Newton Afterschool Program

Regulation 5.31: Orientation training shall be conducted for every employee before they are left alone with children. This training shall be documented and shall cover material included in the Staff handbook and licensing regulations. Complete written information and 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 and child guidance; * Curriculum development policies and responsibilities; * Supervision of children; * Policies and procedures for reporting a missing child; * Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; * Safe sleep practices; * Requirements for administration and storage of medication; * Emergency Response Plan and emergency procedures, including: staffing emergencies, school closings, evacuation plans such as site evacuations in case of national or environmental emergency, lock-down procedures, responding to a sick or injured child and medical emergencies; * Use of fire extinguishers; * Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; * Recordkeeping, including daily attendance procedures; * Transportation and child passenger safety; * Off-site activities (field trips) * Release of children; * Respectful engagement of families, including daily communication with parents about their child's activities; * 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; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Staffing plans and definitions of related duties to include opening and closing procedures; * Afterschool Child Care Program licensing regulations; * Employee complaint and grievance procedures; and * Assuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Staff Member A was missing Orientation training in their BFIS Quality Credential Account. The director confirmed Staff Member A has not completed the Orientation training. Corrective Action: Staff Member A must complete Orientation training. Submit completed certificate to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2026

Regulation 5.39: Within six months of hire, all paid Staff counted in the staff/child ratios shall have obtained CDD-approved training in infant/child CPR and basic first aid for children, injury prevention and emergency readiness. All Staff shall receive retraining in first aid prior to the expiration date on each Staff person's first aid card.

“Staff Member A was missing CPR/First Aid training in the BFIS Quality Credential Account. The director confirmed Staff Member A has not completed the training. Staff Member A has been employed for more than six (6) months. Corrective Action: Staff Member A must complete CPR/First Aid training. Submit completed certificate to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2026

Regulation 18.77: Within six months of the initial date of employment, Staff working with children and the Site Director and/or Program Administrator 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 in Section 5 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Three (3) staff members BFIS Quality Credential Accounts were missing qualifying documents. Staff Member B was also missing eight (8) hours of professional development in the BFIS Quality Credential Account. The director confirmed these documents have not been submitted to Northern Lights. Corrective Action: Submit qualification documents and Staff Member B's professional development hours to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2026

Regulation 4.3: A child shall be admitted in an Afterschool Child Care Program when there is on file on the premises, either in hard copy or accessible and printable electronic format documentation in the child's file of each child's current immunization status. * Immunization records shall include the immunization administered and the date of each immunization. * If an enrolled child is in the process of complying with immunization requirements in accordance with the Vermont recommended immunization schedule, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form. * If a child has not had a required immunization due to a Vermont allowed exemption, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form.

“Child immunization records were not accessible at the time of the visit. The director confirmed documents were not currently accessible. Corrective Action: Create individual child files that include copies of the child's immunization records. Submit confirmation of completion to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2026

Regulation 4.14: The Licensee shall ensure that they and all Staff receive training and demonstrate understanding of their legal responsibilities regarding preventing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

“Staff Member A was missing Protecting Vermont's Children training in their BFIS Quality Credential Account. The director confirmed Staff Member A has not completed the training. Corrective Action: Staff Member A must complete Protecting Vermont's Children training. Submit completed certificate to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 4/30/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2026

Regulation 4.4: A system for taking attendance, including documentation of the time when each child arrives and departs each day he/she attends the Afterschool Child Care Program, shall be established.

“Upon review of attendance, it was noted, since 9/30/2024, times in/or out of the program were not being specified for each child. Current practice discussion with Director indicated the children all come from school at 3:00 pm so they have a single sign in time of 3:00 pm, sign out practice is an arrow through all of the names on each date, without individual pick up times noted. It was observed children leaving the program at various times in the afternoon as guardians arrived to retrieve their child(ren). This is a repeat violation, sited 5/24/2023. Corrective Action: Program shall ensure all children are signed in and out daily on attendance sheet. Program shall indicate who is responsible for taking the daily attendance and monitoring it's completion when program is in session. Program shall establish where attendance will be accessible for named person to be able to complete their daily responsibility. Program shall ensure all staff are trained on attendance taking responsablities. Program shall confirm who is responsible for monitoring of attendance taking procedures. Program shall email updated attendance plan and names of staff who have been trained on said plan to: kristy.haapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2025

Regulation 4.3: A child shall be admitted in an Afterschool Child Care Program when there is on file on the premises, either in hard copy or accessible and printable electronic format documentation in the child's file of each child's current immunization status. * Immunization records shall include the immunization administered and the date of each immunization. * If an enrolled child is in the process of complying with immunization requirements in accordance with the Vermont recommended immunization schedule, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form. * If a child has not had a required immunization due to a Vermont allowed exemption, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form.

