Some highlights from a recent review of Minnieland complaints by the Virginia Department of Social Services: Staff witnessed staff A and B for at least six months , often for their own entertainment, punish the toddlers physically and emotionally. The children were clearly in distress in the classroom and although this distress was observed by several staff, no staff took action to bring their observation to the attention of Administration and/or Child Protective Services until August 2013. *** Based on interviews with staff at the center, it was determined that two staff routinely engaged in physical punishing and roughly handling the toddlers from approximately February 2013 to August 2013. *** In March or April 2013, witnesses observed staff B opened the adjoining door to the older infant room and told the infant room staff that she had just fed several toddlers flaming hot cheetos and to look at the toddlers cheeks as their faces were turning red. *** When the toddler refused, staff A took the easel and pushed the easel into the toddler repeatedly. The easel hit the toddler on the cheek. Witnesses observed a mark on the toddlers cheek which was present for weeks. *** Since the Spring 2013, witnesses observing staff A and B pushing the toddlers, stick out their feet and tripping the toddlers, when toddlers were not wearing shoes, staff A would take them behind the diapering area and step on the toddlers toes. dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi?rm=Inspection;Inspection=66366;ID=30925;
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:13:29 +0000