Stepping Stones Childcare

AAC R9-5-512.F.8.9. F. A licensee shall ensure that: 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 the Compliance Officer’s observation, in the Preschool classroom, the 3rd toilet had a plastic bag and trash can on top of it and was not in working condition.”

AAC R9-5-516.G. G. A licensee shall return all unused prescription and nonprescription medications to a parent when the medication prescription date has expired or the medication is no longer being administered to the enrolled child or dispose of the medication if unable to locate the enrolled child's parent after the child's disenrollment.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that the medication prescription for child #6 was expired (Expiration date: 07/2025). The expired medication had not been returned to the parent.”

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: Preschool Playground: *3 mister poles had rusted areas with sharp edges, and 1 mister pole had a 6-inch hole at the base. *There was a 6-inch hole in the stucco of the wall exposing wire and foam insulation. Toddler Playground: *There were water cups and trash around the playground.”

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 double yellow slide. *2 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zone of the green ladder climber and the yellow twist slide.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.8.c. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: c. Is furnished with clean, sanitized, crib-size bedding, including a fitted sheet and top sheet or a blanket;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation, in the Infant classroom, 11 crib sheets were loose/not tight-fitting to the mattresses.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.3.4. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 3. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled diapers; and 4. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled clothing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the 2's Classroom, the soiled diaper container lacked a tight-fitting lid, and the soiled clothing container lacked a lid. In the Preschool Classroom, the soiled diaper container lacked a tight-fitting lid, and the soiled clothing container lacked a waterproof liner and a tight-fitting lid. In the Infant Classroom, the soiled clothing container lacked a waterproof liner and a tight-fitting lid.”

AAC R9-5-501.B.9. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 9. Does the following when a parent permits or asks a staff member to apply personal products on an enrolled child, such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash ointments, sun screen or sun block preparations, toothpaste, and baby diapering preparations: a. Obtains the enrolled child’s personal products from the enrolled child’s parent or, if the licensee provides the personal products for use by the enrolled child, obtains written approval for use of the products from the enrolled child’s parent; b. Labels the personal products with the enrolled child’s name; and c. Keeps the personal products inaccessible to enrolled children;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the Infant Classroom, there were 2 diaper creams and 1 wipe that lacked the enrolled child's last name. In the 2's Classroom, there were 9 wipes that lacked the enrolled child's last name. In the Preschool Classroom, there was 1 wipe and 1 diaper cream that lacked the enrolled child's last name.”

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 5 out of 15 enrolled children's Emergency, Information, and Immunization Records reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1: The date of the child's enrollment, the name, home address, email address, and telephone number of 2nd parent of the child, the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child, and a signature on the back of the card. Child #2: The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #3: The date of the child's enrollment, the name, home address, email address, and telephone number of the 2nd parent of the child, and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #4: The date of the child's enrollment, the name, home address, email address, and telephone number of the 2nd parent of the child, and the contact telephone number of the child's health care provider. Child #5: The date of the child's enrollment, and the name, home address, email address, and telephone number of the 2nd parent of the child.”

AAC R9-5-203.B. B. A licensee shall maintain documentation of a valid fingerprint clearance card issued under A.R.S. § 41-1758.03 and valid background check document issued under in A.R.S. § 46-811.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that a copy of a staff's fingerprint clearance card was not in the staff member's file. A printout documenting the validity of the card was in the file.”

AAC R9-5-308.B. B. A licensee shall maintain documentation of the insurance coverage required in subsection (A) on facility premises.

“Finding: The Compliance Officer observed that documentation of current liability insurance was not available on site.”

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: The Compliance Officer observed that an electrical outlet cover accessible to enrolled children was missing in a classroom.”

AAC R9-5-507.A.1. A. A licensee providing child care services for a child with special needs shall:1. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), before a child with special needs receives child care services, obtain from the enrolled child’s parent a copy of an existing individualized plan for the enrolled child that can be reviewed, adopted, and implemented by the licensee when providing child care services to the enrolled child that includes the following as needed for the enrolled child: a. Medication schedule; b. Nutrition and feeding instructions; c. Qualifications required of a staff member who feeds the enrolled child; d. Medical equipment or adaptive devices; e. Medical emergency instructions; f. Toileting and personal hygiene instructions; g. Specific child care services to be provided to the enrolled child at the facility; h. Information from health care providers, including the frequency and length of any prescribed medical treatment or therapy; i. Training required of a staff member to care for the enrolled child’s special needs; and j. Participation in fire and emergency evacuation drills;

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that an infant being feed in a high chair had their arms confined to their side by their shirt where the child could not move their arms. Staff stated the child would grab for the spoon while being feed, which made it difficult to feed the infant. Staff stated the parent requested this, however there was no written plan documenting the request.”

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.

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that the fall zones of several pieces of climbing equipment on the back and side outdoor activity areas lacked 6 inches of resilient material.”

AAC R9-5-603.H. H. A licensee shall provide a shaded area for each enrolled child occupying an outdoor activity area at any time of day.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the shade cover on the back outdoor activity area was missing and the back outdoor activity area lacked adequate shade.”

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: Staff stated that a current violation free fire inspection was not available but the inspection had been scheduled.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.g. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: g. Does not allow bumper pads, pillows, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, or other soft products in a crib when an infant is in the crib;

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that there were pieces of breathable material tied to the sides of several cribs in the infant room and there was a toy left in a crib.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the wood diaper changing table with a diaper changing surface was not next to the diaper changing handwashing sink in the 1’s room.”

AAC R9-5-516.H. H. Except as provided in subsection (J), a licensee shall ensure that prescription and nonprescription medications are stored as follows:1. An enrolled child’s medication is kept in a locked, leak-proof storage cabinet or container that is used only for storing enrolled children’s medications and is located out of reach of children; 2. Medication for a staff member is kept in a locked, leak-proof storage cabinet or container that is separate from the storage container for enrolled children’s medications and is located out of reach of children; and 3. Medications requiring refrigeration are kept in a locked leak-proof container in a refrigerator.

“Based on an observation, two medications for infants were observed in cubbies, unlocked, in the infant classroom”

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.

“Based on observation, the wood chips and sand were observed hard, packed and measured 1 to 2 inches in depth in the fall zones of the slides and climbing equipment”

AAC R9-5-501.A.21. A. A licensee shall ensure that:21. Except when used as part of an activity, the following are stored in an area inaccessible to an enrolled child: a. Garden tools, such as a rake, trowel, and shovel; and b. Cleaning equipment and supplies, such as a mop and mop bucket.

“Based on an observation, a toilet brush was observed, accessible to enrolled, children, in the school-age classroom’s restroom”

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.

“Based on an observation, a toilet in the three-year-old restroom was observed inoperable”