Special Investigation Report # 2011D0732010

RICK SNYDER
GOVERNOR
State of Michigan
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING
MAURA D. CORRIGAN
DIRECTOR
May 24, 2011
Tanja Burfiend
9010 Carns Rd.
Williamsburg, MI 49690
RE: Registration #:
Investigation #:
DF280267506
2011D0732010
Burfiend, Tanja
Dear Ms. Burfiend:
Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. Due to
the violations identified in the report, a written corrective action plan is required. The
corrective action plan is due 15 days from the date of this letter and must include the
following:
• How compliance with each rule will be achieved.
• Who is directly responsible for implementing the corrective action for each
violation.
• Specific time frames for each violation as to when the correction will be
completed or implemented.
• How continuing compliance will be maintained once compliance is
achieved.
• The signature of the responsible party and a date.
If you desire technical assistance in addressing these issues, please feel free to contact
me. In any event, the corrective action plan is due within 15 days. Failure to submit an
acceptable corrective action plan will result in disciplinary action.
P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150
www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124

Please review the enclosed documentation for accuracy and feel free to contact me with
any questions. In the event that I am not available and you need to speak to someone
immediately, please feel free to contact the local office at (231) 922-5309.
Per MCL 722.113g, this report and any related corrective action plans must be filed in
your Licensing Notebook.
Sincerely,
Dorene Radke-Boyd, Licensing Consultant
Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing
Suite 11
701 S. Elmwood
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-5304
enclosure

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT
I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Registration #:
Investigation #:
DF280267506
2011D0732010
Complaint Receipt Date: 04/05/2011
Investigation Initiation Date: 04/05/2011
Report Due Date: 06/04/2011
Registrant Name:
Registrant Address:
Tanja Burfiend
9010 Carns Rd.
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Registrant Telephone #: (231) 264-5152
Administrator:
N/A
Licensee Designee:
Name of Facility:
Facility Address:
Burfiend, Tanja
9010 Carns Rd.
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Facility Telephone #: (231) 264-5152
Original Issuance Date: 08/02/2004
Registration Status:
REGISTERED
Effective Date: 08/03/2010
Expiration Date: 08/02/2013
Capacity: 6
Program Type: CHILD CARE FAMILY HOME (CAPACITY 1-6)
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II.
ALLEGATION(S)
• Tanja Burfiend wrote inappropriate text messages that resulted in a Michigan
State Police investigation.
• Ms. Burfiend naps when children are in care.
• Tanja Burfiend does not provide adequate meals for children in care. The
children eat cereal for dinner and dinner is not always served in a timely manner.
• Children are “double buckled” into seat belts when riding in her vehicle.
III.
METHODOLOGY
04/05/2011 Special Investigation Intake
2011D0732010
04/05/2011 Special Investigation Initiated - Letter
Email sent to Michigan State Trooper Bert Richards regarding his
investigation per 3/30/11 email
04/12/2011 Contact - Document Received
Michigan State Police report received
04/12/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone interview with Witness 1
04/13/2011 Inspection Completed On-site
04/14/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone interview with Parent 1
04/14/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone interview with Parent 2
04/15/2011 Contact - Telephone call received
Telephone call received from Tanja Burfiend
04/18/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone interview with Parent 3
04/18/2011 Contact - Document Received
Medical Clearance Request form received from Tanja Burfiend
04/20/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone interview with Parent 4
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04/20/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone contact with Ursula Johnson, LMSW
04/22/2011 Contact - Telephone call made
Telephone contact with Pamela Ward, Director of Child Care
Connections
04/26/2011 Contact - Document Received
Letter received from Ursula Johnson, LMSW
05/09/2011 Inspection Completed On-site
05/09/2011 Exit Conference
05/09/2011 Inspection Completed-BCAL Sub. Compliance
05/10/2011 Contact - Telephone call received
Telephone call received from Tanja Burfiend
05/23/2011 Corrective Action Plan Requested and Due on 06/07/2011
ALLEGATION 1: Tanja Burfiend wrote inappropriate text messages that resulted in
a Michigan State Police investigation.
