With four year old Jordan Coleman dying in a hot day care car in Sunrise, Florida, his day care provider like so many was given a heads up by the state that they'd be visiting her home.
In Washington State as a day care licensor when I made unannounced monitor visits to a day care home and found them overcapacity repeatedly, Washington State managers would not shut down the home. Then after a child dies, the state regulators will revoke the license citing all the violations they'd seen over the years that they never took action on.
It's a known practice for day care providers to delay opening the door to a regulator or food program monitor while children are hidden in closets, put in the garage, sent out the back door to a neighbor's house and now in Florida to die in a car. Other day care providers know it and the states know it.
In Washington State and most other states the department managers won't post the violations seen in day care homes and the government managers don't give that information to Child Care Resource and Referral now called Child Care Aware. Child Care Aware is just an extension of the same old government failure, tricking parents into believing that licensed means the day care provider is operating per law. It doesn't.
From the article:
"Coleman was left inside a sport utility vehicle outside the Versailles Gardens Condominium complex in Tamarac on Aug. 1. He was supposed to be at the 3C's Day Academy in Sunrise, which is run out of a home. However, he and several other children were removed from the home by the daycare owner's daughter. The daycare had been expecting to see a visit from state investigators that day and had been cited before for being over capacity."
Child Care Aware? Child Care Beware.
America's regulatory history is shocking and the amount of taxpayer money that goes into giving the illusion that there is oversight and enforcement is a shocking deadly farce.
Regulation came in the 1880s specifically to create a barrier between pesky concerned citizens and the big railroad companies at that time. It was never created to prevent harm, it was created to allow harm. Dead history, history not taught in public school education, has created dead citizens under the specifically created illusion that our regulatory laws mean something when they don't.
http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21008232062214/lawsuit-filed-after-child-dies-in-car/
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Panel Protects DSHS in their Failures in Powell Case
Who was on the panel? The article says, "a panel of lawyers, a judge, a police officer, social service providers, a psychologist and two state senators."
No citizens, no we, the people were involved. And as usual in these child death cases no mention is made of managers, the attorney general's office and high ranking government officials.
I helped a dad protect his sons, a four year old and six year old last year from CPS who let the boys be around the boyfriend of the mom who terrorized and beat the boys. The line social worker had a congeal relationship with mom's boyfriend. He was very cavalier, confident and controlling about his power over the boys.
I had to go back inside my old agency, DSHS CPS and pound away to get the CPS head honchos to walk a simple piece of paper over to the judge so the dad could get back custody. What a nightmare, worrying about those two boys, especially the four year old.
Little ones with a single mom who has a boyfriend is at higher risk to be killed.
All up the chain to the highest mucky mucks I went. I finally got inside and met with a high manager who remembered he and I had worked well together when I was on the inside. He then agreed to walk that piece of paper over to the court and the dad got back custody.
I called the CPS hotline and made a CPS report on CPS. I urge all citizens to do the same.
This in my expert opinion is just one more cover up of DSHS.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018832435_powell03m.html
No citizens, no we, the people were involved. And as usual in these child death cases no mention is made of managers, the attorney general's office and high ranking government officials.
I helped a dad protect his sons, a four year old and six year old last year from CPS who let the boys be around the boyfriend of the mom who terrorized and beat the boys. The line social worker had a congeal relationship with mom's boyfriend. He was very cavalier, confident and controlling about his power over the boys.
I had to go back inside my old agency, DSHS CPS and pound away to get the CPS head honchos to walk a simple piece of paper over to the judge so the dad could get back custody. What a nightmare, worrying about those two boys, especially the four year old.
Little ones with a single mom who has a boyfriend is at higher risk to be killed.
All up the chain to the highest mucky mucks I went. I finally got inside and met with a high manager who remembered he and I had worked well together when I was on the inside. He then agreed to walk that piece of paper over to the court and the dad got back custody.
I called the CPS hotline and made a CPS report on CPS. I urge all citizens to do the same.
This in my expert opinion is just one more cover up of DSHS.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018832435_powell03m.html
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Department of Early Learning In Washington State Non-expiring Day Care Licenses
With the State of Washington having gone to non-expiring family home child day care licenses there should have been an increase in enforcement actions. No such announcement has been forthcoming from the Department of Early Learning to date.
The the non-actions may actually increase injury and deaths like from the article about day care in Minnesota. Weird stuff can go on behind private closed doors.
There was one day care provider in Washington State who wouldn't allow parents into the home to drop off or get their children. I caught her with eight over her capacity of twelve. She had no assistant and hid children upstairs in the closet. The Department of Early managers would not revoke her license.
The article below quotes Washington State's day care manager Aimee Lapp Payne. Ms Payne failed to disclose for the report the numerous times that Washington State regulators allowed poor and risky providers to keep their licenses
From the article: "The risk is that low standards result in low quality, said Aimee Lapp Payne, who wrote an influential 2011 report for the National Association for Regulatory Administration on child-care safety. "If it isn't a regulatory requirement, they aren't going to do it," she said."
Aimee should have said, "Even though it's a requirement we too many times Washington State day care licensing didn't take action, not until children were injured, maimed or killed."
http://www.startribune.com/local/162479246.html?page=2&c=y
Bottom line nothing in Washington State that I've witnessed at this time nor has Washington State shared any data to show that it is making a change at this time.
With non-expiring licenses we may see a change towards what's happening in Minnesota increased injury, maiming, death and an increase in the department hiding information from the public to cover up those failures,
The the non-actions may actually increase injury and deaths like from the article about day care in Minnesota. Weird stuff can go on behind private closed doors.
There was one day care provider in Washington State who wouldn't allow parents into the home to drop off or get their children. I caught her with eight over her capacity of twelve. She had no assistant and hid children upstairs in the closet. The Department of Early managers would not revoke her license.
The article below quotes Washington State's day care manager Aimee Lapp Payne. Ms Payne failed to disclose for the report the numerous times that Washington State regulators allowed poor and risky providers to keep their licenses
From the article: "The risk is that low standards result in low quality, said Aimee Lapp Payne, who wrote an influential 2011 report for the National Association for Regulatory Administration on child-care safety. "If it isn't a regulatory requirement, they aren't going to do it," she said."
Aimee should have said, "Even though it's a requirement we too many times Washington State day care licensing didn't take action, not until children were injured, maimed or killed."
http://www.startribune.com/local/162479246.html?page=2&c=y
Bottom line nothing in Washington State that I've witnessed at this time nor has Washington State shared any data to show that it is making a change at this time.
With non-expiring licenses we may see a change towards what's happening in Minnesota increased injury, maiming, death and an increase in the department hiding information from the public to cover up those failures,
Friday, July 13, 2012
Department of Early Learning in Washington State has History of Allowing Day Care Providers to have Too Many Children
This article from Minnesota shows on average eight children die in licensed child day care a year. There have been articles lately as well that state that previously deaths said to be SIDS may likely not have been SIDS but suffocation as happened to three month old Dane Abledinger in this article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2172651/Three-month-old-baby-dies-daycare-worker-face-heavy-blanket-floor-left-HOUR-months-girl-16-watch-children-got-hair-done.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Licensed under laws that require state agencies to protect children in day care these state agencies don't and this story is typical of keeping day care providers licensed violation after violation until a child dies then they revoke the license.
As a licensor in Washington State when I witnessed six children being hidden in a closet and two babies each behind closed doors upstairs in a provider's (Connie King) unlicensed space the Department of Early Learning managers would not revoke the provider's license. The provider was licensed for 12 and had 21 preschoolers in care with no assistant; and she wouldn't allow parents to come inside her house.
