Little Tree Child Care of the Lehigh Valley

Child #1 is missing the address of the individual designated by the parent to whom the child may be released.

Staff person #1 is missing proof of education.

Staff person #1 is missing two written nonfamily references.

The facility does not have a policy in place to address continuity of operations.

Operator admitted that emergency drills have not been conducted.

Operator tested the fire system on 7/8/24 and again on 8/8/24 which is a span of 31 days. Operator tested the fire system on 8/8/24 and again on 9/10/24 which is a span of 32 days. This exceeds the requirement of testing every 30 days.

Operator has not sent a copy of the emergency plan to the local municipality and the county emergency management annually.

Child #1 is missing an initial health assessment.

Operator has not notified the local traffic safety authorities annually in writing of the location of the facility and the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the child care facility. Date of last notification 8/19/23.

Child #2 is missing the telephone number of the child's physician.

Child 1's health assessment was not signed by a physician, PA or CRNP.

Staff 3 had a health assessment dated 9/14/2020. Staff 4 had a health assessment dated 9/15/2020. As a result, the health assessments were more than 2 years old.

Staff 1's mandated reporter training was dated 10/20/2017. Staff 2's mandated reporter training was last updated 10/20/2016. As a result, both trainings were more than 5 years old.

Child 1 did not have permission for emergency medical care or minor first aid on file.

The facility's hot water for the back sink was over 110 degrees.

In the back of the facility between the large room and infant room, there was a water stained tile. As per facility owner, the ceiling tile is water stained due to a leaking air conditioning system.

Child 4 did not have updated immunizations on file.

Staff one's last health assessment was conducted 1/22/2020, making it more than 24 months since it was last updated.

There was no written statement on file for feeding schedules of infants.

There was not a section in the emergency plan that provided for accommodations for infants, toddler and children with disabilities or chronic medical conditions.

There was not an emergency plan drill on file.

There was no daily schedule posted in the front room.

Child 3 did not have health insurance information on file. Child 4 did not have the policy number.

Children 1 and 2 had outdated emergency contact forms and fee agreements on file. Child 1's emergency contact form and fee agreement expired 5/11/2022 and child 2's emergency contact form expired on 2/28/2022 and the fee agreement expired on 3/27/2022.

The facility did not have a certificate of compliance posted or DHS contact information. The regulations were not accessible to parents.

During a complaint investigation on 4/21/2022, the facility was observed out of ratio with 2 staff and 23 children. The children were preschool and school age. The facility was out of ratio for approximately five minutes from 3:38p.m. to 3:43p.m.

During a complaint investigation, it was determined that before staff 1 was fired from the facility. Staff stated that she would consistently yell at the children and would single out children.

During a complaint investigation on 4/4/2022 and 4/13/2022, ladders were observed in the back hallway, leaning against the wall. The hallway is a fire exit. The ladders served as an obstruction to be able to freely exit the facility from the hallway.

During a complaint investigation on 4/13/2022, it was observed that there was a bucket of water under the sink that is used for diaper changing. The bucket of water was accessible to the children since the cabinet under the sink was unlocked. The water was from the pipes of the sink that were leaking. The water that was leaking was going into the bucket.

During a complaint investigation from 3/14/2022-3/17/2022, it was found on video, which was given to the certification representative by staff 2, that staff 1's hand pushed the head of child 1 to the mat. Also, when child 1 began to get off the mat, staff 1 went back to child 1's mat and took his legs and slammed them back to mat. At the end of the video, it was also found that staff 1's hand hit child 2 in the back of the head when child 2 lifted her head up.