Thurston Childcare - Erie PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: A plastic ride-on toy used by children in outside play space was observed to be cracked exposing a jagged edge that could cause laceration injuries.

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: The files for Child #1 and #2 contained emergency contact forms that did not include the addresses to persons to whom each child can be released.

Correction Required: Emergency contact information must include the name, address and telephone number of the individual designated by the parent to whom the child may be released.

Noncompliance Area: Although the file for Staff #5 contained a current health assessment, the previous assessment was completed more than 24 months prior.

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: A bottle was observed in the child care space in use by a child in care that lacked a label with the child-user's name.

Correction Required: Disposable nursers and bottles shall be labeled with the child's name.

Noncompliance Area: In the downstairs child care space of the school-age area, in an accessible, unsecured cabinet drawer, four two-pronged barbecue forks were observed that could cause puncture and/or laceration injuries.

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

Noncompliance Area: The files for Staff #1, #2, #3, and #5 contained documentation of Mandated Reporter training; however, the previously completed trainings for each staff were completed more than five years ago.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). SAFETY PLAN: The operator is required to submit to the Children and Youth Agency a plan of supervision or alternate arrangement as required by the Child Protective Services Law. LACKING REQUIRED HIRING DOCUMENTS: Facility Person # -- may not work in a child care position at the facility. PROVISIONAL HIRE UNSUPERVISED: A provisional employee may not be permitted to work alone with children and must work within the vicinity of a permanent employee. A facility person's record shall include verification of child care experience, education and training following the outset of service at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #5 did not contain a National Sex Offender Registry verification; nor did said file contain a current FBI criminal history clearance. The available FBI clearance in the file for Staff #5 had been completed more than five years ago. The files for Staff #1, #2, #3, and #4 contained National Sex Offender Registry verifications that were processed after 07/01/20. The file for Staff #1 contained current FBI, PA State Police, and DHS Child Abuse clearances; however, the previously completed clearances were each processed more than five years ago. The file for Staff #2 contained a current DHS Child Abuse clearance; however, the previously completed DHS Child ABuse clearance was completed more than five years ago.

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. Facility Person #5 may not work in a child care position at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #5 did not include a written evaluation completed in the past 12 months.

Correction Required: A director is responsible for written evaluation of staff persons on a regular basis, a minimum of one evaluation every 12 months.

Noncompliance Area: In an area accessible to children in care, four inward-facing bolts were observed on the gate to the chain link fence enclosing the outside play space. Said bolts could cause puncture/laceration injury.

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: A foosball table used by children in the older school age room was observed to have a loose leg, which could cause the table to collapse which poses an impact injury risk. A plastic vanity in an area accessible to children in care in the young toddler room was observed to have a surface crack that could cause laceration injuries.

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: The files for Child #1, #4, and #5 contained agreements that did not include the amount of the fee to be charged or the date that said fee is to be paid.

Correction Required: An agreement shall specify the amount of the fee to be charged per day or per week. An agreement shall specify the date on which the fee is to be paid.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Child #2 did not contain documentation of the completion of a child service report in the past six months.

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 file for Child #1 contained an emergency contact form that did not include the addresses for persons to whom the child can be released.

Correction Required: Emergency contact information must include the name, address and telephone number of the individual designated by the parent to whom the child may be released.

Noncompliance Area: The files for Child #2 and #3 did not include documentation that a parent had reviewed the emergency contact or agreement forms in the past six months.

Correction Required: The parent shall update in writing emergency contact information once in a 6-month period or as soon as there is a change in the informationA parent is required to review and update the emergency contact information and the financial agreement at least once in a 6-month period or as soon as there is a change in the information.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Child #3, a Preschool-aged child, did not contain a health assessment completed in the past 12 months.

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.