Inspection · 2025-04-22
Date
2025-04-22
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Lauren Bickford
(540) 280-0742
(540) 280-0742
SHSIA monitoring inspection of an approved subsidy vendor to determine compliance with current subsidy requirements regarding the health and safety of children and to promote quality standards for the children in their care.
No
Areas Reviewed
8VAC20-780 Administration.
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
8VAC20-770 Background Checks
During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.
Inspector Notes
An unannounced inspection was initiated on 04/22/2025 and completed on 05/05/2025, with local agencies, in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 04/14/2025 relating to allegations of forbidden action and behavioral guidance. The inspector reviewed one child?s record and three staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, interviews, and observations.
The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports the allegations; therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and the violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program.
Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on 06/25/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Violations
6Standard 63.2-1509-A
Staff employed by a child day program who have reason to suspect that a child is abused
or neglected shall report the matter immediately to the local department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.
A staff member witnessed a child being grabbed by the wrist with force, and being forcefully pat on the back during nap time by staff #1. The staff member suspected abuse by staff #1. A report was not made to the Department of Social Services.
or neglected shall report the matter immediately to the local department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.
A staff member witnessed a child being grabbed by the wrist with force, and being forcefully pat on the back during nap time by staff #1. The staff member suspected abuse by staff #1. A report was not made to the Department of Social Services.
Plan of Correction: As we take any and all reports of abuse or
neglect seriously, this incident was unfortunately
never reported to management or ownership by
any staff or parent. Once reported to ownership,
an internal investigation was conducted. All staff
were met with personally to review the standard
and provide re-training on MACC's policies.
Potential scenarios were discussed and staff
were given the opportunity to ask questions.
Additionally, orientation procedures have been
revamped to stress the importance of mandated
reporting. Staff #1 is no longer employed by
MACC. Annual training will also include
reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden
practices and positive behavior management
strategies.
neglect seriously, this incident was unfortunately
never reported to management or ownership by
any staff or parent. Once reported to ownership,
an internal investigation was conducted. All staff
were met with personally to review the standard
and provide re-training on MACC's policies.
Potential scenarios were discussed and staff
were given the opportunity to ask questions.
Additionally, orientation procedures have been
revamped to stress the importance of mandated
reporting. Staff #1 is no longer employed by
MACC. Annual training will also include
reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden
practices and positive behavior management
strategies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
It was reported that on multiple occasions, staff #1 forcefully grabbed children by the arm when children were not listening making children cry. Staff #1 would forcefully pat the backs of children that weren?t listening during nap time making children cry at times.
It was reported that on multiple occasions, staff #1 forcefully grabbed children by the arm when children were not listening making children cry. Staff #1 would forcefully pat the backs of children that weren?t listening during nap time making children cry at times.
Plan of Correction: Following MACC's internal investigations, it was reported that children were taken by the hand/arm during aggressive episodes toward other children or when they needed to be with the teacher to discuss a behavior, which could upset some children. Ownership has retrained staff on positive redirection in the classroom and proper handling of aggressive behavior for other students' safety. In addition, ownership suggested that staff rub backs rather than pat backs due to the subjectivity of patting too hard. Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring that the center's activities and services are maintained in compliance with the center's own policies and procedures that are required by the standards.
The center?s discipline policy states, ?It is the policy of MACC, and the law of Virginia, to neither spank nor physically punish a child. Constructive techniques for managing behavior and maintaining a child's self-worth should be applied. Every teacher needs to be fair, consistent and nurturing towards each child. MACC will not tolerate or permit the use of any abusive disciplinary methods such as, but not limited to, hitting, spanking, slapping, yelling, withholding food, ridicule, embarrassment or humiliation.?
On multiple occasions, staff #1 forcefully grabbed the arms of children when they were not listening. Staff #1 roughly spoke to children with a loud and negative tone on multiple occasions. Staff #1 intentionally isolated child #1, age 3 years, from the group making the child eat alone on multiple occasions.
The center?s discipline policy states, ?It is the policy of MACC, and the law of Virginia, to neither spank nor physically punish a child. Constructive techniques for managing behavior and maintaining a child's self-worth should be applied. Every teacher needs to be fair, consistent and nurturing towards each child. MACC will not tolerate or permit the use of any abusive disciplinary methods such as, but not limited to, hitting, spanking, slapping, yelling, withholding food, ridicule, embarrassment or humiliation.?
On multiple occasions, staff #1 forcefully grabbed the arms of children when they were not listening. Staff #1 roughly spoke to children with a loud and negative tone on multiple occasions. Staff #1 intentionally isolated child #1, age 3 years, from the group making the child eat alone on multiple occasions.
