North Troy Child and Family Development Program

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. 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; 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, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“After discussion with the program director and review of staff file, a staff required to have completed Orientation had not done so by the date of the visit. The staff has been employed at the program since 8/30/2022. Corrective Action: Ensure the staff complete Orientation as required by this rule. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 18, 2023

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“Upon review of the Associate Parties list with the Director, it was determined that three (3) individuals were no longer employed by the program or had not been employed since September of 2022. Corrective Action: Ensure all individuals no longer employed at the program are removed from the Associated Parties list. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule is maintained.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 19, 2022

Regulation 7.3.1.3: The program director of a CBCCPP licensed to serve thirteen (13) - fifty-nine (59) children shall be qualified as a teacher associate, and shall have completed either: * A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step One (1) Certificate; or * Successful completion of a three (3) college credit course in program management for early care and education or for school age care and education, or in staff supervision related to early care and education of children; and a three (3) college credit course in curriculum.

“The director of the program has a three (3) credit course in curriculum and confirmed that she does not have a college course in Program Management or Staff Supervision, or Program Director Step One (1) Certificate as required. A variance was given in November of 2019, the director had said she would be retiring in 2021. The director stated that she had changed her mind and was not retiring and is aware that she does not meet requirements. Corrective Action: It is required to create a plan for compliance with director credentials. The plan shall include resources used, such as reaching out to the local Northern Lights Resource Advisor, information on how coursework will be obtained, and deadlines. By January 24, 2022 email the plan to this licensor for approval.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 15, 2022

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director 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 sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Upon review of staff BFIS quality and credential accounts and verbal communication with staff, it was found that three (3) staff had missing or incomplete documentation in their accounts. Corrective Action: Review staff BFIS quality and credential accounts and ensure all required documentation is reflected as required by this rule and staff no longer with the program are removed from the associated party list. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule and forward a copy to ann.sparrow@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 4, 2021

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“Upon review of staff BFIS quality and credential accounts and verbal communication with staff, it was found that two individual staff did not complete a mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect training. Corrective Action: By 12/18/2020 ensure all staff have completed the Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse & Neglect training and submit the certificates to Northern Lights at CCV and cc this licensor to the email.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 14, 2020

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“The playground has a climbing structure with slides that are above 30 inches high and is located 4 1/2 feet from a 12 inches wide and 4-5 inches deep trench and is without sufficient cushioning material at the exit of the slide. Corrective Action: It is required that by 12/18/20, the slide location and the cushioning materials follow the recommendation listed in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook. This information is available at https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/325.pdf. Children cannot play on the slide until sufficient cushioning material has been added and the slide follows the recommendation. Notify this licensor when the slide placement and sufficient cushioning material is in place.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2020

Regulation 5.10.3.1.6: The outdoor play area shall be free of dumpsters, uncovered trash cans, highly flammable materials, standing pools of water and other hazards. Staff shall inspect the outdoor play area before children begin to play to make sure there are no hazards present such as, but not limited to, animal feces, litter, adult tools, or other items that might injure a child.

“The black tarp located under the mulch on the playground was sticking out approximately two feet into the area children play causing a tripping hazard. During licensor observation a child caught his foot on the loose tarp and almost fell to the ground. Corrective Action: Immediately make the area inaccessible to children until the tarp is secured to the ground and covered with cushioning materials. Submit an improvement plan on how the program will ensure the playgroup is free of all hazards prior to children accessing the space.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2020

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“Two (2) individuals listed as a substitute for the program have reportedly never been involved in the program. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, the associated parties shall be kept up to date as required. Establish a practice to ensure that the associate parties list is modified as needed in a timely fashion. By 12/18/20 email this licensor the steps you will take to monitor the associated parties list and remove names as needed.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 4, 2021

Regulation 3.4.6.1: The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and 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.

“A review of the fire drill log indicates that evacuation drills were not practiced in March and April. Mugguette did state that an evacuation drill was done in March, but it had not been documented. Corrective Action: For May conduct two emergency evacuation drills with the children each and record each practiced drill as described by regulation. Beginning in June, conduct and document at least one evacuation drill every month. Submit the dates of completed evacuation drills by 5/31/2018.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 5, 2018