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May 7, 2026 Renee N Georgewill, License Holder 1201 Oakland Park Road Thief River Falls, MN 56701 RE: Request for Reconsideration of Correction Order License Number: 1043716 (FCC) Dear Renee Georgewill: On September 29, 2025, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, & Families (DCYF) received your request for reconsideration regarding the citation in the Correction Order issued to you on September 10, 2025. DCYF subsequently informed you and Pennington County Human Services (“County”) that the Commissioner received your request for reconsideration and granted you and the County 15 working days to submit additional written arguments or evidence demonstrating why the Commissioner should or should not uphold the Correction Order. On October 27, 2025, DCYF received information from the County. After an independent review of the record, the Commissioner has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the citation. CITATION 1: License Holder did not submit individual background studies as required. Background studies were not submitted regarding household members aged 13 and over. Applicable Statutes and Rules: Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.03, subdivision 1(a) states: The commissioner shall conduct a background study on: (2) an individual age 13 and over living in the household where the licensed program will be provided who is not receiving licensed services from the program; [ . . . ] (4) volunteers or student volunteers who will have direct contact with persons served by the program to provide program services if the contact is not under the continuous, direct supervision by an individual listed in clause (1) or (3); [ . . . ] (6) an individual who, without providing direct contact services at a licensed program, may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults receiving services from a program, when the commissioner has reasonable cause as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 15[.] Summary: On July 23, 2018, License Holder received a background studies notice that an individual affiliated with her family child care program was cleared. The notice stated, “[a] new study may be initiated by the agency if the agency has reasonable cause to believe that there is new information regarding a subject’s background study status.” License Holder did not submit the individual for any new background study until September 2025, when the lack of a current study for the individual was raised by the Pennington County licensor during an inspection. Since then, License Holder has initiated the study process for the individual, and s/he was cleared. License Holder’s Response and Information from the County: License Holder states that the individual has his/her own residence and is not a household member in her home, although s/he frequently visits her home. She nonetheless regularly included the individual as a background study subject on her relicensing paperwork, but did not receive any request for a new background study for him/her until the issue was raised during the September 2025 inspection. According to the County, during the September 2025 inspection, the licensor observed the individual providing direct care to the children. Therefore, the individual needed a current background study under Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.03, subdivision 1(a)(4), which requires a study for “volunteers or student volunteers who will have direct contact with persons served by the program to provide program services if the contact is not under the continuous, direct supervision by [license holder or employee].” Reconsideration Determination: The Correction Order cited the alleged violation as lack of required background study for a household member aged 13 and over. License Holder maintains that the individual is not a household member, but a frequent visitor. The County has not provided any evidence to support that the individual is not merely a person affiliated with the program, but a household member who would need the applicable background study under Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.03, subdivision 1(a)(2). In its response to the reconsideration request, the County states that the licensor observed the individual providing direct care to children, and so s/he needed a current study under the “volunteers” category of study subjects pursuant to section 245C.03, subdivision 1(a)(4). The County, however, did not provide any further information or evidence to support the individual’s “volunteer” status within the program, including whether the individual was providing services away from the continuous, direct supervision by License Holder, which is a necessary characteristic of this particular category of study subjects. Moreover, the County did not address whether it sent any study renewal notices to License Holder regarding the individual as an affiliated individual, during the period between his/her initial clearance in July 2018 and the September 2025 inspection. For the reasons provided above, Citation 1 is rescinded for lack of sufficient evidence. Disposition: The Commissioner has reviewed your request for reconsideration and all information submitted by you and by the licensor. The Commissioner finds there is insufficient evidence to support the citation, and, therefore, the Correction Order is rescinded. This is a final agency decision. Previously Ordered Corrective Action: In the Correction Order dated September 10, 2025, you were ordered to correct the violation cited and submit documentation of such action to your licensor. A request for reconsideration does not stay any provisions or requirements of the correction order. Minnesota Statutes, 142B.16, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). If you have not done so already, please immediately comply with the previously ordered corrective actions for all uncontested and affirmed violations. The Commissioner appreciates your response and encourages you to continue to work cooperatively with your licensor to ensure the safety and well-being of the children you serve. Sincerely, So Yeon Woo-Bockman, Attorney Legal Counsel’s Office Office of Inspector General CC: Brooklyn Melcher, Pennington County Human Services
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