Child Care in Washington State

Day Care, Food Programs and the Military

2012-01-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

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?

DSHS SECRETS (and Department of Early Learning Secrets) - Jesse Hunt 1994 - Washington State

2012-01-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

Department of Early Learning - Admits to Not Giving Parents Vital Information

2012-01-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

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:

"Child Care Check

Search:

10 digit phone number:
- OR -
Name:
County:

Advanced 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.

Fire Safety is a Big Deal - Day Care Shut Down by The Dept of Early Learning

2012-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

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.

Washington State shuts down Spokane day care - News Story - KXLY Spokane

2011-12-31T16:34:00.000-08:00

State shuts down Spokane day care - News Story - KXLY Spokane

I'd like more information from the Department of Early Learning (DEL) on this Spokane child day care provider and facility.

This from the linked article (bold is mine):

"State officials repeatedly cited Berland for violations that included allegations that a staff member "threw a child to the floor" in 2002, a child was unsupervised and left the facility without the child care filing a report; garbage, including human feces, was within children's reach and hadn't been emptied in three weeks; and the children were not properly disciplined or, on other occasions, comforted by staff members."

Now is the time for DEL managers to become clear and transparent; and own any past mistakes so that when the new regulations are implemented in March 2012 everyone starts with a clean slate. That tendency of DSHS and DEL to cover up their mistakes must stop or it will devolve back to its managers' risky behaviors.

"threw a child to the floor" in 2002. That's like almost ten years ago. What did that episode look like? What specifically does that mean? If children don't get maimed or dead from being thrown to the floor, the provider gets to keep her license? We need more information here. Two years after this reported incident is when Spokane day care provider Danette Zaring "threw" two year old Hailee Rhodes to the floor. Is Zaring out of prison yet?

If DEL is taking steps now to protect children and follow RCW 43.215.005(4)(c) then kudos to them. The Washington State Supreme Court affirmed in July 2011 that the legislature's "intent" indeed was that health, safety and well-being of the child is paramount over a person thinking they had a right to a license.

Perhaps with the Washington State Supreme Court weighing in DEL will follow that law, but one has to be suspicious since DEL has not been obeying RCW 43.215.370 that got passed in 2007. I've posted an email from the Attorney General's Office that showed the AGO advised DEL, yes, you "shall", it's a must; you "shall" post revocation, suspension and denial information on your website.

DEL hasn't been doing that now for almost five years. If DEL managers remain in a state of mind that they will pick and choose which Washington State laws to obey or not, the risk factor is still there.

I've been posting information here via my blog to get out what I can to the public and to parents in Washington State.

More to be revealed.

Suspensions of Child Day Care Licenses in Washington State - A Sample of the Problems that can Occur in Licensed Day Care

2011-12-30T18:23:00.000-08:00

Through making a public disclosure request (which all parents have a right to do) from the Department of Early Learning in Washington State I received a spreadsheet on the 70 licensed day care providers and centers who were suspended in the time frame of July 13, 2010 to June 1, 2011.

Just to give you an idea of what kind of problems I saw as a licensor and what kinds of problems were seen in this one year period of time in Washington State in licensed day care I've copied in below just those factors.

I apologize for not having time to clean up the document information from copying it off of a spreadsheet, but wanted to get as much information out to parents as I can to give you perhaps a heads up on the issues that can come up in licensed child day care in Washington State. Other states have a similar pattern.

The Department of Early Learning is required by law (passed in 2007 by the Washington State legislature) to post this information on their website. DEL's unelected bureaucratic managers will not obey this law.

I have said repeatedly this information is vital to parents having to make decisions on where to put their children while they must go to work. I've also said repeatedly that there are providers whose licenses were revoked that went back to providing care; unlicensed care (see one such example below).

________________________________________________________________

Notes from spreadsheet on some of the 70 licensed and/or unlicensed child day care providers from July 2010 to June 2011:

In the process of appealing, per Mary Kay 9-20-10. Hearing set for Jan. 18-21, 2011. Stipulated settlement agreement signed by owner, per MKQ, 2-8-11; Suspension and Revocation rescinded as part of the settlement agreement

Amended to Revocation; letter dated 8/26/10. Settlement agreement reached and Order of Dismissal filed 11-1-10.

Also, staff person did not have a background clearance; Amended notice of summary suspension sent out 9/29/10

Also multiple WAC violations. See LCIR. "Cease and Desist" letter sent 11/1/10 (still doing care, unlicensed)

Husband has been disqualified. Withdrawn 10-21-10.

Amended to "Revoked;" letter dated 9-24-10

Also pending criminal charge, untruthfulness, multiple WAC violations

Additional history of health and safety concerns; Amended notice of summary suspension (now revoked) sent out 10/1/10. Update as of 3-4-11, ALJ stated that Ms. Griffin has NOT appealed. Revoked. Petition to Reinstate Hearing and to vacate the Order of Dismissal is denied, per letter dated 6/30/11

Sum Susp rescinded, per letter dated 10/18/10

Also over capacity

Withdrawn 11-10-10.

Amended Sum Susp letter sent 10/13/10 (same reason). Order of Dismissal 11-10-10.

Pending DLR/CPS investigation

Person arrested for stealing PTO funds; pending crime. Amended Summary Suspension letter dated 2/3/11

Mold and lead paint. Amended to Denied and Revoked 4/18/11.

Provider's son involved in drive by shooting, drug parahpernalia

11/15/11 Initial Order - Susp Upheld.

Also Supervision/Staffing issues. Sum Suspension is rescinded, due to closure of license (letter dated 8-19-11)

DV incident at Fam Home CC

Husband moved into home - he has allegations of sexually abusing children - no background check done.

Licensors in house, provider's husband began yelling at them - felt threatened.

Provider's son was an assistant. He is in jail for child pornography - investigation by Renton Police and Yakima Sheriff continues.

10-21-11 letter amended to include Revocation

Mostly Supervision issues; this center was on a Probationary license

Third initial license; also denied a full license; Settlement agreement

Child 1 1/2 to 2 yrs old observed standing in street. Order of Dismissal dated 5/13/11 - appellant agreed to probationary license and DEL agreed to withdraw the suspension

3 month old sleeping in a swing. Amended 2/24/11. Stay of Sum Suspension denied 4/20/11.

6/3/11 Order of dismissal - appellant failed to appear.
11/16/11 Initial Order - Susp and Revoc Set Aside by ALJ Heidi Bolong
12-5-11 DEL Appealed Initial Order decision to a review judge

Supervision and failure to report; child suffered a seizure and was hospitalized after unqualified staff failed to administer medication. Provider has requested a stay; in a letter received 4/13/11, the stay was denied. "Notice of hearing" letter received 4/28/11. Hearing to be held 9/27 and 9/28, 2011. Sum Suspension amended to Revoked 4/29/11 (after IA, provider received a Founded for CA/N)

Provider's boyfriend was disqualified. Continued living there and was left alone with children. Amended 6/9/11 to include Revocation and Denial of license.

8-3-11 Settlement Agreement - provider voluntarily surrenders license in agreement not to seek another license for 5 years.

appeal letter 3/3/11.

6/1/11 Intial Order stay NOT granted - ALJ Randolph Bolong.

