arrival in the Fours/Fives classroom, the staff-to-child ratio was 1:19 rather than 2:19 as required for four-year-old children.”

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 facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, Staff #3 (start date 12/11/2023) was a teacher-caregiver. Staff #3 was not qualified as a teacher-caregiver because the staff file lacked documentation that the high school diploma or equivalency diploma from the country of origin is equivalent to a high school diploma that is issued in the United States.”

AAC R9-5-512.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each toilet room in a facility contains, within easy reach of enrolled children: a. Mounted toilet tissue; and b. Except as provided in subsection (G): i. A sink with running water; ii. Soap contained in a dispenser; and iii. Disposable, single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser, or a mechanical air hand dryer; 2. Staff members wash their hands with soap and running water after toileting; 3. An enrolled child’s hands are washed with soap and running water after toileting; 4. Except for a cup or receptacle used only for water, food waste is stored in a covered container and the container is clean and lined with a plastic bag; 5. Food waste and other refuse is removed from the facility building at least once every 24 hours or more often as necessary to maintain a clean condition and avoid odors; 6. A staff member or an enrolled child does not draw water for human consumption from a toilet room handwashing sink; 7. Toys, materials, and equipment are maintained in a clean condition; 8. Plumbing fixtures are maintained in a clean and working condition; and 9. Chipped or cracked sinks and toilets are replaced or repaired.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the Fours/Fives toilet room, there were 2 red cups with paint brushes, a grey watering can, and 8 paint trays on the window ledge.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.9. A. A licensee shall ensure that:9. If a staff member places an enrolled child in a feeding chair when feeding the enrolled child: a. The feeding chair is constructed to prevent toppling; b. The tray or feeding surface of the feeding chair is smooth and free of cracks; and c. The staff member: i Cleans the feeding chair before and after each enrolled child’s use; ii. Sanitizes the tray or feeding surface before and after each enrolled child’s use; and iii. If the feeding chair was manufactured with a safety strap, fastens the feeding chair’s safety strap while the enrolled child is in the feeding chair;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom, there were 4 children sitting in a toddler feeding table and were not strapped into the safety strap attached to the chair.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.9. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:9. Does the following when a parent permits or asks a staff member to apply personal products on an enrolled child, such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash ointments, sun screen or sun block preparations, toothpaste, and baby diapering preparations: a. Obtains the enrolled child’s personal products from the enrolled child’s parent or, if the licensee provides the personal products for use by the enrolled child, obtains written approval for use of the products from the enrolled child’s parent; b. Labels the personal products with the enrolled child’s name; and c. Keeps the personal products inaccessible to enrolled children;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, in the following rooms, enrolled children's personal products lacked a first and last name as required: Infant room: There was 1 package of wipes and 1 tube of ointment labeled with first name only. Ones/Twos classroom: There was 1 package of wipes and 1 tube of ointment with first name only. There was 1 package of wipes labeled with the first initial and last name. There were 5 tubes of ointment without a label.”

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 #1's observation, in the Infant room, there were 4 containers of food without a label.”

AAC R9-5-503.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that a written diaper changing procedure is posted and implemented in each diaper changing area.

“Findings: Based on Staff statements, a facility document, and Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the Ones/Twos classroom's toilet room, Staff stated soiled diapers were being removed in the toilet room, rather than on the diaper changing surface as required.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.6. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 6. If an activity in the lesson plan required in subsection (C)(5) includes screen time, include in the lesson plan the duration of the screen time in minutes;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the School-age classroom, enrolled children were watching an educational program and screen time in minutes was not listed on the lesson plan.”

AAC R9-5-203.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that each staff member submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card each time the fingerprint clearance card is issued or renewed every six years.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observations, it was determined that Staff #1 (start date 05/25/2022) lacked a valid fingerprint clearance card. The fingerprint clearance card expired on 01/30/2024, at the time of the inspection the DPS website indicated a new application was not submitted. Staff #2 (start date11/30/2021) lacked a valid fingerprint clearance card. The fingerprint clearance card expired on 02/12/2024, at the time of the inspection the DPS website indicated a new application was not submitted. Previously cited on 03/09/2022.”

