Play Learn Grow

Regulation 5.10.1.8: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The licensee 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.

“According to the Vermont Department of Health this program had not performed an IRC inspection or filed an IRC compliance statement in the last three hundred sixty-five (365) days. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have an IRC inspection performed by an individual certified in IRC inspection, complete any remediation required, and file a compliance statement with the Vermont Department of Health. Submit a copy of the compliance statement to this licensor so that the condition on this license may be removed.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 26, 2024

Regulation 5.2.6.5: Sanitizing of the following items shall be done on the following schedule: Before and after each use: * Food preparation surfaces; * Dining tables and highchair trays; and * Non flushing potty chairs. After each use: * Eating utensils and dishes; At the end of each day: * Food preparation appliances; * Plastic mouthed toys; and * Pacifiers.

“A bin with children's water bottles was outside on the table while children played. Children were able to come and grab their water bottle to drink from. The water bottles are refilled when needed and then washed at the end of the week. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, water bottles are required to be cleaned and sanitized at the end of each day as required. Submit an email confirmation that the program is now washing water bottles at the end of each day.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 26, 2024

Regulation 5.10.1.10.4: Materials required for routine cleaning shall be stored and used in a safe manner out of the reach of children.

“During the visit, it was observed that the cabinet under the kitchen sink, which was in an area accessible and utilized by children, was unlocked and was filled with containers of toxic materials, including but not limited to, lysol wipes, windex, microbial spray, bleach, and toilet bowl cleaner. No children were observed attempting to access the cabinet. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to ensure that all materials required for routine cleaning are stored and used in a safe manner out of reach of children. The director stated that program will move all routine cleaning materials to a top cabinet out of reach of children moving forward. Include deatils of how this corrective action was addressed in your corrective action confirmation email.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 22, 2024

Regulation 5.10.1.10.5: Devices that diffuse or omit airborne chemicals such as anti-pest strips, ozone generators, plug-in air fresheners, nail polish, nail polish remover, and aerosol sprays shall not used in the CBCCPP.

“During the visit there was a wax burner and a plug in air freshener that were in use. The interior space was filled with strong fragrances. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to discontinue the use of devices that diffuse or emit airborne chemicals or fragrances during the hours of program operation. Include details about how this corrective action was achieved and how the information about this requirement has been communicated to all current employees and how it will be communicated to any newly hired employees moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 22, 2024

Regulation 5.10.1.2.1: The licensee shall ensure that the CBCCPP is in compliance with Vermont Division of Fire Safety rules at all times. This includes but is not limited to: * Complying with Vermont Division of Fire Safety inspection reports; * Having regular fire systems inspected with violations identified during the inspection noted as corrected; and * Having fire extinguishers tagged with valid inspection tags.

“During the visit, it was observed that the fire extinguisher was past due for annual inspection. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have the fire extinguisher(s) inspected and tagged with a valid inspection tag. Develop a system which will prompt you to ensure the fire extinguisher(s) are inspected in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 22, 2024

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The program did not submit the 2022 Vermont Child Care Immunization report by the 12/31/2022 deadline. Licensing sent multiple reminders via email, letter and phone calls. This is a repeat violation. The program did not submit the Vermont Child Care Immunization Report in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Corrective Action: A detailed program improvement plan is required and the Licensee is required to attend a phone conference with this licensor to discuss the steps that will be taken to ensure the 2023 Vermont Child Care Immunization Report is submitted. This licensor will be in touch before 03/03/2023 to set up a phone conference.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 13, 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.

“Communication with Licensee to review Associated Parties list revealed Staff B has been working at the program since September 2022 and has not yet been added to the list. Further review of the list with Licensee revealed Former Staff C ended employment with the program 9/1/22, Former Staff D ended employment 2/2/22, Former Staff E ended employment 8/28/22 and Former Staff F ended employment 7/7/22, none of which has been removed from the Associated Parties List. Corrective Action: Develop a tracking system to ensure changes to staff, auxiliary staff, volunteers and licensee are made in BFIS within five (5) working days as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 30, 2024

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“Review of BFIS credential account for Staff A showed seven (7) hours of professional development completed from June 2021 to June 2022. Communication with Licensee post visit did not provide any documentation that professional development beyond the seven (7) hours reflected in BFIS had been completed. This is a violation as it is required by this rule for staff to complete fifteen (15) hours of professional development annually. Corrective Action: Create a plan to ensure Staff A completes the missing eight (8) hours of professional development from June 2021 to June 2022 in addition to the required fifteen (15) hours of professional development required for June 2022 to June 2023. Create a system to track and ensure all staff are completing the required annual professional development as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2023

Regulation 3.7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that evacuation drills are conducted at least once a month, and children and staff are evacuated in under three (3) minutes. Licensees of a CBCCPP located within a public or independent school building may count a lock-down drill performed while the CBCCPP is in operation in place of a monthly evacuation drill with the CBCCPP children and staff and at least three (3) of the monthly drills conducted within 365 days shall be evacuation drills.