“Upon review of child files, it was found child immunization records were not held on site and accessible for review. Discussion with Director, provided information that enrolled children's immunization records are kept electronically with their annual school year enrollment forms, in another building on the school campus. Individual child files are kept electronically with the Program Administrator and were not able to be accessed at time of site visit, as it was after regular school hours. Corrective Action: Program shall ensure a copy of each enrolled child's immunization record is kept on site and accessible for review during program hours. Program shall ensure child immunization records are collected at time of enrollment to the program and kept with the child's ASP enrollment form, in their file, on site. Program will ensure there is a designated individual who will be responsible for maintaining ASP child files and ongoing compliance with this regulation. Program will email identified staff responsible for child files and plan developed to maintain ongoing compliance to this rule to: kristy.haapala@ vermont.gov once corrective action has been completed.”

Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2025

Regulation 18.77: Within six months of the initial date of employment, Staff working with children and the Site Director and/or Program Administrator 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 in Section 5 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Review of staff BFIS Qualification and Credential accounts it was determined required documentation for four (4) staff were not reflected in BFIS. All four (4) staff have been employed with the program for more than six (6) months. This a repeat violation. Cited 04/17/2024. Corrective Action: Review staff BFIS accounts and submit missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV using the cover sheet by the corrective action due date below. Create and implement a system to ensure staff BFIS accounts are up to date with required documentation.”

Correction date in the state record: May 27, 2025

Regulation 5.36: The Program Administrator or designee shall ensure a minimum of 4 hours of annual Professional Development Activities for new and returning Afterschool Aides related to the attainable goals defined in each Aide's Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). This training is in addition to any infant/child CPR certificate or recertification and First Aid Training.

“On site review of staff files verified four (4) staff files were found to have not completed required annual professional development hours. Corrective Action: Ensure four (4) identified staff complete their required professional development hours for their required timeframes. Submit completed certificates to Norther Lights at CCV and cc: kristyhaapala@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: May 29, 2025

Regulation 18.77: Within six months of the initial date of employment, Staff working with children and the Site Director and/or Program Administrator 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 in Section 5 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Review of staff BFIS Qualification and Credential accounts, in addition to post visit follow up with Program Administrator determined required documentation for five (5) staff not reflected in BFIS. All five (5) staff have been employed with the program for more than six (6) months Corrective Action: Review staff BFIS accounts and submit missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV using the cover sheet by the corrective action due date below. Create and implement a system to ensure staff BFIS accounts are up to date with all required documentation.”

Correction date in the state record: May 27, 2025

Regulation 10.9: Emergency evacuations shall be practiced with the children each month. A record of practice drills for the previous and current year shall be maintained and available onsite. Practice drills may be pre-announced. There shall be: * a system in place to assure that all children are accounted for at a predetermined safe place; * a safety plan that may include additional lock down practices and procedures.

“Review of Evacuation Drill logs revealed drills were not completed for the months of December 2023, and January, February and March 2024. Corrective Action: For the months of September, October, November and December, when program is back in session for the next school year, conduct a second evacuation drill in addition to the required monthly drill. Create and implement a system to ensure drills are conducted monthly as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 1, 2024

Regulation 13.7: Staff and children shall all wash their hands with soap under warm, running water: * before they eat or prepare food * after they use the toilet * after handling animals * after playing outside.

“Staff B was observed serving lunch to the children without washing her hands or without having the children wash their hands. The children arrived at the program space, sat on the bleachers to hear announcements, and then were provided snack. There is a sink immediately at the end of the bleachers Staff F confirmed during debrief that the children can use to wash their hands. Corrective Action: Review this rule with all staff by the corrective action due date given.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2024

Regulation 4.4: A system for taking attendance, including documentation of the time when each child arrives and departs each day he/she attends the Afterschool Child Care Program, shall be established.

“A small notebook was observed being used to take attendance. Review of the notebook showed only check marks were being used to check children in and out. No tmes were listed for the five (5) months of attendace record this Licensor was able to review. Corrective Action: Effective immediately ensure that times are used to record each child's arrival and departure at the time they occur. Review this rule with all staff to ensure everyone is made aware of this requirement.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2024

Regulation 4.14: The Licensee shall ensure that they and all Staff receive training and demonstrate understanding of their legal responsibilities regarding preventing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

“Review of BFIS and follow up email correspondance with Staff F determined Staff C, Staff D and Staff E have not completed the mandated reporter training as required by this rule. Staff C and Staff D both began their employment with the program in July 2022. Staff E began their employment in March 2022. Corrective Action: Ensure that Staff C, Staff D, and Staff E complete this required training by the corrective action date given. Create a system to ensure all new employees complete this training.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2024

Regulation 10.9: Emergency evacuations shall be practiced with the children each month. A record of practice drills for the previous and current year shall be maintained and available onsite. Practice drills may be pre-announced. There shall be: * a system in place to assure that all children are accounted for at a predetermined safe place; * a safety plan that may include additional lock down practices and procedures.