Another licensor found the same provider operating at over capacity a few days after I was there. Then the supervisor, Darcy Taylor went out and found her not supervising the children.
The taxpayers give Darcy Taylor and other managers a good salary, health care benefits and retirement pensions while the managers do not operate the agency by law, laws that would keep children safe if they enforced the laws.
In addition the Department of Early Learning does not obey the public disclosure law so that parents can get information. The department's history of altering and destroying public records is a felony for which no high ranking state government official would prosecute. The Department of Early Learning's record keeping is designed to hide information from the public as well.
The Department of Early Learning and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been historically protected by the Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General's Office has not been protecting the citizens of Washington State especially when it come to protecting children.
The Department of Early Learning's website is designed to give an illusion that licensing works but as long as the department has no transparency it will be business as usual and failures will continue to be covered up until another child dies.
Parents shouldn't be forced to play Russian Roulette with their children's lives.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2172651/Three-month-old-baby-dies-daycare-worker-face-heavy-blanket-floor-left-HOUR-months-girl-16-watch-children-got-hair-done.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Licensed under laws that require state agencies to protect children in day care these state agencies don't and this story is typical of keeping day care providers licensed violation after violation until a child dies then they revoke the license.
As a licensor in Washington State when I witnessed six children being hidden in a closet and two babies each behind closed doors upstairs in a provider's (Connie King) unlicensed space the Department of Early Learning managers would not revoke the provider's license. The provider was licensed for 12 and had 21 preschoolers in care with no assistant; and she wouldn't allow parents to come inside her house.
Another licensor found the same provider operating at over capacity a few days after I was there. Then the supervisor, Darcy Taylor went out and found her not supervising the children.
The taxpayers give Darcy Taylor and other managers a good salary, health care benefits and retirement pensions while the managers do not operate the agency by law, laws that would keep children safe if they enforced the laws.
In addition the Department of Early Learning does not obey the public disclosure law so that parents can get information. The department's history of altering and destroying public records is a felony for which no high ranking state government official would prosecute. The Department of Early Learning's record keeping is designed to hide information from the public as well.
The Department of Early Learning and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been historically protected by the Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General's Office has not been protecting the citizens of Washington State especially when it come to protecting children.
The Department of Early Learning's website is designed to give an illusion that licensing works but as long as the department has no transparency it will be business as usual and failures will continue to be covered up until another child dies.
Parents shouldn't be forced to play Russian Roulette with their children's lives.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Department of Early Learning, Another Licensing Failure
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Marysville-teen-admits-daycare-crimes-161268135.html
This day care provider, Anne LaDale Moore, ran 24 hours a day, made $232,000.00, all paid by the taxpayers of Washington State all the while giving her son, Dakota Wilson, access to many children.
Now Dakota Wilson's violations against children won't identify him as a sex offender. Is this a story about the judicial system? The final failure in another taxpayer system?
This is repeat behavior from his mom's day care in Idaho, three times he was investigated for sexually offending against children there.
The Department of Early Learning likely made no contact with Idaho in processing her getting a license here.
The pertinent information for the public and parents to know is they can't trust the department to do proper licensing or monitoring. There is no monitoring done before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no monitoring done on the weekends.
The Department of Early Learning website gives the illusion that licensing, monitoring and investigations are done properly, but that isn't the reality.
Child Care Resource and Referral now called Child Care Aware gets their funding from the state (via the Feds) and is again designed to give parents a false sense of security.
Child Care Resource and Referral now called Child Care Aware has NO access to the information that the state keeps on licensed day care facilities. You think when you call them, they are referring you to day care facilities that meet licensing regulations. They are not, they don't know.
Parents are in a difficult place in looking to keep their children safe in day care.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Child Day Care-Leaving Children to Chance-Washington State and Oklahoma
This report "Leaving Children to Chance" by the National Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) left their methodology to chance. All this report highlights to begin with is just what is written down on a piece of paper (otherwise known as standards) and then the individual states saying to the NACCRA, "yes, what I am reporting is true."
Therefore, this is not an actual look to see if states enforce day care standards, it is only, did the states write down a standard (or requirement) on a piece of paper?
What NACCRA wrote about their methodology:
"In November 2011, NACCRRA sent a request to child care licensing directors in all 51 states (including the District of Columbia) and a representative from the Office of Family Policy/Office of Children and Youth in the Department of Defense (DoD). We asked them to verify the accuracy of information we had gathered about specific licensing regulations in their state related to small family child care homes."
Well, just looking at the states ranked in the top two, Oklahoma and Washington State the information is not accurate.
One NACCRRA category is: "Online inspection and complaint reports are available to parents on the Internet."
For Washington State inspection reports are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance".
For Oklahoma complaint inspections are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance."
That immediately reduces the scores for those top two states. This report lacks validity and reliability in the outcomes of NACCRA's research and analysis. They could have at least gone to the websites of Washington State and Oklahoma to do some independent verification, but they didn't.
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are funded by the feds and the states. They don't have access to the information the state licensing agencies have nor do they provide accurate information to parents. Most of these agencies are subordinate to the federal and state governments to keep their money, keep the funding going on the taxpayers dollar.
The most accurate part of NACCRA's report is, indeed, parents are "Leaving Children to Chance" when they look for day care.
http://www.naccrra.org/about-child-care/state-child-care-licensing/2012-leaving-children-to-chance
Smoke and mirrors; and a waste of the taxpayers' money.
Therefore, this is not an actual look to see if states enforce day care standards, it is only, did the states write down a standard (or requirement) on a piece of paper?
What NACCRA wrote about their methodology:
"In November 2011, NACCRRA sent a request to child care licensing directors in all 51 states (including the District of Columbia) and a representative from the Office of Family Policy/Office of Children and Youth in the Department of Defense (DoD). We asked them to verify the accuracy of information we had gathered about specific licensing regulations in their state related to small family child care homes."
Well, just looking at the states ranked in the top two, Oklahoma and Washington State the information is not accurate.
One NACCRRA category is: "Online inspection and complaint reports are available to parents on the Internet."
For Washington State inspection reports are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance".
For Oklahoma complaint inspections are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance."
That immediately reduces the scores for those top two states. This report lacks validity and reliability in the outcomes of NACCRA's research and analysis. They could have at least gone to the websites of Washington State and Oklahoma to do some independent verification, but they didn't.
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are funded by the feds and the states. They don't have access to the information the state licensing agencies have nor do they provide accurate information to parents. Most of these agencies are subordinate to the federal and state governments to keep their money, keep the funding going on the taxpayers dollar.
The most accurate part of NACCRA's report is, indeed, parents are "Leaving Children to Chance" when they look for day care.
http://www.naccrra.org/about-child-care/state-child-care-licensing/2012-leaving-children-to-chance
Smoke and mirrors; and a waste of the taxpayers' money.
Washington State - Everett Child Daycare license suspended over violence, neglect
To the parents in Washington State the latest revision of the child day care regulations go into effect on March 31, 2012. Kudos to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for taking action sooner rather than later; and before a child got maimed or killed.
I gave DEL kudos for writing researched based, evidence based regulations. The next step in my experience as a former child day care licensor was for managers to fairly enforce the regulations to keep children safe, healthy and happy.
I don't have copies of the records as yet and it appears the agency is moving forward with obeying the laws our citizen legislature passed.
