Williston Enrichment Center

Regulation 6.2.6.1: Staff shall be able to hear all children of pre-kindergarten age and younger at all times, shall be able to see the children with a quick glance, and shall be able to physically respond immediately.

“A child was able to leave through the door of the program, open and walk through two gates leading to the parking lot and then run down the main road without staff knowledge. Staff realized the child was gone three to four minutes after they left the program. Staff began searching inside for several minutes and then outside of the program for several minutes when a phone call from a Good Samaritan told them they found a child down the road and staff went to collect the child. The child was out of supervision of staff for approximately 15 minutes. The program notified the family and the Child Development Division immediately after the incident. The program added new locks to the outside gates, a magnetic door chime, a gate within the classroom and has rearranged the classroom for best supervision practices. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, all children must be supervised as required. Continue with implementation of safety measures added to the door and gates of the program. Have staff continue with checking the classroom for any areas where supervision may be compromised and continue with active supervision of the classroom.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 12, 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.

“A review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts and Staff files reflected that Staff A, B and C had not yet completed an approved orientation training. Staff A and B were present and working with children during the visit. All three staff hold positions which lend themselves to being left alone with children. The three staff have been employed by the program for at least 4 months. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have staff A, B, and C complete an approved Orientation training and submit the certificate of completion with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV by 04/25/2023 and ensure that those staff are not left alone with children until such a time when they have completed the training. Develop and implement a system which will ensure all newly hired staff complete an approved orientation training and submit the certificate of completion to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner, within 30 days of hire, and prior to being left alone with children moving forward. Email details of how you have come back into compliance and the details of your system to ensure compliance moving forward to carrie.knight@vermont.gov by 04/25/2023.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 21, 2023

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.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and discussion with program management there were eight staff that did not have some or all of the required documentation submitted to Northern Lights. Corrective Action: Submit all required documentation to Northern Lights using the verification cover sheet. If you need assistance with submitting documentation to Northern Lights, contact your Northern Lights resource advisor, Adri Taylo-Behrman at (802) 654-0730 or adri.taylo-behrman@ccv.edu. Develop a system to submit all required documents to Northern Lights as specified in this rule. Send an email to this licensor as confirmation of completion by 12/08/2020.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2020

Regulation 6.2.6.1: Staff shall be able to hear all children of pre-kindergarten age and younger at all times, shall be able to see the children with a quick glance, and shall be able to physically respond immediately.

“A toddler was left un-attended on steps leading up to a hand washing sink resulting is the child falling before the staff who was a few steps away could run over to prevent the accident. Corrective Action: Assure all staff understand and follow procedure to stand directly behind toddlers at the hand washing sink.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 27, 2017