Strong Foundations Early Learning Center

AAC R9-5-502.A.8.b. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: b. Has a commercially waterproofed mattress; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, 1 crib mattress was torn and no longer waterproof.”

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 a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, 3 of 15 Emergency, Information, and Immunization Records reviewed lacked the following required information: *Child #1- The name, home address, and telephone number of the child's 2nd parent/guardian. *Child #2- The date of the child's enrollment and the name, home address, and telephone number of the child's 2nd parent/guardian. *Child #3- The date of the child's enrollment.”

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 observations, in Room 4, there was a cracked outlet with a pointy and sharp edge.”

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 observations, 1 crib mattress had a loose sheet and not a fitted sheet as required.”

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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the temperatures of the following diaper-changing sinks were not maintained between 86° F and 110° F: *Infant room- the temperature of the water was 117° F. *Room 2- the temperature of the water was 115° F.”

AAC R9-5-514. A. A. A licensee shall ensure that there is a first aid kit on facility premises that contains first aid supplies in a quantity sufficient to meet the needs of the enrolled children including the following: 1. Sterile bandages including: a. Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes, b. Sterile gauze pads, and c. Sterile gauze rolls; 2. Antiseptic solution or sealed antiseptic wipes; 3. A pair of scissors; 4. Adhesive or self-adhering tape; 5. Single-use, non-porous gloves; and 6. Reclosable plastic bags of at least one-gallon size.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the first aid kit lacked the following required supplies: *1 of 2 gauze rolls. *Tape. *Antiseptic wipes.”

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 observations, in the outdoor activity area, the fence contained a 1" x 1.5" hole with rust that was sharp.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1’s observation, in Classrooms 1 and 2, the diaper changing area lacked grout around the edge of the diaper changing surface and the sink causing the diaper changing surface to not be seamless and smooth.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings:1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1’s observations, the following areas and furnishings were not maintained in a clean condition: Infants playground: *The vinyl climbing mats in the screened area had a build-up of dirt and debris. 1’s and 2’s Playground *There was a build-up of dirt and debris on the play structure and equipment. Classroom 2: *There was a blue floor chair with a 6-inch gray stain on the seated area.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. All designated exits, corridors, and passageways that provide escape from the building are unobstructed and unlocked during hours of operation;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1’s observations, in Room 2, a plastic safety lock was secured on the door handle of a designated exit preventing escape from the building.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.3.a. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 3. When preparing, using, or caring for an infant's feeding bottles, a staff member: a. Labels each bottle received from the parent with the infant's name;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1’s observation, in the Infant Classroom, there were 2 clear plastic containers labeled breast milk with an enrolled infant’s last name only.”

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 Compliance Officer #1’s observation, in Room 4, the following hazard was accessible to enrolled children: *There was a cracked outlet on the east wall.”

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 observations, in the outdoor activity areas, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children: Preschool Playground: *There were 3 fence poles that had chipped paint exposing rust at the base. 1’s and 2’s Playground: *The vinyl climber was torn across the top and sides of each piece exposing foam. *The wooden box next to the sensory table had rough splintery wood on the top.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings: 1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the following was not kept in a clean condition in the Outdoor Activity: *The top and shelves of the Play stove were covered in a layer of dust, dirt and sand; *The outdoor sink strainer was full of food waste of seeds and pumpkin pulp.”

ARS § 36-882.C. C. An application for an initial license shall include: 1. The form that is required pursuant to section 36-883.02, subsection C and that is completed by the applicant. 2. A copy of a valid fingerprint clearance card issued to the applicant pursuant to section 41-1758.07. 3. If the applicant's facility is located within one-fourth mile of any agricultural land, the names and addresses of the owners and lessees of the agricultural land and a copy of the agreement required pursuant to subsection D of this section.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations and a review of Staff #3's file, the file lacked documentation of the staff's completion of the criminal history affidavit form.”