Then the agency upping the front end, at this time, will go a long ways to producing a higher quality licensing process when folks apply to get a license; and a high quality outcome with untraumatized children and children who are still whole and alive.
For child day care providers I recommend upping your own quality by accessing a mentor and classes through SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives); and that organization will assist you in your small business characteristics that will lead to high quality and success.
Daycare facility has license suspended over violence, neglect
I gave DEL kudos for writing researched based, evidence based regulations. The next step in my experience as a former child day care licensor was for managers to fairly enforce the regulations to keep children safe, healthy and happy.
I don't have copies of the records as yet and it appears the agency is moving forward with obeying the laws our citizen legislature passed.
Then the agency upping the front end, at this time, will go a long ways to producing a higher quality licensing process when folks apply to get a license; and a high quality outcome with untraumatized children and children who are still whole and alive.
For child day care providers I recommend upping your own quality by accessing a mentor and classes through SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives); and that organization will assist you in your small business characteristics that will lead to high quality and success.
Daycare facility has license suspended over violence, neglect
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
DSHS & State of Georgia paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
Like in Washington State with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Georgia has also paid out millions to child day care providers, providers who were out of compliance as well as where children were badly treated.
State paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
From the Atlanta article:
"In all, at least 17 percent of the $2 billion handed out by the state — nearly one out of every five dollars — went to day cares that the state determined fell short on health and safety. Of that money, at least $230 million went to day care programs that had been deemed non-compliant multiple times, the investigation shows."
And like in Washington State the child care licensing arm of the government had no communication with the giving out money through the subsidy portion of the government.
The newspaper did an in depth investigation through getting state records and found:
"Combined data:
"559: Non-compliant day cares that received both subsidies
33: Non-compliant day cares that received more than $1 million from one or both subsidy programs"
Why does the media have to do these investigations? In the State of Washington, the State Auditor should have been doing this; did not and has not.
Thanks to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for doing this investigation. From my experience these problems exist across the nation.
State paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
From the Atlanta article:
"In all, at least 17 percent of the $2 billion handed out by the state — nearly one out of every five dollars — went to day cares that the state determined fell short on health and safety. Of that money, at least $230 million went to day care programs that had been deemed non-compliant multiple times, the investigation shows."
And like in Washington State the child care licensing arm of the government had no communication with the giving out money through the subsidy portion of the government.
The newspaper did an in depth investigation through getting state records and found:
"Combined data:
"559: Non-compliant day cares that received both subsidies
33: Non-compliant day cares that received more than $1 million from one or both subsidy programs"
Why does the media have to do these investigations? In the State of Washington, the State Auditor should have been doing this; did not and has not.
Thanks to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for doing this investigation. From my experience these problems exist across the nation.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
DSHS - Washington Child Day Care Providers Who Seemingly Believe Parents Don't Read
A legislative work committee was quickly called to session when a minority of child day care providers in the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) marshaled once again to delay implementation of child day care rules. For four and a half years some thirty of these providers and one lone parent met with the state to create rules using evidence based research. As you will read from my testimony below this group spent time and effort in their attempt to take away the first amendment rights of the lone parent on rule making work group.
Parents were left out of the process and have historically been largely ignored by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and now DEL (Department of Early Learning). I signed up a couple of years ago on Google Alerts for news stories on "child deaths in day care". They come in DAILY.
I give credit and kudos to DEL in this outcome of the writing the latest rules to be implemented March 31, 2012. I take this minority group of SEIU child day care providers to task for their disregard of the peace of mind of parents who must work and who must put their child in day care.
My testimony is copied here:
March 12, 2012
Dear Spokane City Council, Rep. Walsh, Rep. Overstreet, Dr. Hyde, Mr. McLellan and Stu Jacobson,
As a former licensor (for 13 years) turned whistle blower turned analyst/expert witness consultant I thank Stu Jacobson, Washington Parents for Safe Child Care for sharing the links below. I reviewed them all.
I admire the Spokane community's work on a community rights bill in the works for the last few years. Certainly, the question of local governance is unfolding and unrolling across our great nation in this time of monumental change with the wars draining the money out of the treasury (and taxpayers' pockets).
If the citizens (all the citizens) of Spokane want local governance to do oversight on child safety, kindness and learning in day care I suggest start forming those work groups now and sally forth with that plan to create a "crisis of jurisdiction" for the state to then grapple with. Included in that plan must be any of the federal issues that might come up (like funding issues, food programs and child care subsidies, etc). If citizen's taxes can go to a local plan rather than to the federal and state government a viable opportunity may be at hand (after much dedicated work).
In the 1 hour and 22 minute legislative committee work session I don't believe I heard the word "parent" once or any mention of what "parents" wanted in the revised WACs.
My subject line says "Back to the Future" because most of what is being reported by the media (not just in Spokane) is that these are "new" regulations. No they aren't. The document is longer because now some areas are explained much better and in more detail.
The 2004 revision of the family home child care licensing WACs was poorly written so poorly written to be direct it was "crap".
The safety regulations have always been there. The playground equipment ground cover has always been an issue. The 18 inch deck issues has always been an issue. The platform issue is a fire code issue not one made up by the day care licensing agency. When it's a conundrum, be professional and request a consult with your local fire department. There was a yearly educational requirement started in 1999. DSHS DCCEL took it out in October 2004.
In terms of the child care regulations as one husband testified, parents wouldn't be allowed to keep their own children. Parental rights do trump a child care business provider's contractual privileges in being granted a license and the ability to keep the license.. A day care license is not a constitutional right (see Hardee v DSHS 2011, Washington State Supreme Court decision).
Mention was made of how SEIU's collective bargaining required the state to bargain with them (a small minority) regarding regulations. The negotiated rule making law is not about unions. Under the law it was a public review and process. Again if you review the one hour and 22 minute TVW video parents are almost virtually ignored.
There was one parent on the Negotiated Rule Making Team, Stu Jacobson, and the SEIU spent taxpayer money and time at the meetings in an attempt to take away Mr. Jacobson first amendment right of free speech under the United States Constitution because he spoke to the press. I was a witness at that meeting. They stopped the business of reviewing the WACs to figure out how they could punish him for giving an opinion to the press.
I heard on this TVW tape from a few who support a certain segment of providers, emotional language that 100s will quit on March 31, 2012. I want specific data. None was given.
I have been a big critic of DEL and I give credit when it is due. Bob McLellan in his testimony cited data and statistics. He cited the director agreeing with 90% of the work product of the Negotiated Rule Making Team's at the culmination of their 4 years of work. 5% Dr. Hyde had fundamental issues with were related to safety for children and development.
I was sorry to hear DEL didn't stick with no smoking. Smoking gets into fabric, furniture, carpeting, sofa cushions and the chemical can be smelled, if it can be smell it does damage to lungs and other tissue in the body. Little ones lung tissue is the most vulnerable.
Someone threw out the number that 900 day cares closed last year with a source not being cited. Bob reported looking at the statistics. Numbers maintained from 2008 to 2010 then a decline noted. The economy has been bad, really bad.
I'm glad to hear about the "tablet" and immediate recording of data into a computer data base. I went through by hand one year to see which WACs were most violated on my caseload.
Bob is also correct in saying the majority of family home child care providers will have no problem with this current revision. I had one provider on my caseload (when my caseload was 260) who asked me each time, "Why do you let them have a license? The regulations aren't hard to follow. Why do they get to keep their licenses?" Why? It was because of the managers. That's where the inconsistency comes in.