“When Staff A was asked to produce evacuation drill records for this Licensor to review, Staff A stated the program had not been conducting them. Corrective Action: For the months of July, August, September and October 2023 complete two (2) evacucation drill for each month. As of November 2023 the program may resume the one (1) drill per month as required by this rule. Create a system to prompt and ensure drills are completed. Ensure each drill is recorded containing all information as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 1, 2024

Regulation 5.31: Orientation training shall be conducted for every employee before they are left alone with children. This training shall be documented and shall cover material included in the Staff handbook and licensing regulations. Complete written information and 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 and child guidance; * Curriculum development policies and responsibilities; * Supervision of children; * Policies and procedures for reporting a missing child; * Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; * Safe sleep practices; * Requirements for administration and storage of medication; * Emergency Response Plan and emergency procedures, including: staffing emergencies, school closings, evacuation plans such as site evacuations in case of national or environmental emergency, lock-down procedures, responding to a sick or injured child and medical emergencies; * Use of fire extinguishers; * Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; * Recordkeeping, including daily attendance procedures; * Transportation and child passenger safety; * Off-site activities (field trips) * Release of children; * Respectful engagement of families, including daily communication with parents about their child's activities; * 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; * Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; * Staffing plans and definitions of related duties to include opening and closing procedures; * Afterschool Child Care Program licensing regulations; * Employee complaint and grievance procedures; and * Assuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Review of BFIS Credential accounts and site visit follow up email correspondance with Staff F revealed Staff C, Staff D and Staff E have not completed the required orientation training. Corrective Action: Ensure that Staff C, Staff D and Staff E complete the orientation training by the correction action date given. Create a system to ensure all new employess complete the orientation training.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2024

Regulation 5.11: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the Afterschool Child Care Program submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the Afterschool Child Care Program.

“Four (4) staff regularly present at the summer program and working with children at the time of the visit, were not listed on the associated parties list and Record Check Authorization forms had not been sent for them to the Division. Corrective Action: It is required to complete the fingerprint supported background clearance process with all staff. It is required to develop an onboarding process when a new staff joins the program so that it is ensured that the Record Check Authorization form is completed and sent as part of the hiring process.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 19, 2022

Regulation 4.3: A child shall be admitted in an Afterschool Child Care Program when there is on file on the premises, either in hard copy or accessible and printable electronic format documentation in the child's file of each child's current immunization status. * Immunization records shall include the immunization administered and the date of each immunization. * If an enrolled child is in the process of complying with immunization requirements in accordance with the Vermont recommended immunization schedule, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form. * If a child has not had a required immunization due to a Vermont allowed exemption, documentation in the child's file shall include the required Vermont Department of Health form.

“The program did not have any documentation for children's immunizations on site and the records were not available in a digital format. This is a violation because it is required to have this information. Corrective Action: It is required to develop and implement a system to collect the missing immunization documents and update the enrollment process, to include tracking of receiving required information at enrollment to ensure compliance going forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 19, 2022

Regulation 18.77: Within six months of the initial date of employment, Staff working with children and the Site Director and/or Program Administrator 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 in Section 5 of these regulations shall be submitted to NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“The BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts for all staff members do not reflect documents for verification of qualifications. Corrective Action: By 2/28/20, submit all documentation for staff as required to Northern Lights at CCV. Email confirmation to this licensor when required documents have been sent and a program improvement plan on how staff member's BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts will be up-to-date and maintained”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 19, 2020

Regulation 5.11: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the Afterschool Child Care Program submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the Afterschool Child Care Program.

“During the review of the associated party list, it was stated by the program director, that a staff working in the program who had been left alone with children had not submitted a record check authorization form to the Division. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have the staff submit a record check authorization form to the Division and to fingerprinting no later than 2/17/2020 and shall not be left alone without approval from the Division based on results of fingerprinting.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 19, 2020

Regulation 10.9: Emergency evacuations shall be practiced with the children each month. A record of practice drills for the previous and current year shall be maintained and available onsite. Practice drills may be pre-announced. There shall be: * a system in place to assure that all children are accounted for at a predetermined safe place; * a safety plan that may include additional lock down practices and procedures.

“Kiersten reported that the program practices emergency evacuation drills once a month and has practiced three drills so far this school year; however she has not documented the drills after completion. Corrective Action: Create and implement a system to record completion of monthly emergency evacuation drills. Submit a statement to vicki.burgess@vermont.gov indicating your understanding of this rule by 12/11/2017.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 8, 2017