DEL suspension upheld

Did not report change in circumstances (provider had a stroke)

Withdrawn in a letter dated 3/22/11

Mostly health and safety violations; letter stating the Sum Susp withdrawn dated 3/17/11

Sum Suspension rescinded in a letter dated 4/27/11

Two toddlers escaped the facility and were found by strangers near a busy road; in addition, fiance of provider had been left to supervise without a cleared background check

Provider's own child died; screened into DLR/CPS

Stay denied. Settlement agreement and Order of Dismissal, 11/8/11

Main issue: overcapacity (not in drop-down). Also unqualified assistants.

6/21/11 DEL lifted susp.
8-9-11 Order of Dismissal.

Stay pending; license no longer valid since provider moved. Sum Susp Amended to include Revocation, 9/9/11

6/1/11 Order of dismissal - appellant failed to appear.
7/27/11 Amended Susp letter

Also Denied and Revoked

DLR/CPS investigation; provider allegedly left 5 children locked in her home for over 30 minutes

Also other issues (Failure to Report, Supervision). Order of Dismissal on Appellant Withdrawal, Suspension dated 12/2/11

Also Denied and Revoked

Initial Order dated 11/30/11 upheld the Sum Susp, Revoc and Denial

dog bit child.
Amended 6/16/11.

Revocations of Day Care Licenses from July 2010 to Sept 2011 Washington State Department of Early Learning

2011-12-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

Copied below for the benefit of parents in Washington State is a list I got from making a public disclosure request to the Department of Early Learning (DEL).

I post for the benefit of parents regarding revocation actions taken against licensed child day care providers and centers from July 2010 to September 2011.

This is information is required by RCW 43.215.370 passed by the Legislature in 2007 for DEL to post on their website. DEL refuses to obey this law. It is information that DEL is not posting so I am posting this information your state government is hiding from you.

In researching names below and you come across a name of person who told you that they are doing day care; contact DEL to get an update; and request copies of the licensing file including violations of regulations, adverse actions taken and any and all complaint data.

Contact me if you need any assistance in how to do that.
_______________________________________________________________

Month	Date Signed	Provider ID	Facility Name	Facility Type	Service Area	Office	County	Licensor
7	7/13/2010	314815	Our Future Leaders Early Learning, Inc.	Center	SW	Tac1	Pierce	Bell
7	7/15/2010	7637	Burke, Margene	Home	East	Spokane	Spokane	Davis
7	7/16/2010	308777	Chaudary, Racheal	Home	NW	Everett	Snohomish	Latimer
7	7/21/2010	328355	Heide, Ronna	Home	East	Sprague	Lincoln	Barnhart
7	7/22/2010	256472	Guerrero, Angelica	Home	East	Wen	Douglas	Freimuth
7	7/23/2010	245747	Marshall, Linda	Home	East	Spokane	Spokane	Cole
7	7/29/2010	218086	Sanchez, Enriqueta and Barragan, Agustin	Home	East	Wenatchee	Chelan	Bustos
8	8/3/2010	244707	Gonzalez, Ramona	Home	East	Kennewick	Benton	Schuldheiss
8	8/3/2010	257637	Olmos, Maria	Home	NW	Bellingham	Whatcom	Flanagan
8	8/20/2010	169942	Patnode, Julie	Home	NW	Bellingham	Whatcom	Brannan
8	8/26/2010	10179	Grove, Debra	Home	SW	Vancouver	Skamania	Straley-Ikeuchi
9	9/1/2010	102819	Kids Are Us Child Care	Center	East	Spokane	Spokane	Christensen
9	9/2/2010	472969	Kinney, Christina	Home	East	Kennewick	Walla Walla	Leschinski
9	9/9/2010	140350	Cervantes, Elma	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	DeLeon
9	9/10/2010	272595	Michalios, Sheila	Home	SW	Vancouver	Clark	Higgins
9	9/14/2010	200923	Garcia, Maria	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Hernandez
9	9/15/2010	303569	Williams, Cathy	Home	East	Spokane	Spokane	Cole
9	9/15/2010	238151	Griffin, Jean	Home	SW	Vancouver	Clark	Straley-Ikeuchi
9	9/24/2010	301629	Frederick, Burcin	Home	SW	Tac2	Pierce	Anstiss
10	10/1/2010	464982	Griffin, Yonie	Home	SW	Tac1	Pierce	Ball
10	10/12/2010	200466	Teodomira, Eloisa	Home	East	Kennewick	Yakima	Shafer
11	11/12/2010	226296	Garcia-Mendoza, Lurdes	Home	East	Wenatchee	Chelan	Coppock
11	11/16/2010	124276	Camano, Sabina	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Hernandez
11	11/16/2010	438990	Villalobos, Yolanda	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Hernandez
11	11/29/2010	219211	Waggoner, Louise	Home	East	Kennewick	Columbia	Leschinski
11	11/30/2010	238037	Zambrano, Maria S.	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Nelson
11	11/30/2010	250780	Sand, Carolyn	Home	NW	Kent	King	Dunham
12	12/21/2010	282907	Ponce, Carlena	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Nelson
1	1/21/2011	270443	Jimenez, Florentina	Home	East	Wenatchee	Grant	Freimuth
1	1/26/2011	137902	Elliot, Susan Marie	Home	NW	Kent	King	Milan
1	1/27/2011	187631	Holiwell, Chrystale	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Thebo
2	2/8/2011	81577	Long, Louise	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Person
2	2/9/2011	261881	Snyder, Dawnette	Home	NW	Bellingham	Skagit	Flanagan
2	2/11/2011	118757	Small Dimensions II	Center	NW	Bellevue	King	Garzon
2	2/14/2011	294669	Richardson, Nikisha	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Person
2	2/23/2011	144611	Hill, Laura	Home	East	Spokane	Spokane	Barnhart
3	3/1/2011	181358	Dantche, Vivan	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Person
3	3/7/2011	409922	A Brighter Beginning	Center	East	Yakima	Yakima	Radillo
3	3/9/2011	524172	Perez, Cindy L.	Home	SW	Vancouver	Clark	Nery
3	3/18/2011	258190	Thompson, Sharon	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Payne
3	3/23/2011	181358	Dantche, Vivian	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Person
3	3/28/2011	387959	ABC and 123 Child Care Center	Center	East	Yakima	Yakima	Radillo
3	3/31/2011	473010	JigsawKids Preschool LLC	Center	East	Kennewick	Franklin	Gibson
4	4/1/2011	42944	Cervantes, Consuelo	Home	East	Wenatchee	Grant	Freimuth
4	4/6/2011	121658	Amazing World Child Care & Preschool	Center	East	Wenatchee	Douglas	Lorrain
4	4/18/2011	177310	Svendsen, Alice	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Nelson
4	4/29/2011	284588	Lager, Dana	Home	SW	Vancouver	Cowlitz	Ensley
6	6/3/2011	497024	Botello, Consuelo Arredondo	Home	SW	Tac1	Pierce	Resmondo
6	6/10/2011	200727	Easley, Rhonda	Home	SW	Vancouver	Clark	Straley-Ikeuchi
6	6/16/2011	320065	Conradi-Schwarz, Lisa	Home	NW	Bellevue	King	Hendsch
6	6/16/2011	491912	Rees, Jennifer	Home	Nw	Bellevue	King	Cottier
4	4/27/2011	284645	Valdez, Elia	Home	NW	Bellingham	SKagit	Espinoza
5	5/12/2011	565926	Botello, Eduardo	Home	NW	Kent	King	Martin
6	6/17/2011	291841	Clayton, Kristi	Home	NW	Kent	King	Martin
6	6/28/2011	124463	Flynn, Jayne	Home	NW	Kent	King	Dunham
5	5/12/2011	316720	Sosa, Marvin	Home	NW	Kent	King	Dunham
6	6/13/2011	442944	Hassan, Saharo	Home	Nw	Seattle	King	Person
6	6/1/2011	255886	Nguyen, Lan	Home	NW	Seattle	King	Chhor
6	6/16/2011	333877 333874	Discoveryland Dev Center 1 & 2	Center	East	Spokane	Spokane	Cramer
5	5/13/2011	272751	Avelar, Esperanza	Home	East	Wenatchee	Chelan	Parkins
5	5/12/2011	147309	Clerc, Allison L.	Home	East	Wenatchee	Douglas	Coppock
6	6/9/2011	251693	Terrell, Torene	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Nelson
11	11/16/2010	464954	Vaca, Navidad	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Hernandez
10	10/21/2011	202990	Baze, Donna	Home	East	Yakima	Yakima	Burkett
9	9/9/2011	319038	Moore, Anne	Home	NW	Everett	Snohomish	Latimer