The legislative comment about "extreme differences between regions" is entirely accurate.
Having 100-120 on one's caseload would be heaven in my experience and estimation. With non-expiring licenses monitoring can go way up now.
In my opinion as I believe Bob captured it, but I believe he was referring to it coming from Mary Kay Quinlan's perspective; it is not about a dialogue between provider and licensor. It is about how managers will operate and oversee the agency. Ms Quinlan in my expert opinion and in documents I've reviewed had (has?) a history of being inconsistent.
In my experience, witnessing and opinion the legislature needs to undo the so-called collective bargaining bills. The SEIU is not a friend to parents or children. Their friendship with only a minority of providers does not represent all providers and certainly represents no parents. SEIU and other so-called collective bargaining unions are getting free money from the taxpayer. With that money if legislators don't do their will, legislators have been threatened with losing their elections. It needs to not only happen with SEIU, but with AFSCME also.
This is the best management presentation (Bob's) that I have seen from DEL. I know it couldn't have happened without Betty Hyde. She must do that now with all of the management team. That will be the pivotal moment March 31, 2012 when the family home child day care WACs go into effect.
The plan for implementation cannot be "a dialogue between licensors and providers".
I've been writing for some time for applicants and providers to get a mentor from SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives). They help small business folks, entrepreneurs. State employees have not experience with being business people and few providers also don't have that experience.
What we see play out many times is a manifestation of bickering like that between a child and a parent, between people who believe they are powerless and the ones that seemingly have the power. The real power lies with the managers, that's what must be studied and reported on in this process.
So I have kudos for DEL and a criticism. And taxpayer money going directly to SEIU must STOP. If individual providers want to cut them a check every month then fine, let SEIU do their work, earn their money and get paid by the providers who want to be in SEIU.
Same with AFSCME.
Thank you for your consideration regarding my testimony, of my experience, expertise in child care licensing and being the insider for 13 years,
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
In follow up testimony I sent to the Early Learning legislative work committee:
Dear All,
To bring the parent perspective into the fold of the Early Learning legislative work group, I'd like to add that I have been getting Google Alerts on "child deaths in day care" for a few years now. Those alerts come up daily in my inbox. Daily.
There is a plethora of tragic stories in the news about day care and that's just in terms of deaths and maiming of children. Parents see and read those stories.
As a day care licensing insider I can testify to how parents calling in with concerns were discounted by the agency. I can testify (and have a document) that as licensors we were not to "tell" parents about violations we'd seen.
One time I told a parent calling about the day care where her son got badly bitten by the provider's child (my supervisor would not go out and do the investigation on the complaint) to take the provider to small claims court. She did and got some measure of justice (including getting the medical bills paid). The provider later complained about me doing that.
If attendance in day care is going down how parents feel must be figured into the equation. When a provider goes on television and scoffs at having a 3 day supply of food encase of an emergency, I'm thinking I'm not taking my kids there. I had too many providers on my caseload who complained about not only doing a monthly fire drill but doing any fire drills at all. They flagrantly as well used the upstairs that had no fire escape exit. And no my managers wouldn't take enforcement action.
There are more examples in my book DSHS SECRETS. It's on Amazon.com
On the Negotiated Rule Making Team (off the top of my head) there were about 30 providers represented. And one parent, Stu Jacobson, of Washington Parents for Safe Child Care. I all ready testified to that group's attempt to take away his 1st Amendments rights.
These complainer providers are a minority. Which brings up the question of whistle blowers. If the industry doesn't police itself then what are you left with? You're left with the citizen legislature who hears from parents, child advocates and sees the research, sees the data.
DEL to their credit in this go around sought and produced evidenced based research and data to uphold the regulations that were written. Kudos to them.
It's now at the juncture, in my opinion, on how the DEL managers will manage the agency, implement and/or enforce the WACs as well as creating some mechanisms to ensure parents are respected, heard and given transparent information about day care licensing that will be under the microscope. It will be under my microscope as my hypothesis has been for years that "failed" managers have not only stayed on, but were promoted to higher positions. Typically when "new" directors came on board they didn't know licensing, the "failed" managers would then tell the "new" director how it goes.
Dr. Hyde has produced a good work product here; and her top managers followed her leadership. Now the big test will be how her managers implement the good work product.
If Spokane wants to test a pilot program of local licensing, oversight, training and enforcement perhaps the legislature can get something passed to approve that as a test run of local community control and oversight.
Thank you
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
Parents were left out of the process and have historically been largely ignored by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and now DEL (Department of Early Learning). I signed up a couple of years ago on Google Alerts for news stories on "child deaths in day care". They come in DAILY.
I give credit and kudos to DEL in this outcome of the writing the latest rules to be implemented March 31, 2012. I take this minority group of SEIU child day care providers to task for their disregard of the peace of mind of parents who must work and who must put their child in day care.
My testimony is copied here:
March 12, 2012
Dear Spokane City Council, Rep. Walsh, Rep. Overstreet, Dr. Hyde, Mr. McLellan and Stu Jacobson,
As a former licensor (for 13 years) turned whistle blower turned analyst/expert witness consultant I thank Stu Jacobson, Washington Parents for Safe Child Care for sharing the links below. I reviewed them all.
I admire the Spokane community's work on a community rights bill in the works for the last few years. Certainly, the question of local governance is unfolding and unrolling across our great nation in this time of monumental change with the wars draining the money out of the treasury (and taxpayers' pockets).
If the citizens (all the citizens) of Spokane want local governance to do oversight on child safety, kindness and learning in day care I suggest start forming those work groups now and sally forth with that plan to create a "crisis of jurisdiction" for the state to then grapple with. Included in that plan must be any of the federal issues that might come up (like funding issues, food programs and child care subsidies, etc). If citizen's taxes can go to a local plan rather than to the federal and state government a viable opportunity may be at hand (after much dedicated work).
In the 1 hour and 22 minute legislative committee work session I don't believe I heard the word "parent" once or any mention of what "parents" wanted in the revised WACs.
My subject line says "Back to the Future" because most of what is being reported by the media (not just in Spokane) is that these are "new" regulations. No they aren't. The document is longer because now some areas are explained much better and in more detail.
The 2004 revision of the family home child care licensing WACs was poorly written so poorly written to be direct it was "crap".
The safety regulations have always been there. The playground equipment ground cover has always been an issue. The 18 inch deck issues has always been an issue. The platform issue is a fire code issue not one made up by the day care licensing agency. When it's a conundrum, be professional and request a consult with your local fire department. There was a yearly educational requirement started in 1999. DSHS DCCEL took it out in October 2004.
In terms of the child care regulations as one husband testified, parents wouldn't be allowed to keep their own children. Parental rights do trump a child care business provider's contractual privileges in being granted a license and the ability to keep the license.. A day care license is not a constitutional right (see Hardee v DSHS 2011, Washington State Supreme Court decision).
Mention was made of how SEIU's collective bargaining required the state to bargain with them (a small minority) regarding regulations. The negotiated rule making law is not about unions. Under the law it was a public review and process. Again if you review the one hour and 22 minute TVW video parents are almost virtually ignored.
There was one parent on the Negotiated Rule Making Team, Stu Jacobson, and the SEIU spent taxpayer money and time at the meetings in an attempt to take away Mr. Jacobson first amendment right of free speech under the United States Constitution because he spoke to the press. I was a witness at that meeting. They stopped the business of reviewing the WACs to figure out how they could punish him for giving an opinion to the press.
