Grand Beginnings Childrens Center East

Regulation: 3270.113(c)

Description: No ridicule or threaten harm

Noncompliance Area: Staff Person #1 and Staff Person #2 admitted to using nicknames for children that singled out the children based on physical or personality traits.

Correction Required: A facility person may not single out the child for ridicule, threaten harm to the child or the child's family and may not specifically aim to degrade the child or the child's family.

Regulation: 3270.113(d)

Description: No harsh language

Noncompliance Area: Staff Person #1, #2 and #3 admitted to using raised voices towards the children in their care. While all reported that their intention was not to be harsh, all indicated they understood that yelling and raised voices are not allowed in the presence of children in their care.

Correction Required: A facility person may not use harsh, demeaning or abusive language in the presence of children.

Regulation: 3270.21

Description: General Health and Safety

Noncompliance Area: During a complaint investigation, Staff Person #1 admitted to bringing a weighted blanket in from home and using it to help children sleep at naptime. Staff Person #1 acknowledged that they did not obtain prior approval from the parents nor the director. Staff Person #1 also acknowledged that they did not know how much the blanket weighed nor what the guidelines were for use of weighted blankets with children.

Correction Required: Conditions at the facility may not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children.

Regulation: 3270.151(a)/3270.192(3)

Description: 12 months prior to service and every 24 months thereafter/Health assessment, TB test

Noncompliance Area: The two most recent health assessments for Staff Person #1 are dated 6/12/23 and 1/13/26, and for Staff Person #2 are dated 3/4/23 and 1/5/26, which are both more than 24 months apart.

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem. A facility person's record shall include a written report of initial and subsequent health assessments, including the results of initial and subsequent tuberculin skin tests, x-rays or other medical documentation necessary to confirm freedom from communicable tuberculosis.

Regulation: 3270.31(e)(4)(ii)

Description: Fire safety - 1 yr.

Noncompliance Area: The fire safety training on file for Staff Person #3 is dated 9/5/25, which is more than 12 months from hired date, see LIS code sheet.

Correction Required: Staff persons shall participate, at least annually, in fire safety training conducted by a fire protection professional. Staff persons and volunteers shall receive training in maintenance of smoke detectors, the duties of facility persons during a fire drill and during a fire and the use of the facility's fire extinguishers, not including discharge of the fire suppressant agent.

Regulation: 3270.32(a)/3270.192(4)

Description: Comply with CPSL/CPSL information

Noncompliance Area: The two most recent State Police Clearances for Staff Person #2 are dated 5/4/20 and 7/15/25, which are more than 60 months apart.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). A facility person's record shall include a copy of requests for the criminal history record and child abuse registry clearance information, a copy of the disclosure statement and a copy of the completed clearance information required under the CPSL.

Regulation: 3270.66(a)

Description: Locked or inaccessible

Noncompliance Area: It was observed that the laundry/furnace room located off the lobby was unlocked making the room accessible to the children in care. The room contained toxic cleaning materials such as Tide, Clorox, Clorox wipes, Drano, and Comet.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children.

Regulation: 3270.67(a)

Description: Trash removed once a day

Noncompliance Area: In the outdoor toddler play space on the side of the toddler room, it was observed that there was a garbage can full of used tissues and other trash that wasn't removed from the play space the day before.

Correction Required: Trash shall be removed from the facility at least once per day.

Regulation: 3270.77(a)

Description: No peeling paint or plaster

Noncompliance Area: It was observed on the sidewalk step leading into the parking lot, that the yellow caution paint was peeling, which left pieces of chipped paint along the sidewalk.

Correction Required: Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility.

Noncompliance Area: 2nd CITATION: In the back outdoor play space, pea gravel and stones remain on the ground. PREVIOUSLY CITED: 1/7/20.

Correction Required: Toys and objects with a diameter of less than 1 inch, objects with removable parts that have a diameter of less than 1 inch, plastic bags and styrofoam objects may not be accessible to children who are still placing objects in their mouths.

Noncompliance Area: In the PREK room, less than two feet of open space on at least three sides were available for three PREK children who were observed to be napping on rest equipment.