DSHS: Inhaling 1/3 of Washington State's Budget-Your Money

2011-12-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

DSHS: Will the Washington State Shrew Again Remain Untamed? | Washington State Business Wire

Cutting to the chase. Well said by William W. Larson, publisher of Washington State Business Wire:

"DSHS has become an agency of state government in which fraud and mismanagement are commonplace; where layers upon layers of managers and bean-counters feed off the lifeblood of taxpayers while building their fiefdoms and management silos to hide their shame."

DSHS was created in 1970. One of the creators Marilyn Ward wrote in 1976 that it almost immediately began to fail. We live yet with that failure. Well some didn't live...children. Now 42 years later....

We shall see what candidates for governor, Attorney General, Rob McKenna and Congressman, Jay Inslee are going to do in the campaign season about this state government agency. In their opening campaigns speeches they each only devoted about 12% to the problems of state government.

It is about the management. DSHS claiming it's about the money is not true.

DSHS - DEL - Hiding Information from Parents even after Attorney General's Office Said "Post it"

2011-12-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

In Washington State for that last four years the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has refused to comply with a law the legislature passed in 2007, RCW 43.215.370.

See the email message below that I got through public disclosure from assistant attorney general (AAG) Grace O'Connor that the law is a "shall" and DEL must comply. The AAG copied the law into the email.

I highlighted that AAG's comments to DEL Service Area Manager, Josh Verville in Blue Text.

Here's the email...speaks for itself.

----- Original Message -----
From: O'Connor, Grace (ATG)
To: Verville, Joshua (DEL)
Cc: Essko, Ann (ATG)
Sent: Tue Oct 09 18:32:44 2007
Subject: Your questions, part one

Hi Josh –

As we discussed on the phone yesterday, I passed on your questions about Margo Logan/whistle blowing to Jenny Sheehan, an L&P AAG, and it sounds like you connected.

Your second question is whether DEL is statutorily mandated to post specific licensing actions on LCCIS—that is, whether you must post “valid for suspension” or if you can just post “valid.” The following language is from a new DEL bill, which became effective July 2007 (Engrossed substitute senate bill 5317):

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. REPORTING ACTIONS--POSTING ON WEB SITE. For the purposes of reporting actions taken against agency licensees, upon the development of an early learning information system, the following actions shall be posted to the department's web site accessible by the public: Suspension, surrender, revocation, denial, stayed suspension, or reinstatement of a license.

This seems to indicate that some kind of web posting is statutorily mandated (note the use of “shall”), though it doesn’t appear that you must use LCCIS to do so. That is, as long as the information is easily accessible somewhere on DEL’s website, it needn’t be exclusively provided through LCCIS (though it might make the most sense, of course, to post these types of things via LCCIS). In addition, it also appears that DEL must identify the type of action at issue – so simply saying there was a valid action without specifying what type of action occurred might run afoul of this provision.

Your third question was whether DEL is obligated to take action against unlicensed providers. This question can also be restated as: could DEL be liable for a failure to take action against an unlicensed provider? This is a somewhat more complicated question than the previous one. I can tell you that so far my short answer to that question is probably not, but I am still looking into it, and will have something to you by early afternoon tomorrow (Wednesday). I just wanted to send Question #2 along so you could have it as you begin putting together your points for Jone.

Let me know if you have any questions so far.

Thanks,
Grace

Grace O'Connor, AAG
p. 360.586.6504

DSHS - DEL - Hiding Child Day Care Information - This from the Tacoma Office

2011-12-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

I got this information through a public disclosure request. I post this information for parents to get an idea of what was going on in some licensed child day child facilities from 1979 to 2011 in this case out of the Tacoma, Washington office in the Department of Early Learning (DEL).

Since DEL refuses to comply with the law (RCW 43.215.370) to post revocation, denial and suspension information on my blog when I get such information I post it to help parents, grandparents and public citizens who care about the health, safety and well-being of our children in licensed day care.

I attached the names of the managers at the times these licenses were suspended, revoked and/or denied.

The column "What was the tipping point?' I tried to distill at least some of the major issues. Most of the time the record didn't get me the information as to how long the licensed provider had a license before the license was revoked.

There appears to be a BIG gap from 1988 to 1996 in terms of taking any enforcement actions at all.

I copied from an Excel spreadsheet and hope it copies over well enough to read.

If not, I'll work on it in the future to make it more readable.