I heard on this TVW tape from a few who support a certain segment of providers, emotional language that 100s will quit on March 31, 2012. I want specific data. None was given.
I have been a big critic of DEL and I give credit when it is due. Bob McLellan in his testimony cited data and statistics. He cited the director agreeing with 90% of the work product of the Negotiated Rule Making Team's at the culmination of their 4 years of work. 5% Dr. Hyde had fundamental issues with were related to safety for children and development.
I was sorry to hear DEL didn't stick with no smoking. Smoking gets into fabric, furniture, carpeting, sofa cushions and the chemical can be smelled, if it can be smell it does damage to lungs and other tissue in the body. Little ones lung tissue is the most vulnerable.
Someone threw out the number that 900 day cares closed last year with a source not being cited. Bob reported looking at the statistics. Numbers maintained from 2008 to 2010 then a decline noted. The economy has been bad, really bad.
I'm glad to hear about the "tablet" and immediate recording of data into a computer data base. I went through by hand one year to see which WACs were most violated on my caseload.
Bob is also correct in saying the majority of family home child care providers will have no problem with this current revision. I had one provider on my caseload (when my caseload was 260) who asked me each time, "Why do you let them have a license? The regulations aren't hard to follow. Why do they get to keep their licenses?" Why? It was because of the managers. That's where the inconsistency comes in.
The legislative comment about "extreme differences between regions" is entirely accurate.
Having 100-120 on one's caseload would be heaven in my experience and estimation. With non-expiring licenses monitoring can go way up now.
In my opinion as I believe Bob captured it, but I believe he was referring to it coming from Mary Kay Quinlan's perspective; it is not about a dialogue between provider and licensor. It is about how managers will operate and oversee the agency. Ms Quinlan in my expert opinion and in documents I've reviewed had (has?) a history of being inconsistent.
In my experience, witnessing and opinion the legislature needs to undo the so-called collective bargaining bills. The SEIU is not a friend to parents or children. Their friendship with only a minority of providers does not represent all providers and certainly represents no parents. SEIU and other so-called collective bargaining unions are getting free money from the taxpayer. With that money if legislators don't do their will, legislators have been threatened with losing their elections. It needs to not only happen with SEIU, but with AFSCME also.
This is the best management presentation (Bob's) that I have seen from DEL. I know it couldn't have happened without Betty Hyde. She must do that now with all of the management team. That will be the pivotal moment March 31, 2012 when the family home child day care WACs go into effect.
The plan for implementation cannot be "a dialogue between licensors and providers".
I've been writing for some time for applicants and providers to get a mentor from SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives). They help small business folks, entrepreneurs. State employees have not experience with being business people and few providers also don't have that experience.
What we see play out many times is a manifestation of bickering like that between a child and a parent, between people who believe they are powerless and the ones that seemingly have the power. The real power lies with the managers, that's what must be studied and reported on in this process.
So I have kudos for DEL and a criticism. And taxpayer money going directly to SEIU must STOP. If individual providers want to cut them a check every month then fine, let SEIU do their work, earn their money and get paid by the providers who want to be in SEIU.
Same with AFSCME.
Thank you for your consideration regarding my testimony, of my experience, expertise in child care licensing and being the insider for 13 years,
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
In follow up testimony I sent to the Early Learning legislative work committee:
Dear All,
To bring the parent perspective into the fold of the Early Learning legislative work group, I'd like to add that I have been getting Google Alerts on "child deaths in day care" for a few years now. Those alerts come up daily in my inbox. Daily.
There is a plethora of tragic stories in the news about day care and that's just in terms of deaths and maiming of children. Parents see and read those stories.
As a day care licensing insider I can testify to how parents calling in with concerns were discounted by the agency. I can testify (and have a document) that as licensors we were not to "tell" parents about violations we'd seen.
One time I told a parent calling about the day care where her son got badly bitten by the provider's child (my supervisor would not go out and do the investigation on the complaint) to take the provider to small claims court. She did and got some measure of justice (including getting the medical bills paid). The provider later complained about me doing that.
If attendance in day care is going down how parents feel must be figured into the equation. When a provider goes on television and scoffs at having a 3 day supply of food encase of an emergency, I'm thinking I'm not taking my kids there. I had too many providers on my caseload who complained about not only doing a monthly fire drill but doing any fire drills at all. They flagrantly as well used the upstairs that had no fire escape exit. And no my managers wouldn't take enforcement action.
There are more examples in my book DSHS SECRETS. It's on Amazon.com
On the Negotiated Rule Making Team (off the top of my head) there were about 30 providers represented. And one parent, Stu Jacobson, of Washington Parents for Safe Child Care. I all ready testified to that group's attempt to take away his 1st Amendments rights.
These complainer providers are a minority. Which brings up the question of whistle blowers. If the industry doesn't police itself then what are you left with? You're left with the citizen legislature who hears from parents, child advocates and sees the research, sees the data.
DEL to their credit in this go around sought and produced evidenced based research and data to uphold the regulations that were written. Kudos to them.
It's now at the juncture, in my opinion, on how the DEL managers will manage the agency, implement and/or enforce the WACs as well as creating some mechanisms to ensure parents are respected, heard and given transparent information about day care licensing that will be under the microscope. It will be under my microscope as my hypothesis has been for years that "failed" managers have not only stayed on, but were promoted to higher positions. Typically when "new" directors came on board they didn't know licensing, the "failed" managers would then tell the "new" director how it goes.
Dr. Hyde has produced a good work product here; and her top managers followed her leadership. Now the big test will be how her managers implement the good work product.
If Spokane wants to test a pilot program of local licensing, oversight, training and enforcement perhaps the legislature can get something passed to approve that as a test run of local community control and oversight.
Thank you
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
Monday, February 13, 2012
Memo to DSHS, DEL and Unions: We, the People are not Dumb
DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services), DEL (Department of Early Learning) and a myriad of unions including SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees) which was my union when I was inside DSHS said you were dumb. My managers told me you were dumb. Managers said folks coming to the day care licensing orientation classes were dumb. Parents, we were told were dumb. Managers in day care licensing said we were not to give parents information (I have the email).
Teaching a community class for the last five years, guess what DSHS, DEL and Teacher Unions, we, the people, citizens and parents are not dumb. Memo to DSHS, DEL and the unions, quit blaming parents and quit telling government workers that the citizens of Washington State of dumb.
I found and find folks are hungry and thirsty for truth telling. I found folks were readers, intuitive and critical thinkers. I found adult learners like kid learners don't want to be bored.
John Taylor Gatto, a New York Teacher of the Year and now author of such books as Weapons of Mass Instruction calculated only 100 hours are needed to teach someone to read. When my grandson was in agony trying to read the public school education way, luckily, I was reading Gatto's book on The Underground History of American Education.
Learning to read had been so easy for me I had forgotten the mechanics of how I learned to read. When I read Gatto's book, I went "Ah, ha!" and thus in no time my oldest grandson learned not only to read, but loved to read. He surged ahead so quickly one week on a Monday he quickly and happily did the whole week's worth of homework. Guess what? Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, he got in trouble for "going ahead." He was so confused, here he had done a great thing and got in trouble for it.
I sub in a school district as a classroom assistant and I find kids are often times bored, so bored, they sometimes act out. Many of the classroom assistants are bored.
Most of us don't know where we got this "public education" system that is mind numbing to so many kids. "All in all, we're just another brick in the wall." (Pink Floyd) Like the shenanigans that brought in SEIU, the template for that started over 150 years ago when the National Education Association (NEA) was brought in...through an Act in Congress, a federal law.