AAC R9-5-301.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a facility director: 1. Designates, in writing, an individual who meets the requirements of R9-5-401(2) to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility; 2. Supervises or assigns a teacher-caregiver to supervise each staff member who does not meet the qualifications of R9-5-401(3); 3. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member documents on the attendance record the time of each arrival and departure of the staff member; and 4. Maintains on the facility premises, the dated attendance record required in subsection (B)(3) for 12 months after the date on the attendance record.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations, Staff #3 was working alone and unsupervised in Toddler Room 3. A review of Staff #3's file, determined the staff did not meet the qualifications required of a teacher and therefore requires supervision.”

AAC R9-5-303.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensed capacity of each indoor activity area or room is posted in that activity area or room.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations, the licensed capacity in Room 2 is 11 but was incorrectly posted as 16.”

AAC R9-5-401.3. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 3. A teacher-caregiver is 18 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Six months of child care experience and: i. A high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; or ii. At least 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; b. Associate or bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or c. N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations and a review of Staff #3's file, it was determined the file contained documentation of education from a foreign country (Mexico). The file lacked documentation verifying that the equivalency of the level of education had been evaluated. It could not be verified if the staff met the minimum qualifications of a teacher.”

AAC R9-5-403.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. Each staff member who provides child care services completes 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after the effective date of this Chapter or the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service in at least two topics listed in this subsection: a. Child growth and development, including: i. Infant growth and development, which may include sudden infant death syndrome prevention; ii. Developmental psychology; iii. Language development; iv. Observation and child assessment; v. Developmentally-appropriate activities; vi. Child guidance and methods of discipline which may include training on the appropriate techniques to prevent a child from harm or to prevent the child from harming others; and vii. Developmentally-appropriate activity areas; b. Health and safety issues, including: i. Accident and emergency procedures, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; ii. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; iii. Nutrition and developmentally-appropriate eating habits; iv. Child abuse detection, reporting, and prevention; v. Safety of indoor and outdoor activity areas; and vi. Sun safety policies and procedures; c. Program administration, planning, development, or management; and d. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs; and 2. As part of the required 18 hours of training in subsection (B)(1): a. A staff member who has less than 12 months of child care experience before the staff member’s starting date, completes at least 12 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) in the staff member’s first 12 months at the facility; b. A staff member who has 12 months or more of child care experience, completes at least 6 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; c. A staff member who provides child care services to an infant completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(a)(i) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; and d. A facility director completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(c) every 12 months after the facility director’s starting date.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of 4 staff files, the following was determined: *Staff #2 (Date of employment 8/25/21)- the file contained documentation of 4.5 of the 18 hours of annual training for the period of 8/25/22 - 8/25/23; and *Staff #4 (Date of employment 7/22/19- the file contained documentation of 3.5 of the 18 hours of annual training for the period of 7/22/22 - 7/22/23.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.l. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: l. Obtains written, current, and dated dietary instructions from a parent or health care provider regarding the method of feeding and types of foods to be prepared or fed to an infant at the facility;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations and a discussion with the Infant room teacher, the following was determined regarding the written infant feeding instructions: *Child #1- The staff acknowledged she did not have the written feeding instructions for this infant; *Child #2- The feeding instructions lacked the amount of breastmilk to be feed and the staff stated the infant was eating food but the instructions lacked the amount of food to be fed; *Child #3- The feeding instructions lacked the amount of formula to be feed and the staff stated the infant was eating pureed food but the instructions lacked the amount to be fed; and *Child #4- The feeding instructions lacked the amount of formula to be fed.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.3.c. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 3. When preparing, using, or caring for an infant's feeding bottles, a staff member: c. Empties and rinses bottles previously used by an infant; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations and a discussion with the Infant room teacher, a bottle lacked the first and last name of the child.”

AAC R9-5-503.F.1. F. A licensee shall ensure that in an activity area with a diaper changing area: 1. The containers required in subsections (A)(3) and (4) are inaccessible, and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations, the soiled diaper container was stored on the floor next to the diapering counter in Room 3 and was accessible to children.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.m. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: m. Posts the current written dietary instructions in the infant room and the kitchen and maintains the instructions on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the instructions; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's and the Director's observations and a discussion with the kitchen staff, it was determined that the Infant written feeding instructions were not posted in the kitchen, but were instead placed in a binder that was stored on a shelf. In addition, the feeding instructions for Child #1 were missing. **This is a repeat Deficiency that was cited at the time of the November 2022 inspection.”