Correction Required: At least 2 feet of space is required on three sides of a bed, cot, crib or other rest equipment while the equipment is in use.

Noncompliance Area: Upon approaching the PREK room, it was observed that a staff member was present in the hallway, completing a task facing away from the room. Upon entering the room, seven children were observed to be napping and no other staff were located within the child care space. It was stated that the staff in the hallway was responsible for the group. Therefore, it is determined that, at that point, the children were unsupervised.

Correction Required: Children on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the premises shall be supervised by a staff person at all times. Outdoor play space used by the facility is considered part of the facility premises.

Noncompliance Area: Upon approaching the PREK room, it was observed that a staff member was present in the hallway, completing a task facing away from the room. Upon entering the room, seven children were observed to be napping and no other staff were located within the child care space. It was stated that the staff in the hallway was responsible for the group. Therefore, it is determined that ratio was 0:7 in the room during the time staff were not present in the child care space.

Correction Required: When children are grouped in similar age levels, the following maximum child group sizes and ratios of staff persons apply: Infants 1:4 with a maximum group size of 8; Young toddlers 1:5 with a maximum group size of 10; Older toddlers 1:6 with a maximum group size of 12; Preschool children 1:10 with a maximum group size of 20; Young school-age children 1:12 with a maximum group size of 24; Older school-age children 1:15 with a maximum group size of 30.

Noncompliance Area: 2nd CITATION: The bottom tension wire and rod in the rear of the front play space are damaged. PREVIOUSLY CITED ON: 1/7/20.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards.

Noncompliance Area: In the back outdoor play space, two hard-plastic lids on a sensory table were observed to have broken edges in several places. In the front outdoor play space, one hard plastic name plate on the bottom of a Step 2 house is observed to be cracked around the edges.

Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts.

Noncompliance Area: In the back outdoor playspace used by the toddlers, pea gravel was observed along the left-hand side.

Correction Required: Toys and objects with a diameter of less than 1 inch, objects with removable parts that have a diameter of less than 1 inch, plastic bags and styrofoam objects may not be accessible to children who are still placing objects in their mouths.

Noncompliance Area: One wooden table in the back left toddler room wobbled due to several loosened legs. One wooden chair in the T3 room was observed to have a bottom rail unscrewed & wobbled.

Correction Required: Furniture must be durable, safe, easily cleaned and appropriate for the child's size, age and special needs.

Noncompliance Area: The last two DHS- approved forms to provide information to the family about the child's growth and development in the context of the services being provided for Child #2 were completed more than six months apart.

Correction Required: The services to be provided to the family and the child, including the Department's approved form to provide information to the family about the child's growth and development in the context of the services being provided. The operator shall complete and update the form and provide a copy to the family in accordance with the updates regarding emergency contact information in 3270.124(f) (relating to emergency contact information).

Noncompliance Area: The last two health reports for Child #3, a preschooler, were dated more than 12 months apart.

Correction Required: The operator shall require the parent to provide an updated health report at least every 12 months for an older toddler or preschool child.

Noncompliance Area: The health report for Child #1, a preschooler, lacks a current influenza vaccine. The health report for Child #2, a preschooler, lacks one dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine.

Correction Required: A health report shall include a review of the child's immunized status according to recommendations of the ACIP.

Noncompliance Area: The last two health assessments for Staff #1 are dated more than 24 months apart.

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem.

Noncompliance Area: The last two Emergency plan trainings for staff occurred more than one year apart.

Correction Required: The operator shall assure that each facility person receives training regarding the emergency plan at the time of initial employment, on an annual basis and at the time of each plan update. The operator shall document the date of each training and the names of all facility persons who received the training and kept on file at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The PA Child Abuse History clearance for Staff #2, hired on 1/7/19 and outside of the provisional period, was obtained for volunteer purposes only.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). LACKING REQUIRED HIRING DOCUMENTS: Staff #2 may not work in a child care position at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: In the back left PREK room, several dried kidney beans were observed in the sensory table and a large tub full of dried beans were observed on the floor near the front table. Dried beans are toxic.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be used in a way that does not contaminate play surfaces, food, food preparation areas and does not constitute a hazard to the children.