Who were the "teachers" at that time who wanted this "association"? Teachers who had failed as entrepreneurs in putting together their own schools.
One of my father's refrains growing up was "you're a Democrat, you're union and you vote." OK, dad. So union supporter was I. So much so I organized a union in an area that had never been unionized before. As the years went on I became a DSHS social worker and union member I witnessed the decline of what it meant to be "union".
In 1988 a social worker III had to have masters degree. In 1989 the union "declassified" that position so that a masters was no longer required. I watched and spoke up about the decline. I have documents from the 1990s where a group of social workers wanted the union to take stands to serve our clients. The union rep. guy didn't support our taking those kinds of stands.
The outcry of these unions claiming it's what DSHS workers wanted, what DEL workers wanted and/or what parents wanted...it's all made up. When that whole "collective bargaining" thing came down in 2004, we, on the inside were going "huh?" Most DSHS workers felt like they were between a rock and a hard place between the managers and the union reps.
There is so much federal taxpayer money floating around education and day care. I went to many of the Early Learning Council "public" meetings. When I testified one such day, I asked the audience members to raise their hands if they were NOT getting federal or state money. Out of about 60 people in the room, two raised their hands.
And if you are a private agency attempting to really address the issues, man, oh, man, if you anger the state bureaucratic manager who makes decisions about where the money goes, you lose the money. Some good programs went away because of that scenario. I also know high class agencies kept going, kept their integrity when their funds were threatened and then taken. Such agencies sometimes lost millions because of the abusive power the bureaucratic managers wielded.
We, the people, will take back our power and the government must be subordinate to we, the people once again. Sam Cooke sang, A Change Gonna Come and it's now, it's unfolding. Technology has surged passed the 1990s typing data into a computer no one will ever see it, to the technology of the 21st century which is rapidly helping us form communities once again. Jack Warner said in 1926, talkies will never work. You know, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers. History is happening now.
I give the legislature the most kudos because I have witnessed they have passed some pretty darn good laws. I also know they would have been happy to pass more good laws, but they are in a conundrum when we, the people, believe our voice doesn't count. I've written over and over again to the public that, indeed, your senators and representatives clearly want your input. We, the people input. Not, we the organized union, not we the special interest.
We, the people and we the workers didn't and don't want these modern abusive unions. They are not who they say they are. In terms of education we have to get rid of the 1850s model which was the Prussian education system, more specifically the Prussian Army.
In 100 hours kids can and do learn to read voraciously and love it. Creating a myriad of school models to assist their craving for learning based on what they are passionate about is right now an open book. A book that can be created in such a way kids and parents would be joyful.
I've done anecdotal research in my classes. Most people don't remember the mechanics of how they learned to read, most weren't in agony learning how to read and many are avid readers today.
George Carlin said he loved entropy. Let it crash. Let the fear mongers who say we can't survive without DSHS, DEL and Education unions, tell them we are not afraid.
We are a great country. Washington State is my home state and I will fight for the integrity of my home state and for all the little ones who I witnessed being treated unkindly; and for their parents who were dismissively put down. And I'll fight for the kids I saw in the public school education classes who were BORED!
Teaching a community class for the last five years, guess what DSHS, DEL and Teacher Unions, we, the people, citizens and parents are not dumb. Memo to DSHS, DEL and the unions, quit blaming parents and quit telling government workers that the citizens of Washington State of dumb.
I found and find folks are hungry and thirsty for truth telling. I found folks were readers, intuitive and critical thinkers. I found adult learners like kid learners don't want to be bored.
John Taylor Gatto, a New York Teacher of the Year and now author of such books as Weapons of Mass Instruction calculated only 100 hours are needed to teach someone to read. When my grandson was in agony trying to read the public school education way, luckily, I was reading Gatto's book on The Underground History of American Education.
Learning to read had been so easy for me I had forgotten the mechanics of how I learned to read. When I read Gatto's book, I went "Ah, ha!" and thus in no time my oldest grandson learned not only to read, but loved to read. He surged ahead so quickly one week on a Monday he quickly and happily did the whole week's worth of homework. Guess what? Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, he got in trouble for "going ahead." He was so confused, here he had done a great thing and got in trouble for it.
I sub in a school district as a classroom assistant and I find kids are often times bored, so bored, they sometimes act out. Many of the classroom assistants are bored.
Most of us don't know where we got this "public education" system that is mind numbing to so many kids. "All in all, we're just another brick in the wall." (Pink Floyd) Like the shenanigans that brought in SEIU, the template for that started over 150 years ago when the National Education Association (NEA) was brought in...through an Act in Congress, a federal law.
Who were the "teachers" at that time who wanted this "association"? Teachers who had failed as entrepreneurs in putting together their own schools.
One of my father's refrains growing up was "you're a Democrat, you're union and you vote." OK, dad. So union supporter was I. So much so I organized a union in an area that had never been unionized before. As the years went on I became a DSHS social worker and union member I witnessed the decline of what it meant to be "union".
In 1988 a social worker III had to have masters degree. In 1989 the union "declassified" that position so that a masters was no longer required. I watched and spoke up about the decline. I have documents from the 1990s where a group of social workers wanted the union to take stands to serve our clients. The union rep. guy didn't support our taking those kinds of stands.
The outcry of these unions claiming it's what DSHS workers wanted, what DEL workers wanted and/or what parents wanted...it's all made up. When that whole "collective bargaining" thing came down in 2004, we, on the inside were going "huh?" Most DSHS workers felt like they were between a rock and a hard place between the managers and the union reps.
There is so much federal taxpayer money floating around education and day care. I went to many of the Early Learning Council "public" meetings. When I testified one such day, I asked the audience members to raise their hands if they were NOT getting federal or state money. Out of about 60 people in the room, two raised their hands.
And if you are a private agency attempting to really address the issues, man, oh, man, if you anger the state bureaucratic manager who makes decisions about where the money goes, you lose the money. Some good programs went away because of that scenario. I also know high class agencies kept going, kept their integrity when their funds were threatened and then taken. Such agencies sometimes lost millions because of the abusive power the bureaucratic managers wielded.
We, the people, will take back our power and the government must be subordinate to we, the people once again. Sam Cooke sang, A Change Gonna Come and it's now, it's unfolding. Technology has surged passed the 1990s typing data into a computer no one will ever see it, to the technology of the 21st century which is rapidly helping us form communities once again. Jack Warner said in 1926, talkies will never work. You know, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers. History is happening now.
I give the legislature the most kudos because I have witnessed they have passed some pretty darn good laws. I also know they would have been happy to pass more good laws, but they are in a conundrum when we, the people, believe our voice doesn't count. I've written over and over again to the public that, indeed, your senators and representatives clearly want your input. We, the people input. Not, we the organized union, not we the special interest.
We, the people and we the workers didn't and don't want these modern abusive unions. They are not who they say they are. In terms of education we have to get rid of the 1850s model which was the Prussian education system, more specifically the Prussian Army.
In 100 hours kids can and do learn to read voraciously and love it. Creating a myriad of school models to assist their craving for learning based on what they are passionate about is right now an open book. A book that can be created in such a way kids and parents would be joyful.
I've done anecdotal research in my classes. Most people don't remember the mechanics of how they learned to read, most weren't in agony learning how to read and many are avid readers today.