Date	Name	supervisor/manager	years licensed	What was tipping point?
3/8/1979	Bonnie Clarke	Mary Ryse, Administrator	?	13 kids one staff, June 8, 1979 Clarke sent an unlicensed letter notifying letter day care provider & sent to prosecuting attorney's office & noted the matter could be taken to Superior Court. "We are so fortunate a tragedy did not result…"
1/7/1981	Ronald W. Chase	Raymona Redman, Regional Director, Judy Johnson, Raymona Redman	?	children left alone, one flooded sink and floor, angry staff threatened child with getting a big dog on them, "older sibling very frightened", child soaked in feces from neck down, rash, sexual abuse by staff, Ron not there the required 40 hours
2/1/1985	Laura K. Chaney	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Jan 1985 illegal drug sales on property, followed up letter in March to notify revocation complete & unlicensed care illegal
3/4/1985	Diane Burmeister	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS husband sexually abused child, substantiated, gone on for 2 years
6/12/1985	Clentyne Hicks	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Provider arrested for assault with a knife, convicted
5/13/1985	Michael Mittelstadt	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Numerous violations, the facility in disrepair
5/9/1985	Kathy Spurling	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS husband sexual abuse to day care child, he admitted
6/11/1985	Veronica & Moshe Gamlieli	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Numerous violations, the facility in disrepair, 10 kids 1 staff, later 12 kids 1 staff, 2 kids locked in unlighted bathroom
10/18/1985	Virginia Brady	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS 9/11/1985 bruising on lower back and buttocks because 2 year old couldn't blow her nose
10/25/1985	Cynthia L. McElmurray	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS 21 month old, bruise and slap mark on face
1/30/1986	Charlene M. Matthews	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Husband felony homicide, provider failed to notify department of his history
2/13/1986	Mark O'Galleher	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Revoke letter not in documents, letter to provider that Office of Administrative Hearings upheld revocation and mentions Superior Court regarding doing unlicensed care
2/26/1986	Nancy & Phillip Spruell	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	Phillip Spruell sexually abused a 2 1/2 year old child, substantiated. Provider got an attorney & dept settled by taking him off the CPS registry if they stipulated to revocation of licensed & he never applied for a license again. No LE report? Looks like they were licensed with only promising to put in outdoor play yard then didn't
5/9/1986	Jeannette M. Reaves	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS husband sexually abused their own children. Follow up letter when 30 days up to say revoked and illegal to provide unlicensed care
9/16/1986	Shirely Y. Pepion	Eugene Zinck Administrator	?	CPS sexual abuse by husband to step-daughter, substantiated
10/31/1986	David Bell	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Denial of application, letter only says supporting documents were reviewed and a no the department will not license you
2/4/1987	Teresa Ann Vosler	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Denial of renewal license, Overcapacity, not TB test
2/17/1987	Shari A. Rohr	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Dept of Health and Fire Inspections from another facility she had in 1984 found numerous violations and ouldn't certify her, then the department gave her a home license...then 11 kids napping on 2nd floor, no fire exit, then 5 on 2nd floor, then 3 on 2nd floor
3/16/1987	Mr. & Mrs. William Caldwell	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	CPS sexual abuse by provider's 19 year old son to 13 yr old girl in their care, 13 year was pregnant. Follow up letter to confirm revoked & don't do illegal unlicensed care
2/3/1987	Joanne Carrillo	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Provider 21 yr old son, criminial history record, her 17 yr old son in ill health, lack of attention to day care kids, kids not allowed to talk at meal time, unsanitary home, numerous violations, denied renewal of license, followed up letter after she withdrew appeal request
2/6/1987	Colleen Anne Chritopher	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Denied license, lied on background form, daughter who had drug abuse problems was working with daycare kids, apparently the dept was letting her do unlicensed care
4/24/1987	Mr & Mrs Ernest Werner	Pat Warner, Day Care Licensor	?	Licensed expired and she was letting him know not to provide unlicensed care
7/24/1987	Anita Moore	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Numerous safety violations
4/27/1987	Sharon I. Davis	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	Dirty, very dirty home, carpets ripped, outlets broekn, exposed "The smell in the entire house was horrible."
7/16/1987	Carolyn Giannini	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	CPS Step-son 13 yr old sexually abused 3 yr old daycare girl, cease and desist follow up letter
8/28/1987	Linda J. Tobias	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	CPS husband sexually abused day care child, substantiated
8/28/1987	Shirlee Voshee	Colleen Waterhouse, Administration	?	CPS son, 16 yr old sexually abused day care child, substantiated
12/31/1988	No revocation letters
12/31/1989	No revocation letters
12/31/1990	No revocation letters
12/31/1991	No revocation letters
12/31/1992	No revocation letters
12/31/1993	No revocation letters
12/31/1994	No revocation letters
12/31/1995	No revocation letters
12/31/1996	No revocation letters
7/21/1997	Francis R. Gurtler	Annie Cubberly, Regional Manager	?	CPS husband sexually abused granddaughter, he pleaded guilty, provider had prior knowledge of abuse
4/21/1998	Karen Saller	Carol Clarke, Regional Manager, Mary Kay Quinlan licensor	?	CPS husband sexually abused day care children while CPS found that unfounded, CPS had finding of physical neglect for lack of supervision
1/25/2000	Joy M. Thompson	Barbara Stone, director of Div of Licensed Resources	?	CPS finding of physical abuse
2/15/2000	Tracey L. Wurden	Bronwyn Vincent, Regional Manager, Susan Thomas, supervisor	?	Mr. Merrill, history of assault convictions, in bedroom with boyfriend Gary Wellman with children not being supervised, parent witnessed all children outside while provider in bedroom with boyfriend,
10/4/2002	Angela Sharpe	Linda Kalinowski, regional manager	?	CPS sexual abuse by husband to adopted daughters age 12 the 14 were founded, in getting the foster care records from Hawaii it was found provider had physically abused the girls with a belt that left marks,
10/10/2003	Tracy Forges	Mary Kay Quinlan, supervisor, Marge Johnson licensor	?	Was doing unlicensed care next door, overcapacity issues, multiple violations, given probationary license, then revoked
7/15/2004	Lottie Reynolds	Linda Kalinowski, regional manager, Mary Kay Quinlan, supervisor, Carey Lewis	?	Had 4 initial license, numerous violations,wasn't completing the educational requirements, health inspector Waddleton inspected
4/4/2005	Carol Green	Mary Kay Quinlan supervisor, Marge Johnson, Field Manager	?	CPS physical abuse to 3 yr old, admitted to Police of hitting child, charged with Assault of Child in the 4th Degree, founded
5/13/2005	Khalihla D. Crawford	Mary Kay Quinlan, supervisor, Marge Johnson Field Manager	?	3 complaint referrals regarding drug selling by her boyfriend, provider allegation of meth and cocaine use, submitted diluted speciman for drug test, not submitting CH on others in home, boyfriend wouldn't submit CH,
7/5/2005	Delores Brown	not signed, cc; Marjorie Johnson, field manager, Jelks, supervisior	?	1998, 3 visits numerous violations, 2001 yelling at kids, 2004 Judy Becker saw 14 kids in pre-school room alone, DOH inspected, diaper changing violations, diapers were disposed in can without a lid, not a cleanable surface, 2005 14 to 1 staff w/kids in pre-school room, DOH again many violations, soiled buckles on diaper changing table,
11/14/2005	Cynthia E. Carr	Mary Kay Quinlan, supervisor, Marge Johnson, field manager	?	4 initial licenses, full license 2/12/04; CPS 4/10/05 CPS, hit daughter, 8/11/05 CPS beat son in the face, CPS witness verbal barrage between her and daughter. "If you are not able to nurture &protect your own child, how cn you safely & in a healthy manner be protecting & nurturing child care children?"
9/29/2005	Carlos & Nerissa Jimenez	Mary Kay Quinlan, supervisor, Judy Becker, Marge Johnson field manager	?	Provider contracted out the care of a 6 month old, putting children on second floor, not licensed, no fire exit, had a second unlicensed facility
12/7/2005	Shirely L. McElroy-Ray	Sheila Jelks, supervisor, Charlotte Newport	8 yrs	Licensed '97 to 12.6.2004 moved without notifying depart, DSHS issued her a license 1/10/05',,,,5.14.95 CPS step dad beat, arm leg, chest of daughter bruised, '95 CPS daycare kids diapers, no food, '95 doing unlicensed care, '96 doing unlicensed care, filthy, another '96 complaint, unsanitary, unlicensed, '97 CPS grabbed children too hard, '98 CPS children wandering off, provider spanked child when child returned, '99 14 kids licnesed for 8, '99 DV by provider's husband, 2000 CPS complaint walked in by referent, uncle in home crack user, 2002 child taken to unknown park by non-staff, police were called, 2004 CPS child bitten 15 times, 2004 another child bitten numerous times, another guy in home DV conviction, 2005 more adults in home couldn't pass CH,, finally revoked 12/7/2005
3/14/2006	Kristina Grier	Jelks, supervisor, Charlotte Newport, Licensor	14 yrs	Licensed in 1991 she moved and didn't reappy and did unlicensed care, given another license in '96 '95 fractured elbow, husband beat daughter, bruises leg, arm, chest, diapers not changed, unlicensed care, '96, unlicensed, unsanitary, given license in again in '96, CPS grabbed child hard, '98 CPS, no car seats, spanked, 2 kids wandered off, '99 14 kids, only 8 on license, DV by husband, whipped daughter for not getting bible for him, 2000 uncle crack users living in home, 2002 an adult took child to park no one knew where, police called, 2004, child bitten 15 times by another children, 2004 another bite, 2004 kids playing unsupervised, boards with nails, 2005 unlicensed uncle caring for foster kids, 2005 DV guy access to kids, one guy registered sex offender, 2005 physical neglect of 17 yr old, 2006, Nathan not given meds for seizure, made children leave the home, provider on meth, 2006 Lakewood Police arrested provider for shooting and killing a man
5/23/2006	Patricia Smith	Sheil Jelks, Supervisor	?	CPS son sexually molested a day care child
9/13/2006	Latisha Conley	Sheila Jelks, supervisor, Desiree Eberhart, center licensor	?	Probation, civil penalty, numerous violations, health inspector also inspected, valids for lack of supervision and understaffed,
5/30/2007	Fannny Doughty	Sheila Jelks	3 yrs	CPS 10 month old alone crying in crib 40 minutes, no one around, 2006 CPS founded for nelgect and maltreatment to 10 month old, 3 yr old and 2 yr old
8/22/2007	Katrina Smith	Sheila Jelks, supervisor	?	6/18/2007, CPS level one sex offender broter access to children, provider sexually abused when she was 7 or 8 by brother
11/7/2007	Quinessa Miller	Sheila Jelks, supervisor, Josh Vervill SAM, Ingrid McKinney, licensor	licensed in 10/06	CPS drug use, get UA, facility filthy and cluttered, 2007 valid for overcapacity,health, facility environment, business, not for substance abuse, 2007 CPS finding for Neglect
8/27/2007	Cheri Williams	Sheila Jelks, supervisor, Josh Vervill SAM, Ingrid McKinney, licensor	?	CPS DV, drug use, arrest for Assault IV, August 2007 failed to get evaluation, dept offered to let her close, she didn't respond to offer, then DEL revoked
12/31/2008	No revocation letters
10/6/2008	Ginger Bullard	Judy Becker, supervisor	?	August 14, 2009 CPS she and newborn tested positive methadone. She admitted,
10/6/2009	Nicole Johnson	Cammey Rocco, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinlan, Assistant SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ingrid McKinney, DEL licensor, Ann Radcliffe, Licensing Analyst	?	13 yr old daughter putting her vagina on 4 yr old daycare child's penis, 2005 3 1/2 yr old child sustained a broken arm, her 9 yr old daughter at the time touched child "inappropriately", VALID for supervision, signed SAFETY plan
10/29/2009	Claresia Moore	Cammey Rocco, licensing supervisor, Mary Kay Quinlan, ASSIST SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ingrid McKinney, Ann Radcliffe, DEL Licensing Analyst	?	CPS 9/9/2009 provider's sex offender son living in home, VALID for Supervision
1/8/2010	Chanelle Brown	Cammey Rocco, Mary Kay Quinlan, ASSIST SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, DEL Licensing Analyst, Cynthia Anstiss	?	8/2009 toddler found in middle of the street, altered her attendance records, 8/29/2009 made a cage and kept toddlers, 8/27/2009 child hit head, stitches, boyfriend upstairs with daycare children, not licensed space, used staff didn't submit CH forms, smoking pot, In the course of 27 days one founded CPS and 14 Valid licensing violations but DEL didn't summarily suspend until Jan 2010 ??
3/19/2010	Regina T. Burck	Cammey Rocco, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinlan, Assistant SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Charlotte Newport, DEL licensor, Ann Radcliffe, Licensing Analyst	?	12/9/2009 her 14 yr old son put his finger in the vagina of a 3 yr old, she also left him alone with children when she was out of the house, allowed special needs DD adult to care for children, she was the caregiver for this adult, allowed 5 -6 other DD adults to work without CH, Unknown why it took 3 months
4/20/2010	Georgetter Bandin	Cammey Rocco, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinlan, ASSIST SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, licensing Analyst, Kathy Clark, licensor	?	1/25, 2010 991 baby stiff and blue, pronounced dead, put baby to sleep on adult bed, SIDS death,
6/4/2010	Cathy McPeek	Judy Becker, supervisor, Lzady Culber, ASSIST SAM, Mary Kay Quinlan, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, Licensing analyst, Carey Lewis, licensor	liccened 2001	Suspended after 8 overcapacities in Jan, 8 times in Feb, 19 times in March (info came from food program), lack of supervision, Judy Becker agreed to re-write FCLAs on provider's demand, summarily suspended on 4/29/2010 then she did unlicensed care in another house/ Since 2001 there were 15 complaints, and then when she was a foster parent 1997-1999 she had 5 referrals for inappropriate discipline

