DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES June 23, 2010 Dawn Totten ...

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM
GOVERNOR
June 23, 2010
Dawn Totten
4209 Castle Dr.
Midland, MI 48640
STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING
RE: Registration # DF560307752
Totten, Dawn
4209 Castle
Midland, MI 48640
Dear Ms. Totten:
P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150
www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124
ISMAEL AHMED
DIRECTOR
This letter is a follow-up to the department’s findings regarding the 90 day inspection
conducted at your home on 06/22/2010. The purpose of this inspection was to
determine compliance with applicable licensing statutes and rules for Family and Group
Child Care Homes.
A. Description of Facility
Dawn Totten’s family home child care is located in a yellow vinyl sided ranch-style
house with brown trim in a residential neighborhood close to the intersection of Sugnet
and Jefferson Ave. in Midland. The main floor rooms approved for child use include the
living room, dining area, kitchen, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is a fireplace
in the living room but it is not used. The family has several pets, including a dog, bunny
and rat. There are three cats that stay in the basement or go outdoors.
There are outdoor toys and equipment for the children to use in the backyard area.
There is a natural barrier around much of the back yard. The trampoline will not be used
by child care children. The swings and slide equipment will not be used until the
surfacing is put down. The children may be taken on walks to the nearby 7 – 11 Store or
to the ESA building playground. Some other fun field trip activities will be planned, such
as going to the library.
Child care services are offered Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM for
children from birth to six years old. The typical daily schedule will include educational
opportunities in everyday play activities. There will be story time, art activities, board
and card games, puzzles, dramatic play, cooking with friends, outdoor time, nap/quiet

time, meals and snacks. There is an ample supply of toys, activities and equipment for
children of all ages.
Dawn Totten has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with an endorsement in
early childhood education. She has taken some classes towards a master’s degree in
elementary education. She is currently certified in CPR and First Aid.
B. Rule/Statutory Violations
The violations that were found are:
R 400.1903 Caregiver responsibilities.
(8) The caregiver shall do both of the following:
(b) Conspicuously post on the premises a notice stating that
smoking is prohibited on the premises during child care hours.
A notice stating that smoking is prohibited on the premises during child care hours
needs to be posted where parents and visitors can see it.
R 400.1907 Children's records.
(2) Records in subrule (1) of this rule shall be reviewed and
updated annually or when information changes.
Eight children’s records were reviewed. Five of the Child Information Record cards
and Child In Care Statements/Receipts were dated over one year ago.
R 400.1920 Outdoor play area and equipment.
(5) When swings, climbers, slides, and other similar play
equipment with a designated play surface above 30 inches are
used, they shall:
(a) Not be placed over concrete, asphalt, or a similar surface,
such as hard-packed dirt or grass.
Surfacing material has not been put under the swings and slide.
R 400.1921 Water hazards and water activities.
(3) Hot tubs and spa pools, whether indoors or outdoors, shall
be made inaccessible to children in care by the use of a locked
hard cover.
The lid to the hot tub is very heavy, but the hard cover is not locked.
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R 400.1941 Heat-producing equipment.
(2) Combustible materials and equipment shall not be stored
within 4 feet of furnaces, other flame or heat-producing
equipment, or fuel-fired water heaters.
Some combustible household items are stored within four feet of the gas furnace
and hot water heater.
R 400.1944 Smoke detectors; fire extinguishers.
(1) Operable smoke detectors approved by a nationally
recognized testing laboratory shall be installed and maintained
on each floor of the home, including the basement, and in all
sleeping areas and bedrooms used by children in care.
A smoke detector needs to be installed in the basement.
R 400.1952 Parent permission and notification required; child
information cards when off-premises.
(2) The caregiver shall obtain and keep on file written
permission from a child's parent before each time a child
is transported in a vehicle.
The provider took the children on a field trip on 06/23/10. Field trip permission forms
have been developed for transporting children in a vehicle, but one parent had not
given written permission prior to the field trip on 6/23/10.
Violations were identified at the time of the inspection. You have provided an acceptable
written corrective action plan.
The department provides technical assistance to meet the licensing requirements and
consultation to improve services.
In order to assess and improve the quality of the licensing process, the Bureau of Child
and Adult Licensing would appreciate your feedback. Please go to our website at
www.michigan.gov/michildcare and click on Licensing Inspection Questionnaire
under "Contact Us" to complete a brief survey.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions at (989) 835-5785.
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Per MCL 722.113g, this report and any related corrective action plans must be filed in
your Licensing Notebook.
Sincerely,
Marcia Demskim, Licensing Consultant
Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing
1509 Washington, Ste A
P.O. Box 1609
Midland, MI 48641
Approved By:
________________________________________
Jackie Horton
06/23/2010
Area Manager
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