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 finding: Based on a Mesa police department CAD Call Hardcopy dated 01/10/2024, video footage from 01/10/2024, and the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that the ratio was 0:1, rather than 1:1 for 3 minutes and 28 seconds, when an enrolled child entered the stairwell at 12:05:57, exited the building at 12:06:34, and a bystander returned the child to the facility at 12:07:31 after finding the child in the east bound lanes of traffic on Broadway Road.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.1. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Supervises each enrolled child at all times;

“Per allegation finding: Based on a review of 2 behavior incident reports dated 01/10/2024 for 10:06 AM and 12:10 PM, a Mesa police department CAD Call Hardcopy dated 01/10/2024, the bystander, Mesa PD Officer, 3 staff statements, security camera video 1-3 from 01/10/2024, and the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that the licensee failed to ensure the enrolled child was supervised at all times. Security footage showed the enrolled child entering the stairwell at 12:05:57 (video 1), exiting the building at 12:06:34 (video 2), and a bystander returning the child to the facility at 12:07:31 (video 3) after finding the child in the road. The bystander stated they "brought back the child" and the staff member stated they didn't know "the child had been missing or how the child got out". The child was alone and unsupervised for a period of 3 minutes and 28 seconds (12:05:57PM -12:07:31PM).”

AAC R9-5-501.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that:1. In addition to complying with the requirements in this Chapter, the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child is not placed at risk of harm;

“Per allegation finding: Based on a review of 2 behavior incident reports dated 01/10/2024 for 10:06 AM and 12:10 PM, a Mesa police department CAD Call Hardcopy dated 01/10/2024, security camera video from 01/10/2024 (video 1-3), and the Compliance Officers' observations, it was determined that the licensee failed to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of an enrolled child was not placed at risk of harm. Security footage showed: Video 1 Second Floor Stairwell: 12:05:57-12:06:29: The second-floor stairwell door opens and the child exits and begins descending the stairs, stopping twice to look back the child reaches the bottom of the stairwell stepping down 3 steps to the entryway. Video 2 Interior Entry: 12:06:27-12:06:30: The child is now on the first-floor interior entry and reaches the front door, pushes the push bar twice and appears to struggle to push the door open. Video 3 Entry Drive: 12:06:34-12:06:48: The child exits building and begins running down the entry sidewalk next to the driveway. There are vehicles traveling along the east bound lanes in front of the center. The child reaches the end of the entry sidewalk, is running across the driveway toward the street. 12:06:49-12:06:54: The child is in the center of the east bound first lane and a city bus can be seen approaching from the left of the screen. The bus comes to a stop approximately 40-48 feet away from the child, a bystander is standing up inside the bus next to the exit doors. The child is in the center of the east bound first lane. 12:06:55- 12:06:58: The bus door opens and the bystander is out of the bus running towards the child who is in the center of the east bound lanes. The child stops and moves toward the bystander who is running towards them. The distance between them closes in and the bystander is now walking toward the child. The child stops, turns, and runs in the opposite direction away from the bystander toward the middle lane. 12:06:59-12:07:09: The bystander begins running after the child. The bystander is approximately 8-10 feet away from the child, who is in the center of the east bound lanes. The bystander reaches the child and takes hold of their arm and picks the child up. The bystander has the child in their arms and walks back toward the facility, reaches the shoulder of the east bound lanes and traffic in the west bound lanes begins to move. 12:07:15-12:07:31: The bystander is carrying the child back to the facility and reaches the sidewalk. The bus pulls off the street towards the shoulder of the east bound lanes and traffic begins to move around it. The bystander is carrying the child and walking on the gravel toward the front entry of the facility. The bystander reaches the front entry door and disappears out of the cameras view and video 3 ends.”

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.

“Per allegation finding: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, upon arrival in the Fours classroom, the daily attendance sheet indicated 11 children, however there were 12 children present in the activity area.”