7/13/2010	Annie Humphrey	Judy Becker, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinlan, Acting SAM, Ann Radcliffe, licensing analyst, Sharon Bell, licensor	June 7 2007	2009 probationary license, numerous and repeated violations, Health inspectors involved repeated times,
10/1/2010	Yonie M. Griffin	Judy Becker, supervisor, Lzady Culber, ASSIST SAM, Mary Kay Quinlan, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, Barbara Ball, licensor	2001	7 complaint referrals that were founded, 2010 injury founded by CPS, history back to at least 2002
6/3/2011	Consuelo Arrendondo Botello	Judy Becker, supervisor, Lzady Culber, ASSIST SAM, Mary Kay Quinlan, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, Licensing analyst, Rosita Resmondo,, licensor	2009	denied license, numerious violations, 3 initial licenses
7/8/2011	Mark Brown	Cammey Rocco, supervisor, Lzady Culver, ASSIST SAM, Mary Kay Quinlan, SAM, Ann Radcliffer, licensing analyst, Mara Stonesifer, licensor	2010	12 valid issue since being licensed, received 2 civil penalties, 79 WAC Violations, sleeping infant on bed in unlicensed space, 3 initial licenses
6/2/2010	Boo Soon Lee	Judy Becker, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinland, ASSIST SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ann Radcliffer, licensing analyst, Carey Lewis, licensor	1994	probationary license, lack supervision, taking infants, not allowed, overcapacity, 2nd probationary license in Feb 2010, 6 complaints since 1994,2002 lack of supervision, April 2010 CPS Founded for Neglect, summary suspended in April
6/3/2010	Yobana Mendoza	Judy Becker, supervisor, Mary Kay Quinland, ASSIST SAM, Josh Verville, SAM, Ann Radcliffer, licensing analyst, Barbara Ball, licensor	2010	stolen identity
5/14/2009	Central Station Child Care and Preschool	Cammey Rocco, supervisor, Lzady Culver, ASSIST SAM, Mary Kay Quinlan, SAM, Ann Radcliffe, licensing analyst, Marsha Ballentin, licensor	2006	16 facility complaints, 15 valid violations, in 2007 Teri Eldredge mistreated children, physically and emotionally abusive, popped a child on mouth, pinched, "you can sit in your shit", licensors were afraid of Teri, being accused of being liars, 3 licensors for this center,

DSHS - Hiding Information - Media Strategy - On Child Death Reviews

2011-12-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

For parents and citizens in the State of Washington I've copied in the MEDIA STRATEGY from the Washington State Child Death Review Guidelines - 2005 Revision.

