Meredith Gilbert

Regulation 5.6.5: The FCCP shall ensure that written permission from parents to administer medication must include all of the following information for each prescription and non-prescription medication administered to children: * Name of the child; * Child's date of birth; * Any medication allergies; * Name of medication; * Dosage to be given; * Time when medication is to be given; * Route of administration (mouth, ear, nose, topical, inhalation); * Reason for the medication; * Start and end dates for administration of the medication; and * Any special instructions.

“The provider did not have a signed parent permission form to administer an inhaler to a child who has been in care for the last year. Corrective Action: Immediately have the parent fill out a parent permission form giving you permission to administer the child's medication.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 12, 2026

Regulation 7.1.2.2: The FCCP shall ensure that at least one (1) responsible adult who has successfully completed and is currently certified in pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR is on the premises at all times children are present.

“A review of provider's BFIS quality and credential account and the provider's statement that their CPR and First Aid expired on 10/5/2024 and they had not renewed their CPR and First Aid certification prior to this licensing visit. Corrective Action: By 1/3/2025 complete a First Aid and CPR class and submit the certificate to Northern Lights with the required cover sheet and submit confirmation to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 19, 2024

Regulation 5.10.1.8: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The FCCP shall comply with the requirements of 18 V.S.A. Chapter 38 Vermont Lead Law and shall ensure that Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) is performed. This includes but is not limited to protecting children from peeling or chipping paint, and dust build up from the friction of moving doors or windows.

“The provider stated they had not completed the Inspection, Repair, and Cleaning (IRC) survey since 3/1/2023. The provider's home was built in 1976, and it is required to complete the IRC yearly according to the Vermont Department of Health Lead Laws. Corrective Action: By 1/3/2025, complete the required Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) survey with the Vermont Department of Health and submit confirmation of completion to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 19, 2024

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.

“It was confirmed during this licensing visit that the provider had not completed an Emergency Preparedness training that included content related to sheltering in place. Corrective Action: By 2/23/2024 complete the Emergency preparedness training and submit the training certificate to Northern Lights with the required coversheet.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 5, 2024

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 providers BFIS Quality and Credential account and a verbal confirmation from the provider stating that they have not completed the Vermont Orientation Training as required. Corrective Action: By 3/1/2022 complete the Vermont Orientation Training. Submit the training certificate to Northern Lights with the required cover sheet.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 16, 2022

Regulation 2.3.10.5: The FCCP shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable state and federal laws even when they are more stringent than the rules in this set of FCCH regulations.

“A household member has not completed the fingerprint process as required by law. The fingerprint letter was issued on 3/11/2020 and a reminder letter was issued on 2/11/2021. As of 2/9/2022, the household member had not completed the fingerprint process. Corrective Action: Immediately have the household member make an appointment and complete the fingerprint process by 2/18/2022.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 16, 2022

Regulation 5.10.1.2.5: There shall be at least one (1) easily accessible dry chemical fire extinguisher which has at least a 2-A: 10BC classification. This fire extinguisher shall be maintained in operating condition. It shall bear an official tag, properly signed, attesting to current operating condition.

“The fire extinguisher was last inspected and properly tagged over a year ago. Corrective Action: The fire extinguisher must be inspected and properly tagged by 11/19/2019. Email the licensor the date of the fire extinguisher inspection when it is complete.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

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.

“There were no qualification documents or verification of required professional development hours in the provider's BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Corrective Action: By 11/19/2019, submit all qualification documents and verification of professional development to Northern Lights at CCV using this verification cover sheet. https://northernlightsccv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Verification-Cover-Sheet-10.3.18.pdf”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 3.3.6.1: The FCCP shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.6.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children, staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years.

“There was no documentation to verify required evacuation drills had been conducted. The provider stated evacuation drills are conducted every other month and not recorded. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 11/16/2017. Corrective Action: Conduct two evacuation drills in each month of November and December and monthly beginning January 2020. Immediately record monthly evacuation drills and include all required information on the evacuation record. Email the licensor a copy of of the evacuation drill records for the November and December drills once they have been completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 3.3.3: The FCCP shall establish a system for taking attendance, including documentation of the time when each child arrives and departs each day he/she attends the FCCH. The FCCP shall save all daily attendance records identifying the hours of children's attendance for at least twelve (12) months from the date that care is provided.

“There was no time in or time out recorded for children on days they attended the program. Corrective Action: Immediately record the time each child arrives and departs on days they are in attendance at the program.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 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 provider stated she has not completed the required orientation training session. Corrective Action: By 11/26/2019, complete a Division approved orientation training session. Submit verification of completion to Northern Lights at CCV and to the licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 5.3.2: Daily Health Check Upon arrival into the FCCH staff shall observe each child for symptoms of communicable disease and signs of injuries. Any obvious injuries shall be documented along with any comments from the parent pertaining to the child's condition. This documentation shall be maintained in the child's file for a minimum of 365 days.

“There were no daily health checks recorded for any of the children enrolled in the program. The provider stated she does not perfom or record daily health checks for any of the children on days they are in attendance. Corrective Action: Immediately perform daily health checks on all children upon their arrival on days they attend the program. Any signs of injury shall be recorded along with parent comments and such documentation must be kept in the child's file for no less that 365 days.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

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.

“The provider's adult son now resides in the home and no Record Check Authorization Form has been submitted to the Division for the provider's son. Corrective Action: By 11/08/2019, submit a Record Check Authorization Form to the Division for the adult son who is now residing in the home. The Record Check Authorization Form and directions for submitting the form can be found at https://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/CDD/Forms/Licensing/Childcare_Record_Check_Form.pdf”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 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 provider stated she has not completed an emergency preparedness training. Corrective Action: By 11/26/2019, complete an emergency preparedness training and submit verification of completion to Northern Lights at CCV and to the licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 18, 2019

Regulation 5.11.1.3: The FCCP shall ensure that menus are planned in advance, dated, and posted so that they are clearly visible to parents. Any changes to the posted menu shall be noted. Menus of meals and snacks for the preceding six (6) weeks shall be kept on file.

“The provider stated she is providing meals to the children in care. There were no menus documented or posted. Corrective Action: By 11/12/2019, develop menus in advance and post the menus where they are clearly visible to parents.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 5.10.1.2.6: The extinguisher shall be visibly mounted to the wall near an exit door.

“There was no fire extinguisher mounted near an exit. Corrective Action: By 11/26/2019 mount an approved fire extinguisher near an exit. Email the licensor the date the fire extinguisher was mounted.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment the FCCP 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.

“There was no well care exam on file for any of the children enrolled in the program. Corrective Action: By 11/26/2019, obtain verification of each child's well care exam and include the documentation in each child's file.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 3.6.1.1: The FCCP 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 FCCP will address and manage the following situations and responsibilities: * Evacuations or other emergencies such as leaving the premises 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 FCCH 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 FCCH; * A system to account for all children and staff at evacuation meeting place; * An process for relocation if necessary including safe transportation; * A system for sheltering in place if the FCCP and children present need to remain in the FCCH for an extended period; and * Staff chain of command and individual staff roles and responsibilities, (if applicable) during emergencies.

“The provider stated she has not developed or written an Emergency Response Plan. Corrective Action: By 11/26/2019, develop and write an Emergency Response Plan that includes all the required information as stated in this rule. Submit a copy of the plan to the licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 20, 2019

Regulation 3.3.6.1: The FCCP shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.6.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children, staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years.

“Meredith states she has not kept a record of practiced evacuation drills. Corrective Action: Implement a system to document practiced evacuation drills. By 11/30/2017 submit a confirmation to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 27, 2017