“Review of Fire Drill Log for January 2022 through December 2022 showed no drills were completed for the months of November 2022 and December 2022. Discussion with Staff A confirmed no drills were completed for those two (2) months. Corrective Action: Create a system to ensure fire drills are completed monthly as required by this rule. For the months of February and March 2023 complete two (2) drills per month, one of which must be a nap time drill. Starting April 2023 the program can return to completing the required one drill per month.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2023

Regulation 5.10.4.5.6: Exterior stairs, walks, ramps, and porches shall be cleared of ice and snow or other environmental hazards that may block exits.

“Exterior stair case leading from the program space, which is located on the second floor, were observed to be covered in several inches of hard, icy snow on each of the bottom five (5) steps. This staircase is used as a secondary emergency exit. Corrective Action: Develop a plan for ensuring all exterior stairs shall be cleared of any and all environmental hazards that may block use of the exit, to include snow and ice.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2023

Regulation 3.4.7.4: The licensee shall provide up-to-date program information in the program's BFIS account.

“Of the 8 individuals listed on the program's associated parties list, 4 of the individuals are no longer present at the program. Of the four individuals that are present at the program, 2 of them have incorrect titles. Corrective Action: As discussed please remove individuals who are no longer present at the program. This licensor will request the title updates that were needed at the time of the visit, in the future please ensure that the associated parties list is up to date and accurate. If title changes are needed please reach out to your Childcare Business Technician, Jacek Deptula at Jacek.Deptula@vermont.gov. By the corrective action due date email your licensor confirming that the program's BFIS account has been updated.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 15, 2022

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“Between 11/16/2021 and 12/17/2021, CDD sent two (2) separate emails to all programs, one (1) reminder letter using US Postal Service, one (1) reminder letter sent through the program's BFIS account, and a final email reminder. This communication provided the link to be used and CDD contact information for questions or challenges with submitting the report. The program did not complete the report, Staff A stated she knew it needed to be done but was unable to get it completed. Staff A stated the focus has been on dealing with COVID and staffing issues. This is a repeat violation that occured in 2019 and 2020. Corrective Action: This violation has been cited 3 times, a detailed program improvement plan is required. This should include a system to track the immunization report due date, an individual responsible for submitting the report and a second individual who will also monitor compliance with this regulation. Email this plan to your licensor for review and approval.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 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.

“Staff A and B are missing CPR/FA, orientation, mandated reporter training and educational documents used to assess their qualifications in their BFIS quality and credential accounts.Staff C is missing FA/CPR documentation in their BFIS quality and credential account. This is a repeat violation from 01/22/2020. Corrective Action: Submit missing documentation for Staff A and B to Northern Lights @CCV.Develop a program improvement plan on how you will maintain up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and submit the plan to your licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 15, 2022

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment, staff working with children 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 NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“The Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) ) Quality and Credential accounts for several staff who have been with the program more than six months ago do not contain documentation of completed trainings, current CPR & First Aid certification, and information needed to assess qualifications. Corrective Action: Submit missing qualifications and training documentation to Northern Lights at CCV to be added to the BFIS accounts for each staff member listed on the program's associated parties list by 2/10/2020. Develop a program improvement plan on how you will maintain up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and submit the plan to this licensor by 2/10/2020.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 30, 2024

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The Child Development Division sent the first notice to submit the annual immunization report on 11/11/2018 by email. The Division sent additional notices on 11/25/2019 (by email), 12/8/2019 (letter in the mail), 12/15/2019 and 12/16/2019 (letter posted in the program's BFIS account), and 12/20/2019 (by email). The program did not submit the report by the 12/31/2019 due date. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 5/3/2019. Corrective Action: By 2/10/2020, submit a program improvement plan that identifies the steps that will be taken to ensure that the 2020 annual immunization report will be filed between 11/1/2020 - 12/31/2020.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 5, 2020

Regulation 2.3.11.2: The Division may attach terms and conditions to the approval of a license when unique circumstances warrant. The licensee shall maintain compliance with all terms and conditions on the license certificate.

“There is a condition on the license certificate that says- By 09/01/2017, Contact CDD with water test results. The Licensee confirmed that a first draw water sample for lead detection has not been submitted for testing as required. Corrective Action: Ensure the drinking water is tested for lead as. Kits to test for lead in water are available by contacting the Health Department. Send an email when this action has been complete.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 22, 2020

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“Between 11/5/2018 and 12/21/2018, CDD sent 2 separate emails to all programs, 1 reminder letter using US Postal Service, 1 reminder letter sent through the program's BFIS account, and a final email reminder. This communication provided the link to be used and CDD contact information for questions or challenges with submitting the report Corrective Action: By 6/20/2019, submit a program improvement plan that identifies the steps that will be taken to ensure that the 2019 annual immunization report will be filed between 11/1/2019 - 12/31/2019.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 13, 2023