In RED and BOLD I've highlighted some revelatory text from the Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) manual.

My response, comments, witnessing and my opinion as a 20 year Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and Department of Early Learning (DEL) insider and whistle blower are in BLUE.

Media strategy DOH child death review guidelines 2005

8.5 The Need for a Media Strategy

Having a media strategy in place for how to respond to media requests will help the Team be clear about how media requests are handled. A media strategy not only protects information that cannot become part of the public domain, and, at the same time, permits interaction with the press in a way that helps the Team achieve its goals.

Analyzing DSHS's media campaign I see the Child Death Review Teams will not be holding the DSHS's (and the Department of Early Learning, DEL) managers' accountable (See "A good media strategy has three components). The last time I saw a report holding any manager accountable was in 1994 and 2001. A jury held managers accountable in 2008.

A good media strategy has three components:

1. A policy of how a team interacts with the media
2. A proactive media relations plan that addresses public education and prevention campaigns
3. A media management protocol

A media strategy will help a Team:

• Generate positive publicity
• Gain the support of governmental agencies and the general public for its work and goals.

The media strategies will not be telling the public if any of child deaths were preventable, just a plan to generate positive publicity.

8.6 Guiding Principles for Developing a Media Strategy

A written strategy lends consistency to a Team's protocols and establishes a procedural order.
Some of the principles that might guide development of a media strategy include:

• Preventing child deaths is a primary goal for the CDR Team, but it is also a responsibility of the entire community.

This is where the parents and community will be blamed while they make no mention of DSHS or DEL managers.

• The review Team supports the public's right to know what it does generally.

• Confidentiality concerns are important to protect the exchange of information among
Team members and with the professional community, encourage open participation and
keep matters private which are not public business.

If they are doing anything other than public business the group must be disbanded and a report made to the public that the group had violated the public trust.

• The Team will always answer the media's questions honestly, including, as appropriate, telling the media when it cannot answer questions. Deception, pretension and omission hinder good media relationships.

HA! I wonder if they wrote that with a straight face?

• When speaking on behalf of the Team, one Team member should be designated as the spokesperson for the media. This member should be knowledgeable and articulate. The Team coordinator is a likely choice. Alternatively, the Team can consider using the public information officer at one of its member agencies.

• All Team members are aware of the Team's confidentiality policies and Statutory
mandates establishing them, even if they are unlikely to speak with the media.

You can read in another post of a DEL committee that suspended their taxpayer paid for meeting to try to figure out how they could take away the lone, sole parent on the committee, take away his first amendment rights. As Dave Barry would say, "I am not making this up."

The Team needs a cooperative media and supportive general public to reach its goals.

The media policy should be written with the participation of all Team members.
The media policy should be distributed to all Team members.

As you can read nowhere is there a goal to hold the DSHS and DEL managers accountable for failure to operate the agency as required under RCW; and then be transparent to parents and the public about that information.

A law requiring each DSHS and DEL committee to receive a copy of the State Auditor's Whistle Blower Program and the US Bill of Rights be distribued at each meeting might be in order.

Hiding Records - Dept of Early Learning - Email from the Attorney General's Office

2011-12-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Child day care licensing whether through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) or the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has a long history of hiding public records and public information from parents and citizens alike.

For parents information the email below I got through the Public Records Act which you have a right to also acquire. Valid findings on child protective services allegations could have been posted in 2006 on the Department of Early Learning's (DEL) website. DEL did not. When the legislature passed a law to post suspension, denial and revocation of child day care licenses DEL did, not in 2007 when it was passed and not here at the end of 2011.

A child abuse finding is the most egregious of findings related to licensed child day care and DEL has never posted that important information. And yes, the state's child day care agency has allowed licensed providers with valid of findings of child abuse to keep operating.

Below is the email from assistant attorney Sheila Huber regarding valid CPS findings. Sheila advised the agency back in 2005:

"However, the statutes that protect the records apply only until the records are released (to DEL, for example). Then the person or entity that has the record must look to its own statute to determine the extent to which the records are protected."

Here's the full email:

From: Huber, Sheila (ATG)
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:29 PM

To: McShane, Jeanne (DSHS/CA)
Cc: Sayer, Melissa (DSHS/CA)
Subject: RE: The Newest DEL (child care licensing) website has a serious failure to disclose vital information to working parents

Once DEL has (or uses) the CPS information, it becomes a record of that agency. DEL would need to look to its own statutes to protect any CPS information as it is no longer protected by DSHS statutes. DSHS cannot disclose CPS history of parents, unless authorized under RCW 26.44 or RCW 13.50, but it does sometimes disclose the information – as related to licensed foster care providers. However, the statutes that protect the records apply only until the records are released (to DEL, for example). Then the person or entity that has the record must look to its own statute to determine the extent to which the records are protected.

I assisted DCEL on this issue in 2005 when it was building the website – I don’t know what they did. My comments to them (when they were part of DSHS) are on the attachments.

DSHS workers allege fraud in agency - Washington State

2011-12-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

DSHS workers allege fraud in agency | The Columbian

I'm missed this 2010 story. As events and exposure of fraud is in the news I'm sharing this with readers today.

Since I wrote a lot about child day care from the article:

"Another described “chains” of state-subsidized child care providers who are paid to watch the children of other state-subsidized child care providers."

"Thomas Shapley, director of communications for DSHS, said the department is vigilant in its efforts to curb fraud. “We already take fraud very seriously, and we encourage anyone to report fraud through their supervisor or through a fraud hot line,” he said. The DSHS website’s fraud hotline has instructions on reporting fraud and downloadable complaint forms, he noted."

Like the State Whistle Blower Program they may encourage reporting, but failed to mention it won't get investigated.

Shapley further said to the Columbian: “We take fraud seriously,” Shapley said. “Bring us names, bring us phone numbers, and we’ll pursue allegations of fraud, but we can’t do anything without names.”

As a former DSHS social worker I not only gave them a name, phone number and address, but had documents they could review. I couldn't get them to agree to look at the documentation I had. The fraud investigator said it didn't matter to them if licensing laws were being violated. If the day care provider had 21 children in care with no assistant and she was only licensed for 12, it didn't matter to them. It only mattered if the 21 were not there. He didn't care that she kept her attendance parent sign in sheet in pencil and that her records were not complete; and that she reported income to one government agency to get medical benefits that was not accurate because she did not report her child care subsidy payments.

If the fraud issue is that big then how can the legislature allocate dollars to those government agencies?

KUDOS to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) on This Day Care Regulation

2011-12-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

FHCC_final_ annotated_111411.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Betty Hyde, girl, you did good here. And others working on this for seven years, however, this could not have happened without the highest up manager obeying the laws of the State of Washington so this morning, the You go Girl goes to, you, Betty Hyde.