Noncompliance Area: Both sets of stairs leading up to the School-Age classrooms are observed to have multiple areas of peeling paint, especially in the middles and edges. In the PREK2 room, peeling paint/ damaged plaster was observed behind the sensory table. In the Left Back Toddler room, damaged paint was observed on the back wall. In the right toddler space, peeling/ damaged paint/ plaster was observed in the left corner. In the right corner of the infant room, ripped drywall was observed. In the front outdoor playspace, the doors of a large storage shed was observed to not close the entire way, leaving a gap between the doors creating an entrapment hazard. In addition, a sharp piece of metal trim has separated from the left door. Also, the bottom tension wire and rod on the back of the play space are damaged.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards. Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility.

Noncompliance Area: The sink in the director's office lacked a handwashing sign.

Correction Required: A facility person and an able child shall wash his hands after toileting and before eating. A sign on which this requirement is written shall be posted at each toilet, training chair, diapering area and sink in the facility.

Noncompliance Area: On 12/23/19, a portable space heater was observed in use in an office area within the facility premises.

Correction Required: Portable space heaters are not permitted.

Noncompliance Area: In the PreK room, cracks were observed on two hard plastic toy bins, creating pinch points, and one corner of a wooden toy sink set was observed to have a sharp point where the wood was exposed. In the Toddler One room, cracks were observed on two hard plastic toy bins. In the upstairs School-age area, cracks and sharp edges were observed on two soft plastic bins containing toys.

Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts.

Noncompliance Area: In the T1 room, one green hard-plastic toy chair was observed to be cracked in the corner, creating a pinch point.

Correction Required: Furniture must be durable, safe, easily cleaned and appropriate for the child's size, age and special needs.

Noncompliance Area: In the T1 room, one sleeping bag used for napping lacked a label identifying which child to whom the rest equipment belongs.

Correction Required: Individual, clean, age-appropriate rest equipment shall be provided for preschool, toddler and infant children as agreed between the child's parent and the operator. The rest equipment shall be labeled for the use of a specific child and used only by the specified child.

Noncompliance Area: The two most recent helath assesssmetns for Child #1, a preschooler, were dated more than one year apart.

Correction Required: The operator shall require the parent to provide an updated health report at least every 12 months for an older toddler or preschool child.

Noncompliance Area: One bottle of Excedrin pills lacked the name of any individual to whom the bottle belonged.

Correction Required: The label of a medication container shall identify the name of the medication and the name of the child for whom the medication is intended. Medication shall be administered to only the child whose name appears on the container.

Noncompliance Area: In the T1 room, one tube of diaper cream expired in 2014.

Correction Required: Medication shall be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's or health professional's instructions on the original label.

Noncompliance Area: Staff #1, who was working in the Infant room, disclosed that the bottles of two infants were washed in the sink and kept at the facility, as opposed to sending the bottles home nightly to be sanitized.

Correction Required: Disposable nursers shall be used for infants unless bottles are provided by the parent or unless a commercial dishwasher is used by the facility.

Noncompliance Area: Plaster debris was observed on the floor in the Toddler 1 Room below an unprimed/ unpainted powdery exposed surface on the wall. Plaster debris was observed on the floor in the Toddler 3 Room near the 'book nook" and paint was observed to be flaking from the wall above it.

Correction Required: Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility.

Noncompliance Area: In the infant room, one bouncy chair was observed to have torn fabric near the bottom, exposing the inside foam. In the Toddler 3 room, foam blocks accessible to the children were observed to have bite marks and one block was observed to have a chunk missing from the corner. Other foam blocks stored up on a shelf in containers were observed to have holes. Also, one mat stored under the sink that is used for diapering was observed to have exposed foam along the edges of the mat. In the Preschool 4 room, one small white plastic basket-style storage bin was observed to be cracked, creating pinch points. In the upstairs school-aged room, a wooden faucet on the play sink was observed to have a vertical crack and was loose, creating pinch points and splintering hazard. In the grassy outdoor play area on the parking lot side of the building, two plastic Little Tikes waffle blocks were observed to have holes and rough plastic edges on the ends. In the outdoor play space on the apartment side of the building, one plastic Little Tikes Cozy Coupe was observed to be missing a screw/ rod cap on the left-front side where the wheel attaches, posing a protrusion hazard.

Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts. Toys and objects with a diameter of less than 1 inch, objects with removable parts that have a diameter of less than 1 inch, plastic bags and styrofoam objects may not be accessible to children who are still placing objects in their mouths.

Noncompliance Area: The plastic leg covers on a blue table in the Toddler 3 room were observed to have sharp cracks in the plastic.

Correction Required: Furniture must be durable, safe, easily cleaned and appropriate for the child's size, age and special needs.

Noncompliance Area: Forms used to collect and provide information to the family about the child's growth and development for Child #2 & 4 are not forms approved by DHS. The last two Child Service Reports for Child #3 were dated more than six months apart.

Correction Required: The services to be provided to the family and the child, including the Department's approved form to provide information to the family about the child's growth and development in the context of the services being provided. The operator shall complete and update the form and provide a copy to the family in accordance with the updates regarding emergency contact information in 3270.124(f) (relating to emergency contact information).

Noncompliance Area: The Emergency Contact Form for Child #1 lacked the child's health insurance policy number.

Correction Required: Emergency contact information must include health insurance coverage and policy number for a child under a family policy or Medical Assistance benefits, if applicable.

Noncompliance Area: One bottle of children's aspirin was labeled with the names of two siblings.

Correction Required: The label of a medication container shall identify the name of the medication and the name of the child for whom the medication is intended. Medication shall be administered to only the child whose name appears on the container.

Noncompliance Area: In the upstairs preschool room, one box of Benedryl was observed to have expired 08/17. It was determined that the child was no longer enrolled.

Correction Required: Medication shall be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's or health professional's instructions on the original label.

Noncompliance Area: In the Toddler 3 room, the hands-free garbage can lacked a plastic liner. A soiled diaper was observed to be inside.

Correction Required: If disposable diapers are provided by a parent or by a facility, a soiled diaper shall be discarded by immediately placing the diaper into a plastic-lined, hands-free covered can.

Noncompliance Area: The previous and current health assessments for Staff #1 were dated more than 24 months apart.

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem.

Noncompliance Area: The last two Emergency plan updates occurred on 9/2/16 & 10/24/17, more than twelve months apart.

Correction Required: The operator shall review the emergency plan at least annually and update the plan as needed. The operator shall document in writing each review and update of the emergency plan and kept on file at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #2 , hired on 5/15/17, contained a signed disclosure statement published by OCDEL prior to 11/3/15.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services).

Noncompliance Area: In the Preschool 4 room, toxics were stored under the sink and were accessible to the children in care due to a non-functioning child-proof lock.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children.

Noncompliance Area: In both the Infant room and the Toddler 2 room, refill bottles of what was determined to be hand soap lacked labels identifying the contents. The original container was labeled Keep Out of Reach of Children.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be stored in an original labeled container or in a container that specifies the content. Toxics shall be stored away from food, food preparation areas and child care spaces.

Noncompliance Area: Hot water in the Infant room sink measured 124 degrees. Hot water at two sinks in the Toddler 3 room measured 117 and 123 degrees.

Correction Required: Hot water temperature, in areas accessible to children, may not exceed 110 F.

Noncompliance Area: The rubber edges on an area rug in the upstairs school-age room was observed to be ripped and torn in several area, posing a tripping hazard. In the fourth outdoor play area on the apartment side, 3 large pounding nails/ screws protruded from the surface of black plastic border used to corner-off the sandbox, causing a tripping/ protrusion hazard.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards.

Noncompliance Area: In the Toddler 3 room near the sink, chipping plaster was observed near the floor. In the Toddler 2 room, two patches of paint behind a red upholstered couch were observed to have peeling edges. Also, chipping paint was observed on the wall behind a play stove, under the sleeping bag storage shelf.

Correction Required: Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility.

Noncompliance Area: The shared toilet between the Toddler 1 & 2 rooms was observed to not be flushing. Staff stated that to flush, the top must be lifted and the chain pulled.

Correction Required: Toilet areas and fixtures shall be cleaned daily and be in good repair.