Plan of Correction: Following MACC's internal investigations, it was reported that Child #1 was taken by the hand during aggressive episodes toward other children. Proper procedures were discussed with each staff on how to respond to these scenarios appropriately. Additionally, it was revealed that Child #1 was placed at a less populated table during meals and snack due to aggressive behavior and to prevent him from reaching onto other children?s meal plates, throw his and others' food and prevent them from eating their meals. Proper procedures were reviewed on how to redirect students during meals who take food from others, throw food, knock over plates/cups or show aggression to others. MACC's policies and procedures were reviewed with every staff, including stressing the understanding of the subjectivity of voice volume and tone. Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-400-A
In order to promote the child's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being and growth, staff shall interact with the child and one another to provide needed help, comfort, support and use consistency in applying expectations.
Staff #1 did not provide comfort, support or help to child #1. Staff #1 did not like child #1 and intentionally isolated child #1, age 3 years, from the group during snack time and lunch time. Staff #1 announced how annoyed they were of child #1 on several occasions.
Staff #1 did not provide comfort, support or help to child #1. Staff #1 did not like child #1 and intentionally isolated child #1, age 3 years, from the group during snack time and lunch time. Staff #1 announced how annoyed they were of child #1 on several occasions.
Plan of Correction: As part of the internal investigation, multiple parents were interviewed to ensure that the center provides a firm, yet caring and nurturing environment. However, ownership still met with all staff and reviewed appropriate methods of comfort, child protection and internal communication.
Following MACC's internal investigations, it was revealed that Child #1 was placed at a less populated table during meals and snack due to aggressive behavior and to prevent him from reaching onto other children's meal plates, throwing his and others' food and preventing them from eating their meals. Therefore, proper procedures were reviewed on how to redirect students during the following scenarios:
- taking food from others
- throwing food
- intentionally knocking over plates/cups
- showing aggression to others
- etc.
MACC's policies and procedures were reviewed with every staff, including stressing the understanding of the subjectivity of voice volume and tone. Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Following MACC's internal investigations, it was revealed that Child #1 was placed at a less populated table during meals and snack due to aggressive behavior and to prevent him from reaching onto other children's meal plates, throwing his and others' food and preventing them from eating their meals. Therefore, proper procedures were reviewed on how to redirect students during the following scenarios:
- taking food from others
- throwing food
- intentionally knocking over plates/cups
- showing aggression to others
- etc.
MACC's policies and procedures were reviewed with every staff, including stressing the understanding of the subjectivity of voice volume and tone. Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-400-B
Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.
Staff #1 made remarks over how children in their group were getting on their nerves. Staff #1 roughly spoke with children on multiple occasions with a loud and negative tone when children were not listening.
Staff #1 made remarks over how children in their group were getting on their nerves. Staff #1 roughly spoke with children on multiple occasions with a loud and negative tone when children were not listening.
Plan of Correction: Ownership has met with every staff member and reviewed appropriate volumes and tones to be used in the classroom. They were reminded that tone can be subjective to the listener and make appropriate words seem inappropriate. Based on the findings during internal interviews, appropriate staff-to-staff personal conversations in the classroom were also addressed, especially those that are classroom related. Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-1
The following acts are forbidden: roughly handling a child.
On consistent occasions, staff #1 roughly handled child #1, age 3 years, by grabbing child #1?s wrist with force and patting the back of child #1 during nap time with force. Staff #1 forcefully grabbed multiple children in care by the arm. On one occasion, staff #1 took their foot to raise a cot that had a sleeping child and dropped it about 6 inches from the floor, waking the child up. Staff #1 acknowledged that their frustrations might have resulted in going overboard physically. Staff#1 admitted they patted child #1 harder than they should have as it was for the purpose of getting child #1's attention.
On consistent occasions, staff #1 roughly handled child #1, age 3 years, by grabbing child #1?s wrist with force and patting the back of child #1 during nap time with force. Staff #1 forcefully grabbed multiple children in care by the arm. On one occasion, staff #1 took their foot to raise a cot that had a sleeping child and dropped it about 6 inches from the floor, waking the child up. Staff #1 acknowledged that their frustrations might have resulted in going overboard physically. Staff#1 admitted they patted child #1 harder than they should have as it was for the purpose of getting child #1's attention.
Plan of Correction: All accusations are taken very seriously, especially when it involves the safety of our children, regardless of the length of time that has passed. Staff #1 was immediately placed on a leave of absence and internal investigations were completed. Ownership then met with each staff, reviewed policies and retrained them on appropriate and acceptable practices to use during behavioral incidents. Ownership also suggested staff rub backs rather than pat backs due to the possible subjectivity of patting too hard.
Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.
Annual training will also include reminders of mandated reporting, forbidden practices and positive behavior management strategies.