For the parents and public out there this is the final family home child day care regulations that will go into effect in March 2012 (seven long years after the last revision). It is 92 pages long.

I recommend potential day care applicants (and current day care providers stumbling to get with your local SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) Chapter to help you become that small business person who will have success. You can get a mentor for no expense to help you utilize these regulations to write up your business plan. All folks being entrepreneurs and small business people are helped by writing your business plan.

Government social workers have no knowledge on being a successful small business person. Then you will help the child day profession be high class, high quality and keep the children safe, healthy and happy while their parents are at work.

Department of Early Learning...Betty Hyde your agency did good on this one:

WAC 170-296A-1525 Change in circumstances. (1) The licensee must report the following changes in the licensee's circumstances to the department within twenty-four hours, including:
(a) Household members, including individuals age sixteen or older moving into or out of the home;
(b) Fire or other structural damage to the licensed child care space or other parts of the premises; or
(c) Prior to making structural changes to the licensed space or changing licensed space usage. An updated floor plan must be submitted and approved by the department.

(2) Within twenty-four hours after a licensee becomes aware of a charge or conviction involving (a) the licensee; (b) a staff person; or (c) a household member, and the charge or conviction is a disqualifying crime under WAC 170-06-0120, the licensee must report to the department the fact that there is a charge or conviction involving a disqualifying crime against the licensee, staff person, or a household member.

(3) Within twenty-four hours after a licensee becomes aware of an allegation or finding made against (a) the licensee; (b) a staff person; or (c) a household member involving the abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, the licensee must report to the department the fact that there is an allegation of abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult made against the licensee, staff person or household member.

Now your goal...DEL's goal would be to walk the talk, doing it fairly and consistently.

This is a big one in (bolding mine) terms of the intent of RCW 43.215 that the heath, safety and well-being of the child is paramount over a person thinking they have a right to get a child day care license. The Washington State Court confirmed that in July this year in the Hardee vs DSHS case.

RCW 74.15 was clarified in 1995 about the law to protect children when the legislature added the "intent" language then all the unelected bureaucratic managers went back to disobeying the law. Now in the writing of this WAC you've clarified it for the applicant and current licensed child day care provider.

Betty Hyde, you did good here. This clarification is supremely important to keeping children in licensed child day care protected. Now to the implementation of that.

A heartfelt thank you this morning.

And to the legislature, here is a unelected bureaucratic manager who obeyed the law you passed in 1995. Sixteen years ago.

DSHS -Department of Early Learning - Robin I. Johnson's Own Words about her Murdering 14 Month old Charlotte Wetzel - And Will the Legislature Pass the Fingerprinting Bill in 2011-2012 Session?

2011-12-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

When will DSHS and the Department of Early Learning (DEL) protect children in Washington State? The fingerprinting bill is making yet one more rounds through the legislature this 2011-2012 legislative session. I hope the legislature passes the law this year.

I thought I'd re-post this article and opinion piece I wrote back in April 2011 about Robin I. Johnson, a day care provider who murdered fourteen month old Charlotte Wetzel in her care in Washington State and who wrote to DSHS with a suggestion how to figure out if a person like her who had her instability and then not license them.

I thought I'd re-post today as well as DEL is still not complying with the 2007 law to post revocations, suspensions and denial of day care licenses on their website.

Here's my article and opinion piece from April 2011, I've edited and updated some information:

A reader of the Tacoma Tribune had written this comment:

"Do those who the state gives a license to not only get a background check but a physiological and take a polygraph test? If not they should. Who knows what lurks in the minds of those we let take care of our kids. I would like to know that everything possible was done to ensure that those taking care of our children were fully screened and tested before taking care of any child that comes under their care."

Robin Johnson killed 14 month old Charlotte Wetzel in 1998. Robin had stomped on Charlotte's stomach causing internal injuries. Robin had previously abused Charlotte as well as other little girls in her licensed day care. Robin was 33 at the time.

Robin wrote a letter to her former licensor with a suggestion on how to keep children safe from people like her:

"The most important issue, which I feel very strongly about because of the serious, even life-threatening impact it can have on any home daycare. Again, I speak from an insight from personal experience on this issue; the catalyst which played a major role in my crime. There is a dire need for mental health evaluations for all home daycare applicants. According to WAC 388.155.180 providers are expected to to be of sound mental health, but this cannot be truly ensured without proper evaluation. Applicants are carefully screened to ensure the children are placed in a safe, well-prepared, and thoughtfully planned daycare environment, with the exception of an evaluation of the applicant's mental stability."

The letter was received by DSHS on April 22, 1999. Four years before Robin's suggestion in 1995 the legislature strengthened the laws protecting the children in licensed day care.

The unelected government bureaucracy is broken and has been for 2 decades. As a former licensor and current expert witness at a minimum I urge parents to become essentially your own detectives if you must use licensed care. If you use unlicensed care also be your own detective. Both for your peace of mind and the well-being of your child to not believe the government licensing agency or it's contracted agencies.

This author is fed up with the unelected government bureaucracy blaming parents while not performing fingerprinting background checks and not performing character, competence and suitability evaluations on applicants looking to be approved to work with children.

You cannot trust state employees to follow the licensing laws consistently, in fact, evidence shows that laws enacted by the senators and representatives you elected to represent the health and safety of you as a citizen and of your child in regards to child safety are cavalierly ignored by state employees starting from the top managers on down through the middle managers and then to the supervisors.

Top ranking elected officials such as Governor Gregoire, Attorney General McKenna and State Auditor, Brian Sonntag at a minimum appear impotent to enforce the laws of the legislature. Why is that?

Robin I. Johnson took full responsibility for abusing and killing Charlotte in her 1999 letter. Robin gave the child care licensing agency a suggestion on how to better monitor and evaluate potential daycare providers before giving them a license. Robin wrote:

"The most important issue, which I feel very strongly about because of the serious, even life-threatening impact it can have on any home daycare. Again, I speak from an insight from personal experience on this issue; the catalyst which played a major role in my crime. There is a dire need for mental health evaluations for all home daycare applicants. According to WAC 388.155.180 providers are expected to to be of sound mental health, but this cannot be truly ensured without proper evaluation. Applicants are carefully screened to ensure the children are placed in a safe, well-prepared, and thoughtfully planned daycare environment, with the exception of an evaluation of the applicant's mental stability."

What Robin didn't know and parents aren't told is that her recommendation was all ready a "shall" under the law per RCW 74.15.030(3)to investigate each applicant for "character, competence and suitability". That law allowed and does allow the state today to direct an applicant and other member of the household to get a mental health evaluation on a determination that one is so needed to enforce the intent of the law which had been strengthened in 1995 by the legislature after 4 babies died in licensed foster care (one was a day care baby)in 1993 and 1994.

I reviewed the "home study" the licensor did on Robin Johnson. Those important questions were on the home study and the licensor did not ask them. Robin is right, she was praised for having her environment look good. There was about a 3 sentence write up regarding the home study.

I as a licensor (a social worker 3 who by experience and with a masters in social work) had the expertise to ask the questions to make an evaluation as to the capabilities of the applicant to care for children. I did so. Folks struggling with hidden shame or on shaky grounds around the issue of allowing such a person to be alone with small vulnerable children who avoided or refused to get the mental health assessments I required of them, with that non-compliance I moved and denied the license.