George Carlin said he loved entropy. Let it crash. Let the fear mongers who say we can't survive without DSHS, DEL and Education unions, tell them we are not afraid.
We are a great country. Washington State is my home state and I will fight for the integrity of my home state and for all the little ones who I witnessed being treated unkindly; and for their parents who were dismissively put down. And I'll fight for the kids I saw in the public school education classes who were BORED!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Department of Early Learning Complies with RCW 43.215.370 & Posts Child Day Care Licenses Which Have been Revoked, Suspended or Denied
I have been writing on my website and blog since 2007 about the Department of Early Learning's (DEL) failure to comply with a law passed by the legislature that year.
The example I linked is the licensed day care provider who murdered fourteen month old Charlotte Wetzel.
At least the ones I am familiar with seem to be on the DEL website including the Edith Goetz licensed day care where seven month old Jesse Hunt was the day he died.
I published on December 30, 2011 DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 on Amazon.com to tell parents and the public some of the secrets I saw as the 20 year insider and whistle blower on DSHS. Jesse Hunt started my journey when I met his mom, Michelle Hunt. It has been important to all the moms and dads whose children were maimed and/or killed to let other parents know so other parents could protect their own children.
http://www.amazon.com/DSHS-SECRETS-JESSE-HUNT-ebook/dp/B006RNT7NK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328234984&sr=1-1
As the insider I know that suspended, revoked or denied child day care providers kept on providing care thus the reason your citizen legislature passed this law. With the maiming of nine month Colby Thompson in unlicensed care the Colby Thompson Act was passed last year on that risk to children; and posting of some of those sites is now a must because of your citizen legislature stepping forward.
If all are now listed I would certainly like to thank the person and/or persons who directed DEL to obey the law. Or perhaps Director Betty Hyde gave the order. I've always said I am willing to give kudos where the government serves, we the people. It may be once again I thank the legislature themselves for getting the department to comply with the law. So a thank you to...
Here's what the site looks like
Read the Child Care Check FAQs.
At any time, you may Leave feedback on your Child Care Check experience.
To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)
https://apps.del.wa.gov/check/LicenseView.aspx?id=177128T
The example I linked is the licensed day care provider who murdered fourteen month old Charlotte Wetzel.
At least the ones I am familiar with seem to be on the DEL website including the Edith Goetz licensed day care where seven month old Jesse Hunt was the day he died.
I published on December 30, 2011 DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 on Amazon.com to tell parents and the public some of the secrets I saw as the 20 year insider and whistle blower on DSHS. Jesse Hunt started my journey when I met his mom, Michelle Hunt. It has been important to all the moms and dads whose children were maimed and/or killed to let other parents know so other parents could protect their own children.
http://www.amazon.com/DSHS-SECRETS-JESSE-HUNT-ebook/dp/B006RNT7NK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328234984&sr=1-1
| ||
| Digital List Price: | $0.99 What's this?  |
| Prime Members: | $0.00 (read for free) Prime Eligible |
| Kindle Purchase Price: | $0.99 |
| |
As the insider I know that suspended, revoked or denied child day care providers kept on providing care thus the reason your citizen legislature passed this law. With the maiming of nine month Colby Thompson in unlicensed care the Colby Thompson Act was passed last year on that risk to children; and posting of some of those sites is now a must because of your citizen legislature stepping forward.
If all are now listed I would certainly like to thank the person and/or persons who directed DEL to obey the law. Or perhaps Director Betty Hyde gave the order. I've always said I am willing to give kudos where the government serves, we the people. It may be once again I thank the legislature themselves for getting the department to comply with the law. So a thank you to...
Here's what the site looks like
Child Care Check
| JOHNSON ROBIN I Doing Business As Robin Johnson | Data current as of 02/01/2012 |
| Provider ID | 177128 | Current License Status | License Closed |
| Facility Type | Family Home Provider | License Closure Date | 6/9/1998 |
| License Closure Reason | Suspended |
This provider is no longer a licensed provider. DEL has made the decision to not show any complaints for closed providers.
At any time, you may Leave feedback on your Child Care Check experience.
To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)
https://apps.del.wa.gov/check/LicenseView.aspx?id=177128T
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day Care, Food Programs and the Military
In 2011 retired generals testified to the Washington State legislature to focus on high quality daycare and preschools because they are afraid they won't have enough young people join the military when the economy gets better. It's the same reason the federal government started the federal food program during WW II. Makes you ponder, ey?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
DSHS SECRETS (and Department of Early Learning Secrets) - Jesse Hunt 1994 - Washington State
Amazon.com: DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 eBook: Margo Logan, Delle Jacobs, Michelle Hunt: Kindle Store
My book went up on Amazon.com on New Year's Eve. It is a memoir/anthology. It is about my journey into DSHS as a child protective social worker and then as a family home child day care licensor my journey out of the agency when I went public with what I had witnessed. My book is a conversation with the parents and citizens of my home state, Washington.
My book went up on Amazon.com on New Year's Eve. It is a memoir/anthology. It is about my journey into DSHS as a child protective social worker and then as a family home child day care licensor my journey out of the agency when I went public with what I had witnessed. My book is a conversation with the parents and citizens of my home state, Washington.
As a consultant and expert witness these days, my book has national appeal as the dynamics and characteristics of day care licensing in Washington State are similar across this great nation of ours.
When we, the people know the secrets; and government bureaucratic managers can no longer hide with they do and in the case of day care licensing what they did not do, then government goes back to the original intent of the United States Constitution and becomes once again subordinate to we, the people.
You can download a sample for free. The e-book is only 99 cents. My intent is that millions of folks from all around the world will see my book cover, which is the darling face of seven month old Jesse Hunt who because of DSHS' failings in child day care licensing died before his life began.
So please click on the link above to see his sweet adorable face. Jesse's mom wrote a review of my book and that is included in the free sample download.
From looking at my blog statistics I know folks are most interested in the secrets that government hides; those articles on my blog get the most pageviews. In addition, for five years I have taught classes and I saw people were hungry and thirsty for truth telling on why children die under the care of the government. Sometimes when people's mouths hang open in class, I say, "I should write a book, huh?" "YES!", they would chorus!
This is that book.
When we, the people know the secrets; and government bureaucratic managers can no longer hide with they do and in the case of day care licensing what they did not do, then government goes back to the original intent of the United States Constitution and becomes once again subordinate to we, the people.
You can download a sample for free. The e-book is only 99 cents. My intent is that millions of folks from all around the world will see my book cover, which is the darling face of seven month old Jesse Hunt who because of DSHS' failings in child day care licensing died before his life began.
So please click on the link above to see his sweet adorable face. Jesse's mom wrote a review of my book and that is included in the free sample download.
From looking at my blog statistics I know folks are most interested in the secrets that government hides; those articles on my blog get the most pageviews. In addition, for five years I have taught classes and I saw people were hungry and thirsty for truth telling on why children die under the care of the government. Sometimes when people's mouths hang open in class, I say, "I should write a book, huh?" "YES!", they would chorus!
This is that book.
Jesse died January 14, 1994. Jesse's death and meeting his mom began my journey inside the agency to try to figure out the why, why children died and/or were maimed from having been in licensed day care. Two year old Hailee Rhodes maiming in 2004 was my critical mass moment to go public.
These two children and others I mention in my book are the reason I started my blog to get out information to parents that the government was hiding from them.
When I wrote the memoir part of my book two authors kept popping up in my head. Carrie Fisher, who wrote in Wishful Drinking, "If this wasn't funny it would just be true." and Dave Barry who writes often, "I'm not making this up."
