Home Away From Home Early Learning Center

Based on record review on 4/29/2026, at 9:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure the center's daily attendance record for children accurately reflected the children on the child care premises at any given time. ¨ 47 children were present, but 37 children were signed in on the attendance log for 4/29/2026. This was corrected. ¨ 4/21/2026, C1, 3-years-old, was signed in, but was not signed out. This could not be corrected. ¨ 4/21/2026 attendance sheet, 8 of 34 entries failed to have the first and last name of the person to whom the child was released. This could not be corrected. Corrective…

1509.A.8.a.&b.: Based on interviews on 4/29/2026, at 1:01 p.m., although the center has a behavior management policy in place, S12 used a prohibited method of discipline when she stated she restrained C1, 3-years-old, in a high chair as a form of discipline for a few minutes (no specific date(s) given). Corrective Action: Effective 5/7/2026, S3 stated during their next May staff meeting they will discuss bulletin 137 and do some re-trainings to make sure all staff are getting the information they need and to ensure compliance with this regulation.

1719.C. Based on record review and interview on 5/7/2026, at 11:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure S15, (first day present 3/16/2026) completed LDE Key Training modules 2 and 3 within 30 calendar days of their first day present at the center and prior to assuming sole responsibility for any children. These trainings should have been completed by 4/16/2026. This could not be corrected. Corrective Action: Effective 5/7/2026, S1 stated she will double check all staff folders to ensure all trainings are complete and to ensure compliance with this regulation.

1903.D.5. Based on observations on 4/29/2026, at 8:45 a.m., S1 failed to ensure the number of children using a room did not exceed the square feet per child requirement. The Specialist observed fourteen 4-5-year-old children in Classroom #3; the room has a capacity of 13. This was not corrected. Corrective Action: Effective 5/7/2026, S3 stated she will post in each classroom the room capacity to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on observations and interviews on 4/29/2026, at 9:00 a.m., S1 and S3 failed to ensure the current weekly menu listing specific food items served for each day of the week was prominently posted, written or electronically as the menu was not posted. This was not corrected. Corrective Action: Effective 5/7/2026, S3 stated she will have S2 do a monthly menu and make substitutions as needed to ensure compliance with this regulation.

1811.A.1&2.: Based on observations, record review and interview at 10:15 a.m., S1 failed to ensure documentation of an eligible CCCBC-based determination of eligibility (CCCBC) was available for 1 of 9 staff, prior to the individual being present in the childcare facility. S9's CCCBC expired on 9/8/2025, but she was present and observed supervising 7 2-to-3-year-old children. This was corrected when she signed out at 10:30 a.m.and left the center while Specialist was present. Corrective Action: Effective 2/23/2026 S1 stated she will physically check the CCCBC daily and make sure all new staff…

<![CDATA[<p>1907.E.2. Based on observations and interviews at 12:00 p.m., S3 failed to ensure the center's cribs were free of soft or loose bedding while a child was in the crib. Specialist observed 3 infants, C10, 11-months-old, C9, 10-months-old, and C8, 10-months-old, each in their cribs with blankets. This was corrected.</p> Corrective Action: <![CDATA[ Effective 12/9/2025, S1 stated she will leave all blankets brought to the center by parents in the foyer and take all other blankets out of the classroom to ensure compliance with this regulation.</p>

<![CDATA[<p>1909.C.: Based on observations and interviews at 12:00 p.m., S1 failed to have authorizations from a physician for infants to use a positioning device. Specialist observed 3 infants, C3, 3-months-old, C1, 4-months-old, and C5, 5-months-old asleep in bouncers/swings. This was corrected.</p> Corrective Action: <![CDATA[ Effective 12/9/2025, S1 stated she will get the proper documentation from the child's pediatricians in order for them to use positioning devices and she will reiterate with all staff that infants should be moved to cribs when they fall asleep to ensure compliance…

<![CDATA[<p>1921.E. Based on record review and interview at 12:00 p.m., S1 failed to ensure tornado drills were conducted at least once per month during the months of March, April, May, and June. This could not be corrected.</p> Corrective Action: <![CDATA[ Effective 12/9/2025, S1 stated she will prefill the tornado drill forms and add a reminder to her phone for each month to ensure compliance with this regulation.</p>

Based on record review at 12:15 p.m., S1 failed to ensure the center's end of day check was completed for the week of 9/8/2025-9/12/2025 and 9/15/2025-9/17/2025. The last visual check was on 9/5/2025. This could not be corrected. Corrective Action: Effective 9/18/2025, S1 stated she will move the end of day visual check to a more visual location to make sure it's completed daily and to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review and interview at 12:15 p.m., S1 lacked documentation of a current annual inspection and approval from the Office of State Fire Marshal. The date of the last approval was 6/11/2024. Corrective Action: Effective 9/18/2025, S1 stated she will reach out to the Office of State Fire at least 30 days in advance of her inspection expiring to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure 2 of 10 staff, S6 and S10, had an application/staff information form to include name, date of birth, home address and phone number, training, work experience, educational background, hire date, and first day onsite working with children. This was not corrected prior to the Specialist's departure. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will make each new staff a folder immediately upon hiring them to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to have a copy of state or federal government issued photo identification available for review for 3 of 10 staff. S5, S6, and S9 lacked this documentation. This was not corrected prior to the Specialist's departure. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will get a copy of new photo ids upon hiring new staff to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S2 failed to have documentation of a CCCBC-based determination of eligibility for child care purposes from the department prior to the individual being present at the center for O1. O1 was present at the center on 4/4/2025, 4/11/2025, and 4/25/2025. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will ensure all contractors have a current CCCBC and have them complete a contractor information sheet prior to them servicing children to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review and interview at 10:00 a.m., S1 lacked documentation that 2 of 10 staff, completed DCFS online Mandated Reporter training within 7 calendar days of their first day present at the center and prior to having sole responsibility for children. S5, (first day working 4/28/2025) should have completed the training by 5/5/2025; it was not completed. S6, (first day working 4/21/2025) should have completed the training by 4/28/2025; it was not completed. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will have new staff complete all new trainings on their first day…

C.: Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure 4 of 7 staff members obtained a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually. S1 had 7.5 hours, S2 had 4.5 hours, S3 had 0 hours, and S7 had 7.5 hours of continuing education. This could not be corrected prior to the Specialist's departure. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will meet with her coach from the Coalition to get trainings set up and will have S3 register staff for trainings to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on observations, record review, and interview at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure 2 new staff who did not have current certification in pediatric first aid and CPR within 90 calendar days from the date of hire and prior to assuming sole responsibility for any children were being supervised. S5, (DOH 4/28/2025) was supervising 4, 3-year-olds alone. S6, (DOH 4/21/2025) was supervising 8, 2-year-olds alone. This was not corrected prior to the Specialist's departure. S1 stated she would call and schedule CPR training to be completed this week. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025,…

Based on record review and interview at 10:00 a.m., S1 lacked documentation that 1 of 10 staff members completed the annual online child abuse and neglect Mandated Reporter Training provided by DCFS. S3's last certificate is dated 9/11/2023. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will create a checklist to keep up with annual trainings to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure documentation of tornado drills that were conducted at least once per month during the months of March 2025 and April 2025 were available upon request. Corrective Action: Effective 5/9/2025, S1 stated she will schedule the drills in advance and have the forms partially completed and have staff sign afterwards to ensure compliance with this regulation.