INVESTIGATION:
On April 5, 2011 I received notification that Michigan State Police Trooper Bert
Richards had investigated a situation with Tanja Burfiend on March 29, 2011. I
emailed Trooper Richards and left a message for him, as he works the “night shift.”
On April 12, 2011 I obtained a copy of the Trooper’s report.
The report indicated that on March 29, 2011 the Michigan State Police were notified
by Witness 1 that he had received “some disturbing” text messages from Ms.
Burfiend that led him to be concerned about her safety. Trooper Richards and
Trooper Paul Kushner met with Witness 1 and then went to Ms. Burfiend’s home.
They spoke with Ms. Burfiend as she arrived home and she stated that she was fine
and did not need any police assistance.
I spoke by telephone with Witness 1 on April 12, 2011. Witness 1 stated he spoke
by telephone with Ms. Burfiend the next day after he received the text messages and
he felt that he understood what prompted her to write them. She has since sought
out professional help and will follow-up with an appointment. Witness 1 stated that
he is in the home regularly and has no reason to be concerned about Ms. Burfiend’s
care of her children or children in care.
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On April 12, 2011, Adam Robarge, Child Care Licensing Consultant and I conducted
an unscheduled inspection at Ms. Burfiend’s home. Ms. Burfiend was present with
three unrelated children and a minor member of her household. We discussed with
her the evening of March 29, 2011 and the text messages she sent to Witness 1.
Ms. Burfiend explained that she needs to “work through some issues” and she has
already sought out professional assistance.
I discussed with Ms. Burfiend Administrative Rule R 400.1903(1)(i) and the
requirement that she provide a written statement to the Department from a mental
health professional verifying her fitness to care for unrelated children in her home.
She agreed to do so and I received a statement on April 26, 2011 from Ursula
Johnson, LMSW with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. Ms. Johnson
stated that she “had no concerns about Ms. Burfiend’s ability to manage a day care
operation and act protectively in the children’s best interest.”
On April 18, 2011 I also received a completed “Medical Clearance Request” form
from Ms. Burfiend’s doctor stating that, “Physical/mental condition or health problem
exists that would not limit the ability to work with or around children.”
Parents of four families of children in care were contacted by Licensing Consultant
Adam Robarge and asked if they had any concerns about Ms. Burfiend’s ability to
care for children. None of the parents expressed concern about Ms. Burfiend’s
character or suitability to provide care for their children.
On May 9, 2011 Adam Robarge and I conducted a second on-site inspection at the
home. Ms. Burfiend stated that she is committed to following through with her
sessions and will provide an additional statement to the Department when asked to
do so.
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.1902 Caregiver and child care home family.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(3) All persons, including minors, residing in the child care
home shall be of good moral character and be suitable to assure
the welfare of children.
Information was not received to establish that Tanja Burfiend is
unsuitable to assure the welfare of children.
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
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ALLEGATION 2: Ms. Burfiend naps when children are in care.
INVESTIGATION:
On April 5, 2011 the Bureau also received an anonymous complaint regarding the
care Ms. Burfiend was providing to children. During subsequent telephone interviews
with parents of children in care, additional concerns were raised.
One of the concerns raised by Parent 4was that her children have told her that Ms.
Burfiend has taken naps before, although minor members of the household were
present.
Licensing Consultant Adam Robarge and I discussed this allegation with Ms.
Burfiend on May 9, 2011. Ms. Burfiend denied that she actually sleeps when
children are in care. She stated, “I might close my eyes and relax, but I’m not
sleeping.”
Mr. Robarge interviewed by telephone four parents of children in care. Three of the
parents stated that they did not have any concerns about Ms. Burfiend napping or
sleeping while their children are in care. Additional information was not received
from the complainant on this allegation.
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.1911 Supervision.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(3) Caregiving staff shall be up and awake at all times when
children are in care except as provided in R 400.1922(2) of
these rules.
Information was not received to establish that Ms. Burfiend
sleeps while children are in care.