Thank you to all of you who take a moment out of your busy day to read my words.
Thank you to all of you who take a moment out of your busy day to read my words.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Department of Early Learning - Admits to Not Giving Parents Vital Information
State Shuts Down Spokane Valley Daycare For History Of Non-Compliance Issues - Local News - Spokane, WA - msnbc.com
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) does not post information on their website if a provider is out of compliance. DEL had started at one point of scanning in the violation of regulation sheets then stopped.
I heard through other sources that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) complained so DEL quit posting that information. Only a small minority of day care providers are active in SEIU and they didn't want compliance violations posted. Did DEL willingly go along with that view?
From the article below you can see how tricky, almost sleight of hand DEL responded to the media's question about the out of compliance issue.
"A letter sent to Kids Are Us on September 1st of 2010 advised Berland of these issues and allowed the daycare to stay open while Berland appealed the state's findings. Today, more than a year and three months later, their appeal was officially denied. KHQ dug deeper to find out what requirements day care providers have to notify parents in case they are not in compliance. The answer is, there is none. Kara Klotz, a spokesperson for the Department of Early Learning, said "There is no requirement in state law or rules that licensed providers communicate a revocation letter to parents. We do maintain licensees' status on our website which shows when a licensee is in no referral status."
The media asked one question and DEL's media spokesperson avoided the actual question and flipped it over to whether there is a law that licensed providers are to inform parents if their license is revoked.
Well, first of all you can't require a "licensed" provider whose licensed has been revoked to do anything as she is no longer a "licensed" provider.
DEL did not tell the reporter there doesn't have to be a law for DEL to post non-compliance on their website. DEL didn't tell the reporter that a 2007 law, RCW 43.215.370 requires DEL to post on their website revocation action taken by DEL.
But if you look today Spokane Valley Day Care no longer exists on DEL's website and the lawful "shall" requirement is not met:
We found 0 results for Spokane Valley Day Care in All Counties."
That DEL continues to play a verbal chess game with the media and parents in Washington State is of great concern. DEL cannot be trusted if DEL themselves breaks any of the laws that your citizen legislature has passed.
I'll give DEL kudos when they take a right lawful action, but this continuing to not provide parents with lawful information does not build trust with the public and parents who require children to be safe, healthy and happy in licensed care.
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) does not post information on their website if a provider is out of compliance. DEL had started at one point of scanning in the violation of regulation sheets then stopped.
I heard through other sources that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) complained so DEL quit posting that information. Only a small minority of day care providers are active in SEIU and they didn't want compliance violations posted. Did DEL willingly go along with that view?
From the article below you can see how tricky, almost sleight of hand DEL responded to the media's question about the out of compliance issue.
"A letter sent to Kids Are Us on September 1st of 2010 advised Berland of these issues and allowed the daycare to stay open while Berland appealed the state's findings. Today, more than a year and three months later, their appeal was officially denied. KHQ dug deeper to find out what requirements day care providers have to notify parents in case they are not in compliance. The answer is, there is none. Kara Klotz, a spokesperson for the Department of Early Learning, said "There is no requirement in state law or rules that licensed providers communicate a revocation letter to parents. We do maintain licensees' status on our website which shows when a licensee is in no referral status."
The media asked one question and DEL's media spokesperson avoided the actual question and flipped it over to whether there is a law that licensed providers are to inform parents if their license is revoked.
Well, first of all you can't require a "licensed" provider whose licensed has been revoked to do anything as she is no longer a "licensed" provider.
DEL did not tell the reporter there doesn't have to be a law for DEL to post non-compliance on their website. DEL didn't tell the reporter that a 2007 law, RCW 43.215.370 requires DEL to post on their website revocation action taken by DEL.
But if you look today Spokane Valley Day Care no longer exists on DEL's website and the lawful "shall" requirement is not met:
"Child Care Check
Search: |
| |||||||||||||||
We found 0 results for Spokane Valley Day Care in All Counties."
That DEL continues to play a verbal chess game with the media and parents in Washington State is of great concern. DEL cannot be trusted if DEL themselves breaks any of the laws that your citizen legislature has passed.
I'll give DEL kudos when they take a right lawful action, but this continuing to not provide parents with lawful information does not build trust with the public and parents who require children to be safe, healthy and happy in licensed care.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Fire Safety is a Big Deal - Day Care Shut Down by The Dept of Early Learning
State regulators close down MLK center day care in Spokane - Spokesman Mobile - Dec. 31, 2011
This Spokane child day care center was shut down for violation of the fire codes. From the article:
"The city offered to provide the certificate as long as certain standards were met, including an inspection by a state fire marshal and the hiring of a “fire watch” to be present at the center at all times. A representative of the state Department of Early Learning, which oversees child care centers, said the department went beyond the deadline to give the MLK center, which serves about 250 to 300 families, more opportunities to meet the requirements."
I'm glad to see another center weigh in on this article, a center that follows the law. As a former licensor I had a provider on my caseload who said to me on each visit, "Why do you let them have a license? It's not hard to follow the regulations."
The very reason that child day care licensing was enacted by the legislature in 1966 was due to a fire that killed four children.
A certain minority segment of day care providers have been flipping off the rules for years. If DEL is enforcing the laws now kudos to them. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled in July 2011 that the law that has been on the books since before 1995 is, indeed, the law. The law states that the health, safety and well-being of the child is paramount over a person thinking they have a right to a license.
If DEL will now enforce the regulations consistently and fairly then kudos to them. For that certain minority segment of providers who have been whining about the regulations for years, it is never too late to become a successful small business person. I've recommended before that folks get with your local SCORE Chapter to help you do that, get with successful business executives.
Many years ago I had an intern do a fire drill study on my caseload (I had 260 on my caseload). The random sample showed poor compliance with doing fire drills and/or doing them incorrectly. It's a mindset that must change.
Unless there is something I am missing from this story, I have to give kudos to the Department of Early Learning for enforcing the regulations.
This Spokane child day care center was shut down for violation of the fire codes. From the article:
"The city offered to provide the certificate as long as certain standards were met, including an inspection by a state fire marshal and the hiring of a “fire watch” to be present at the center at all times. A representative of the state Department of Early Learning, which oversees child care centers, said the department went beyond the deadline to give the MLK center, which serves about 250 to 300 families, more opportunities to meet the requirements."
I'm glad to see another center weigh in on this article, a center that follows the law. As a former licensor I had a provider on my caseload who said to me on each visit, "Why do you let them have a license? It's not hard to follow the regulations."
The very reason that child day care licensing was enacted by the legislature in 1966 was due to a fire that killed four children.
A certain minority segment of day care providers have been flipping off the rules for years. If DEL is enforcing the laws now kudos to them. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled in July 2011 that the law that has been on the books since before 1995 is, indeed, the law. The law states that the health, safety and well-being of the child is paramount over a person thinking they have a right to a license.
If DEL will now enforce the regulations consistently and fairly then kudos to them. For that certain minority segment of providers who have been whining about the regulations for years, it is never too late to become a successful small business person. I've recommended before that folks get with your local SCORE Chapter to help you do that, get with successful business executives.
Many years ago I had an intern do a fire drill study on my caseload (I had 260 on my caseload). The random sample showed poor compliance with doing fire drills and/or doing them incorrectly. It's a mindset that must change.
Unless there is something I am missing from this story, I have to give kudos to the Department of Early Learning for enforcing the regulations.
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