Turn to Joy at the Annex

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.

“Staff Member A was missing fifteen (15) hours of professional development. The director confirmed Staff Member A had not completed the training hours. Corrective Action: Staff Member A must complete fifteen (15) hours of professional development. Submit completed certificates to Northern Lights and send submission confirmation to the licensor by 5/6/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: May 6, 2026

Regulation 7.2.4: The licensee shall ensure that no person shall be left alone with children without approval from the Division which shall be based on the results of the background check to include fingerprinting.

“A review of staff schedules for the time period between 7/1/2024 and 7/19/2024 and the staff's background clearance status for the same time period shows that only one staff member had cleared their fingerprint supported background clearance, and there were multiple time periods that staff who had not cleared their fingerprint supported background clearances would have been left alone with children because the cleared staff person was not present at the program. Corrective Action: The program currently has six (6) staff who have completed and cleared their fingerprint supported background clearance. By 9/27/2024, email Licensor [name] a plan that describes what the program will do to remain compliant with this rule if there is ever a situation when there are not at least two (2) staff who have cleared their fingerprint supported background clearances.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 25, 2024

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios 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 shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“Staff A, B, and C, who have been employed longer than three (3) months have not yet completed First Aid/CPR certification, and Staff D, who has been employed by the program for over three (3) months has not completed the First Aid portion of the certification. This is a repeat violation. Corrective Action: Staff B and C are leaving in May. By 5/22/2024, ensure that Staff A completes both CPR and First Aid certification, and that Staff D completes the First Aid section of the training. Send the certificates to Northern Lights at CCV and Copy Licensor [name] in the submission. In addition, by 5/22/2024, submit a plan to Licensor [name] that describes the system that will be used to ensure that all staff complete First Aid/CPR within three (3) months of hire and submit the documentation to Northern Lights.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 20, 2025

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“There are two (2) staff who have both been employed since January 2024 who have not responded to the Division's request for the out of state portion of their background clearances. Corrective Action: The licensee said that these staff are leaving employment in May, 2024. Ensure that they are not left alone with children at the program. By 5/22/2024, email a plan to Licensor [name] that describes the system the program will use to track background clearances to ensure that they are completed in a timely manner.”

Correction date in the state record: May 6, 2024

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

“Three (3) staff who have worked with children and are in positions to be left alone with children, have not completed an approved mandated reporter training. Corrective Action: All three (3) staff are leaving in May. By 5/22/2024, submit a plan that describes how the program will ensure that staff complete an approved mandated reporter training prior to working with children.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 9, 2025

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.

“Four staff who are working with children do not have documentation of having completed an approved orientation training. Corrective Action: Three (3) of the four (4) staff are leaving in May. By 5/31/2024, ensure that the fourth staff member has taken the approved orientation training and submit the certificate to Northern Lights at CCV. Copy Licensor [name] on the submission.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 9, 2025

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios 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 shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“Two staff members do not have current First Aid/CPR certification. Corrective Action: By 5/24/2023 email a plan to Licensor [name] that identifies when the staff will have their First Aid/CPR certification. Consult Northern Lights at CCV's website for a list of approved trainings. Assure that all staff complete First Aid/CPR certification within three months of their first day of work at the program.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 7, 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.

“Two adults were present working at the program and were not on the program's Associated Parties list. The two adults are present on the Associated Parties lists of other programs and are known to the Division. The program submitted a record check authorization form for one of the staff members before this report was issued. Corrective Action: By 5/15/2023 submit a record check authorization form for the second staff member to ahs.dcfcddchildcarelicensing@vermont.gov and copy Licensor [name] on the submission.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 6, 2023

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.

“On the playground, there is a hanging ladder attached to a tree branch that allows children to climb higher than thirty (30) inches and there is no cushioning material in the use zone of the ladder. Corrective Action: Immediately make the ladder inaccessible to children. By 5/24/2023 email a plan to Licensor [name] that describes what will be done to either install sufficient cushioning or remove the ladder from use.”

Correction date in the state record: May 30, 2023