Description: Greater Enrichment Program, an out of school time program for area at-risk children, began in 1975 as Gethsemane Enrichment Program in the basement of Reverend George Battle’s Gethsemane AME Zion Church off Beatties Ford Road. Much has changed during the history of the program. The group changed its name to “Greater Enrichment Program” and now operates out of four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and two community sites. “35 years ago, the view outside my office at Gethsemane AME Zion Church showed a community that was in trouble. Children were in the streets with no supervision or direction. I felt called and knew I had to do something to help give them a future,” says Bishop Battle, founder of Greater Enrichment Program. Bishop Battle credits strong executive leadership and community support for the success of the program. In 1975, he solicited the help of church member Adelaide Hunt, who became the first Executive Director of GEP. Cathy McIlwain, the program’s 2nd Executive Director, had over 30 years of employment with the program until her death in 2010. Bronica Glover has been GEP’s Assistant Director since 2003 and is now the program’s leader. With the help of staff and volunteers, GEP helps improve test scores and touches the lives of almost 400 local school children every year. “GEP focuses on the whole family – not just the child who is in our program,” said Glover. “We know parenting and educating children is a big job, especially for families with limited income and resources.” GEP is about more than just homework and tutoring. The program provides a safe learning environment, free transportation, healthy snacks and cultural opportunities that the children might not otherwise have. Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in GEP programs that teach parenting skills, help eliminate the stigma of illiteracy and increase their awareness of school standards and their child’s educational needs. Greater Enrichment Program is supported primarily through a grant from the City of Charlotte’s Neighborhood Development Department. The program also relies on grants, tax-deductable financial donations and in-kind gifts from foundations, individuals and corporations to sustain important programs and services.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date | Type | Violations | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-10-30 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 209 | GS 110-91(1)&(4-5) |
| Children used space that was not approved. Children used a modular #324 that was not approved by environmental health department or DCDEE. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 830 | .0802(h) |
| A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information. The cafeteria was not monitored with a FA sheet posted. CPR requirements were posted. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 832 | 10A NCAC 09 .0802(a) |
| There was no written emergency medical care (EMC) plan. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1032 | 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) |
| Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. Four staff didn't have a medical report on file, available for review. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1129 | 10A NCAC 09 .1003(I) |
| For routine transport of children to and from the center, a list of all children being transported was not available at the center. The program wasn't able to provide a current transportation roster maintained on site. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1327 | G.S. 110-91(9) |
| Accurate records were not maintained for all children. One child was missing a signed discipline policy, acknowledgement of receipt of the NC Summary of the Law and emergency contact information. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1432 | 10A NCAC 09 .2510(i)(2) |
| Within the first 6 weeks of assuming responsibility for supervising group of children, each employee did not complete at least 3 additional clock hours of training on topics outlined in this rule. Documentation of orientation was not monitored on file for six staff. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1449 | .2510(i)(1)(A-D) |
| Within the first two weeks of assuming responsibility for supervising a group of children, staff did not complete at least 6 hours of training on topics outlined in this rule. Two new staff didn't maintained documentation on file showing completion of 6 hours of training within the first two weeks of assuming responsibility. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1757 | G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) |
| A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One new GL hired 8/17/2023 did not have a valid CBC letter on file. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1811 | .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) |
| Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. Either drill was not completed at least once every three months. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1812 | .0607(c) |
| The center did not complete an EPR Plan within four months of completing the EPR in Child Care training and/or the Plan was not completed on a template provided by the Division. The printed EPR plan maintained in a binder was dated 2017 and "Draft". | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1823 | .0607(d)(10) |
| The EPR Plan did not include the location of the Ready to Go File and or the required information. The center did not have the required RTGF completed. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1824 | .0607(e) |
| The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The Draft EPR plan was not reviewed with all staff annually. | |||
| 2023-10-30 | Violation | 1898 | .1102(a) |
| Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Three staff did not obtain the required H & S training within one year of employment. | |||
If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
Write a review about Greater Enrichment Merry Oaks After-school Program. Let other families know what’s great, or what could be improved. Please read our brief review guidelines to make your review as helpful as possible.
Connect, Seek Advice, Share Knowledge
This program is unprofessional, the director Denise Rice , physically and emotionally abuses the kids . She cuss at them . She tells them they are stupid. She sits around and talk about people kids and their parents . I would not recommend putting your child in this program. Children go home everyday crying because of the things she say. She needs to be fired and their needs to be a new director here.