STEPS Head Start - Lunenburg

8VAC20-780-260-B

“The center is required to obtain annual approval from the health department for meeting requirements for food service. The annual health inspection was overdue by 4 months.”

22.1-289.057-B

“The program is required to submit results of potable water testing to VDH. The program did not have evidence of submitting test results to VDH.”

22.1-289.035-B-4

“Repeat Violation Based on record review, and interview, the center failed to obtain the results of a criminal history record information check from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years prior to employment. Evidence: The record for staff #2, date of employment 09/03/2024, indicated that the staff member lived in another state outside of Virginia in the preceding five years prior to employment. The record did not contain the results of a criminal history record check from that state. Interview with administration confirmed that the record did not contain the results of the criminal history record check from that state.”

22.1-289.036-A

“Based on a review of 9 board member/agent records, and interview, the center did not ensure to obtain the results of repeat background checks every 5 years for 2 agents as required. Evidence: 1. The record of agent #1 contained fingerprints dated 02/28/2018. 2. The record of agent #5 contained a central registry dated 09/07/2018.”

8VAC20-780-40-E Complaint related: No

“REPEAT VIOLATION Based on review of documentation and video footage, the licensee did not ensure operational responsibilities that the center's activities and services are maintained in compliance with the standards and the centers own policies and procedures required by the standards: 1. Review of policy ED310 Guidance and Discipline states "Inappropriate/Prohibited Actions...You will not see staff engage in the following activities: ? Corporal punishment, including rough handling, shoving, hair pulling, shaking, slapping, kicking, biting, pinching, hitting or spanking." 2. Video footage revealed that child #1, age 3 years, attempted to sit at the table in the same seat that another child was sitting in. Staff #1 picked up child #1 by the arm causing his feet to lift off the floor. Staff #1 then carried child #1, by the arm, from the table to the carpet and sat child #1 on the carpet.”

8VAC20-780-410-1 Complaint related: No

“REPEAT VIOLATION Based on review of video footage, the center failed to ensure that forbidden actions such as roughly handling a child were not used. Evidence: Video footage revealed that child #1, age 3 years, attempted to sit at the table in the same seat that another child was sitting in. Staff #1 then carried child #1, by the arm, from the table to the carpet and sat child #1 on the carpet.”

8VAC20-780-400-B Complaint related: Yes

“Based on review of video footage, the center failed to ensure that behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: Video footage revealed that child #1, age 3 years, attempted to sit at the table in the same seat that another child was sitting in. Staff #1 then carried child #1, by the arm, from the table to the carpet and sat child #1 on the carpet.”

22.1-289.035-B-4

“Based on record review, and interview, the center failed to obtain a copy of the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Evidence: The record for staff #1, date of employment 10/10/23, indicated that staff #1 has resided in a state outside of Virginia within the preceding five years from the date of employment. The record for staff #1 did not contain the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from the state that staff #1 resided in within the preceding five years. Interview with administration confirmed that the record did not contain the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from the state that staff #1 resided in within the preceding five years.”

8VAC20-780-370-5 Complaint related: Yes

“Based on documentation review, and observation, staff did not provide awake infants not playing on the floor or ground a change in play space at least every 30 minutes or more often as determined by the individual infant’s needs. Evidence: Video footage shows that child #1, age 7 months, was placed into the swing at 11:08 am. Child #1 was fully awake. Documentation review revealed that child #1 did not fall asleep until approximately 11:53 a.m. Child #1 was in the swing for 45 minutes before falling asleep.”

8VAC20-780-410-1 Complaint related: Yes

“Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that forbidden actions such as rough handling, and shaking were not used. Evidence: Video footage showed staff #1 forcibly placing a blanket on child #1, age 7 months, putting a pacifier in their mouth and grabbing the swing seat and shaking it forcefully.”

8VAC20-780-340-A Complaint related: Yes

“Based on observation, and interview, the center failed to ensure when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: Video footage shows staff #1 yelling at child #1, age 7 months, and forcefully shaking the swing that the child is in. When interviewed, staff #1 stated "I didn't do anything different than I normally do every day."”

8VAC20-780-40-E Complaint related: Yes

“Based on documentation review, interview, and observation the center failed to follow their own policies and procedures. Evidence: 1) Review of Procedure Number ED310 titled ?Guidance and Discipline? prohibits rough handling, shaking, yelling or raising voice, and use of restrictive environments such as infant swings. 2) Review of Procedure Number SAF527 titled ?Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? details ways to prevent abusive head trauma including ways to calm down if the staff member is frustrated. 3) Video footage revealed that staff #1 roughly shook the swing that child #1, age 7 months, was in. Video footage also shows staff #1 yelling at child #1. 4) Interviews revealed that staff #1 interacts with child #1, age 7 months, in this manner each day at nap time. Staff #1 stated ?I didn?t do anything different than I normally do every day?”

8VAC20-780-410-6 Complaint related: Yes

“Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that forbidden actions such as the use of verbal remarks which are demeaning to the child were not used. Evidence: Video footage showed staff #1 forcibly placing a blanket on child #1, age 7 months, putting a pacifier in their mouth and yelling repeatedly ??good night!? ?go to sleep!?, ?be quiet now!?”

8VAC20-780-440-G Complaint related: Yes

“Based on interview, and observation, the center failed to use a crib for children under 12 months of age. Evidence: Video footage showed staff #1 picking up child #1, age 7 months, off the floor and putting them into a swing. Interviews revealed that child #1 does not sleep in a crib and takes a nap daily in the swing.”

8VAC20-780-370-1 Complaint related: Yes

“Based on interview, documentation review, and observation, the center failed to ensure that infants are provided with a flexible daily schedule based on their individual needs and that allows them sleep as needed. Evidence: Video footage showed staff #1 picking up child #1 off of the floor and putting them into the swing at 11:08 am. Child #1, age 7 months, was awake, making noises, flapping their arms, and later began crying. Child #1 remained in the swing for 45 minutes before falling asleep. Review of the child’s daily sheet, dated 3/29/23, indicated that child #1 fell asleep at 11:53 am. Interviews revealed that the child is placed in the swing each day to take a nap at the same time as the other children who range in age from 7 months to 24 months.”

8VAC20-780-160-C

“Based on review of staff records, and interview, the center failed to ensure that staff obtain and submit the results of a follow-up tuberculosis (TB) screening at least every two years from the date of the initial screening or testing. Evidence: The record for staff #4, date of employment 9/26/19, contained an original TB screening dated 9/9/19. The record did not contain a follow-up TB test or screening. The Administrator acknowledged that the record did not contain a follow-up TB screening or test.”