Next Horizons

AAC R9-5-203.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member completes, signs, dates, and submits to the licensee, before the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service: 1. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); and 2. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, the form in A.R.S. § 8-804(I).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 (date of employment 1/10/2023) lacked documentation for Central Registry Background check.”

AAC R9-5-301.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member submits, on or before the starting date of employment or volunteer services, a completed self-screening form in a Department-provided format for tuberculosis screening purposes and follow recommendations for further tuberculosis testing, as applicable.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, the file for Staff #1 (date of employment 1/10/2023) lacked a tuberculosis self-screening form or a negative tuberculosis test.”

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

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in Room P6, enrolled children with disposable training pants were being changed in the bathroom rather than the diaper changing area as required. There were two disposable training pants (pull-ups) in the bathroom trash can.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Outdoor activity area, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children: *There was damaged wood and an exposed screw on the base of the wooden stage. *There were 6 blue tricycles and scooters with damaged or missing hand grips and exposed raw metal. *There was a red riding toy with a hole in the plastic and sharp edges. *There were two containers on wooden stands with standing water. *The green barrier was loose and hanging from the chain link fence.”

AAC R9-5-603.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area: 1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation, the outdoor activity area lacked the following resilient surfacing: *3 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones of the slide on the climbing structure. *2 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones of the yellow ladder on the climbing structure.”

AAC R9-5-304.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-3009, before an enrolled child receives child care services, a licensee shall require the enrolled child’s parent to complete an Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record that is no more than a two-page written notice, and is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, email address, and telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider; 6. The written authorization for emergency medical care of the enrolled child when the parent cannot be contacted at the time of the emergency; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. The written instructions of a child’s parent or health care provider for the nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(14); and 9. A written record completed by the child’s parent or health care provider noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that 4 out of 23 enrolled children's Emergency, Information and Immunization Record cards reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1 and Child #3: The date of enrollment. Child #2: The date of enrollment, the name and contact telephone number of the child's health care provider, and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #4: The home address for each parent.”

AAC R9-5-203.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that each staff member submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid background check document: 1. Issued under A.R.S. § 46-811(A) before the starting date of employment or volunteer service; and 2. Each time a background check is issued or renewed every five years.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance officer's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 lacked documentation of a Centralized Background check.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the outdoor activity area, there was splintered wood in multiple areas of the green wooden deck. There was a heavy layer of sand on two sets of stairs leading up the climbing structure.”

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, in the Pre-K room (P7), there was a tear in the vinyl with exposed foam, located on the left edge of the red couch cushion.”

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 facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, the licensee lacked documentation of a current violation-free fire inspection report. The report reviewed expired on 7/29/2025.”

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 #1's observation, there were areas of exposed rough concrete footing accessible to children at the bases of six fence posts on the east side of the playground.”

AAC R9-5-516.B.3. B. If prescription or nonprescription medications are administered, a licensee shall ensure that:3. A facility director, or a staff member designated in writing by the facility director, does not administer a medication to an enrolled child unless the facility receives written authorization signed by the enrolled child’s parent or health care provider that includes the: a. Name of the enrolled child; b. Type of the medication; c. Prescription number, if any; d. Instructions for administration specifying the: i. Dosage and route of administration; ii. If indicated, starting and ending dates of the dosage period; and iii. Times and frequency of administration; e. Reason for the medication; and f. Date of authorization; and

“Finding: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, 1 of 2 medication authorization forms lacked a prescription number.”

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 outside bathroom, 1 of 4 sinks was inoperable.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area:1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Finding: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, the outdoor activity area lacked the following resilient surfacing: *2 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones of the small climber and the stairs of the large climber. *4 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones between the tires.”

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

“Finding: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the P2 classroom (used by infants during the inspection), there was rough, rusty metal on an air conditioner intake grate. The grate was floor level and accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.13. A. A licensee shall ensure that:13. Toys and play equipment, required in this Article, are maintained: a. Free from hazards, and b. In a condition that allows the toy or play equipment to be used for the original purpose of the toy or play equipment;

“Finding: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, on the playground accessible to children, there were 7 blue bicycles with torn seats exposing foam and damaged handles with metal exposed. There was a wooden water table with peeling paint and exposed rough wood.”