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
ALLEGATION 3: Tanja Burfiend does not provide adequate meals for children in
care. The children eat cereal for dinner and dinner is not always served in a timely
manner.
INVESTIGATION:
On April 5, 2011 the anonymous complainant stated that although Ms. Burfiend is
open to provide child care 24 hours a day, “she feeds day care children cereal for
dinner 75% of the time.” The complainant also stated that at times Ms. Burfiend
feeds her own children different food than the day care children who are given
cereal. Another time she fed some day care children Burger King and other day
care children she picked up were fed fruit snacks and crackers.
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Parent 3 and Parent 4 both expressed concern about some of the food their children
are served. Parent 4 stated that Tanja may feed her own children differently and
then feed child care children peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She also will often
serve hot dogs and mac and cheese. Parent 4 stated that her children sometimes
come home hungry and they tell her they only had “string cheese” for dinner.
Adam Robarge and I asked Ms. Burfiend about these allegations. She stated that
she oftentimes will just give the children a bowl of cereal or a piece of string cheese
when they are just arriving or waking up from a nap and she is “running out the
door”. She added that she will then give them a dinner that meets the food program
requirements when they get back to her house. For example, she will give them a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some fruit and/or vegetables. She serves
them milk at every meal also. I asked her how often this occurs and she replied
“about two times a month.”
Ms. Burfiend participates in the USDA Child Care Food Program through the Child
Care Connections sponsor. On April 22, 2011 I spoke with Pamela Ward, Director
of Child Care Connections. Ms. Ward contacted Ms. Burfiend’s worker who makes
three unscheduled stops a year to observe her food service practices. Ms. Ward
stated that they have made unscheduled visits at various times during the week,
including on weekends, and have not observed any problems in the food she is
serving children.
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.1931 Food preparation and service.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(1) Each child shall be provided with nutritional and sufficient
food as required by the minimum meal requirements of the child
care food program, as administered by the Michigan department
of education, based on the national research council's
recommended dietary allowances for appropriate age groups,
unless parents provide the food.
Information was not obtained to establish that Tanja Burfiend is
not providing children with nutritional and sufficient food.
VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS:
INVESTIGATION:
In a telephone interview on April 20, 2011, Parent 4 stated that recently she became
concerned when she observed Ms. Burfiend driving children in her vehicle with “two
sets of children double-buckled”. I asked Ms. Burfiend about her driving practices
and how often and when she takes child care children in her vehicle. She stated
that she occasionally takes children in her vehicle when she needs to take her sons
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to soccer practice or sometimes she will take children to their parent’s place of work.
When asked specifically about “double buckling”, she stated, “I can’t say I haven’t
done that.” She added, “It doesn’t happen often.”
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.1951 Transportation.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(5) The transportation of all children shall be conducted in
accordance with existing state law.
Tanja Burfiend has transported children in her vehicle in
violation of Michigan State law which prohibits placing more
than one individual in a seat belt.
VIOLATION ESTABLISHED
INVESTIGATION:
I asked Ms. Burfiend to review the written permission statements she obtained from
parents regarding taking their children in her vehicle. She replied that she “was
getting written permission from parents, but has stopped”. She provided me with
signed permission statements, the last one was dated September 17, 2010. I asked
her where her permission statements were for the trips she has made since then
and she replied, “I guess I stopped after September 17 th .”
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.1952 Parent permission and notification required; child
information cards when off-premises.
ANALYSIS:
CONCLUSION:
(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.
Tanja Burfiend is not obtaining written permission from
children’s parents before each time she transports them in her
vehicle.
VIOLATION ESTABLISHED
REPEAT VIOLATION: Cited in a Licensing Study Report dated
August 3, 2010. Corrective Action Plan dated August 3, 2010
states, “I will get permission for daily (or whenever) trips prior to
transporting children.”
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IV.
RECOMMENDATION
Upon receipt of an acceptable written corrective action plan, I recommend no
change in the license status.
May 24, 2011
________________________________________
Dorene Radke-Boyd
Date
Licensing Consultant
Approved By:
________________________________________
Jackie Horton
May 24, 2011
Area Manager
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