In 1993 when I got my first day care provider caseload of 260 I was appalled at who had been allowed to continue providing care. One day care provider had been fined in court for "child endangerment" and was allowed to keep her license. At the next "bloodied" child complaint, I interviewed her and found her to be very depressed; and probably had been chronically depressed for some time. I revoked her license. Why had DSHS managers allowed her to stay licensed?

In the course of my DSHS career I witnessed the laws made by the legislature ignored. In or around 2004..2005 unelected bureaucratic managers were directing licensors not to investigate applicants per RCW 74.15.030(3)for "character, competence and suitability".

Robin had only worked in a daycare center for one month when she applied to take children into her own private home. With the little girls in her care she had "backhanded them" "pulled their hair" "pushing them down" "shaking, dropping, kicking, stomping" One child "had had an area of hair almost the circumference of a 'pop can' pulled from her head" "Robin had hit her with a white belt, spanking her until she fell down". Robin explained away the many bruises to parents that asked. One child began having "night terrors" waking up "screaming and often not calming down for 30 or 40 minutes."

From the CPS investigation summary report: The grandparents of one little girl stated: "..that they spoke to a pediatrician and to a day care consultant about the fact that (redacted name) was indicating strongly by her crying and her body language that she did not want to be left at the Johnson's home in the mornings. Mr. and Mrs. (name redacted) were told that some crying and reluctance to be left for care was quite normal, and should not be cause for concern. This case would certainly be an object lesson on the fact when a child exhibits these behaviors in regard to their day care situation,the parents and grandparents should make every effort to determine the source of their child's fears and apprehensions, and to report to the agency any information that would indicate abuse or neglect or which would be helpful to the licensor."

This author is fed up with the unelected government bureaucratic managers blaming the parents and not investigating the unelected bureaucratic managers who operated the agency in such a way that has allowed children to be at risk, treated meanly and in some cases to be killed; that the government in essence fools parents and citizens into believing that day care licensing laws mean something; that the government fools parents and citizens into believing the DEL website is giving them vital and complete information when it does not.

Who was the "day care consultant"? Likely,it was a child care resource and referral agency. They exist because of your federal and tax money. They are not allowed access to child care licensing files to know any of the history on any providers. A false sense of security is provided to parents in the media hype that Child Care Resource and Referral agencies and Child Care Licensing agencies look out for the well-being of your child. The head of the state contracted agency makes over $100,000.00 a year as well.

Then the DSHS Division of Licensed Resources Child Protective Services (the layers of bureaucracy grow like a cancer after x number of deaths happen in child care, the managers stay the same, are often promoted, more taxpayer money is spent, the name of the agency changes, until another threshold of deaths become too much of a media story then the "reform" story and hype repeats itself) does not "investigate" the child care agency for possible neglect or failure of duty in licensing child day care homes and centers.

Robin Johnson suggestion was a good one in 1999. Robin had read WAC 388.155.180 correctly. Robin didn't know and I'm sure Charlotte's parents didn't know the legislature had enacted Robin's "suggestion" in 1995. The unelected government bureaucracy ignored the legislature.

Then that other portion of the unelected bureaucracy (Division of Licensed Resources) "investigated" only Robin and did not investigate the unelected child care licensing agency managers for their failure and neglect of duty to the citizens of Washington State.

Covering the most essential duties to keep your children safe has gotten worse over the years but the financial wealth of these unelected bureaucrats has increased. The number of managers who fail at their jobs has increased as well as their paychecks.

The Communications Managers, Amy Blondin, Communication Manager for the Department of Early Learning (the latest name for child care licensing) brings home at least $93,000.00 a year with health benefits and retirement benefits. Her boss, deputy director, Bob Hamilton brings home $112,000.00 a year with health benefits and retirement benefits.

Yet Washington State is in a dire budget situation.

Robin Johnson's suggestion was a good one in 1999. 12 years ago. It had become law in 1995. 16 years ago. And yet, one more time, in the 2011-2012 legislative session child care advocates will work to get that Fingerprinting bill passed.

The only math going on is towards spending your tax money to enrich these unelected bureaucratic managers who won't comply with the laws to keep your children safe.

Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50 - 24/7 Wall St.

2011-12-01T16:05:00.000-08:00

Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50 - 24/7 Wall St.

Interesting article about best and worst run states. Interesting in looking at the West Coast states that Washington State comes in 17th, Oregon 31st and California last (50).

Not sure what it all means in how each got to where they landed but thought it was interesting and wanted to share that with folks.

Department of Early Learning & the Guinness Book of World Records - Laura Clarice Martin

2011-12-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

Child Care & Preschool Options - About Licensed Child Care - Child Care Check - Department of Early Learning

OK, this is an open letter to the Department of Early Learning (DEL), to the director Betty Hyde, to governor Christine Gregoire (Betty's boss) and to attorney general, Rob McKenna of the State of Washington.

Dear Betty, Christine and Rob,

It is December 1, 2011 and DEL summarily suspended the family home child day care provider, Laura Clarice Martin's license on or about November 24, 2011. The law requires you to put this information on the DEL website per RCW 43.215.370; right where you have the other information written in RED. As of today you have not done so even though I was told by a DEL employee that you would:

MARTIN LAURA CLARICE Doing Business As Laura Martin	Data current as of 12/01/2011
Mercer Island, WA 98040
206.232.4545
* Provider currently on no referral status, please call 1.866.482.4325, and choose option 3 for more information.

Provider ID	165295	Licensed Capacity	12 children
Facility Type	Family Home Provider	Ages Served	From 1 month To 11 years 11 months
Initial License Date	7/27/1995	Current License Status	Fully Licensed
Anniversary Date	06/03	DEL Licensor	Anna marie Thebo
License Expires	Non-Expiring	DEL Licensor Phone	425.590.3108

Complaint ID#	Issue Type(s)	WAC	# Valid Issues	Complaint Resolution
827777	Business	170-296-0550	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 02/18/2011 Resolved on: 04/05/2011
838844	Staff Qualifications	170-296-0180	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 04/29/2011 Resolved on: 05/17/2011
870851	Character Failure to Report Nurture/Care Supervision	170-296-0140 170-296-0450 170-296-1390 170-296-1360	4 Valid Issues	Received on: Resolved on: 11/28/2011

I am about ready to contact the Guinness Book of World Records and submit a proposal to see what state government child day care licensing agency has taken the longest to implement a law passed by their citizen legislature.

For RCW 43.215.370 Christine Gregoire, Betty Hyde and Rob McKenna it has been four going on five years since the law was enacted by our citizen legislature. See where that RED sentence is up above? All you have to do is type in "summarily suspended".

Go ahead. Give it a shot. You can do it. Give it a whirl. We're all behind you. We will all say thank you for adding the vital information for parents to know.

Provider is currently summarily suspended.

Just those five words. Come on, show the citizens of the state of Washington that our high level elected government officials obey the law.

Or maybe I should send my pleading to Stephen Colbert, Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart; and ask them to give you a call about why you can't type those five words into the DEL website per the law, RCW 43.215.370.

Like Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia from Star Wars) wrote in her memoir Wishful Drinking, "If this wasn't funny it would just be true."

Christine, Rob and Betty I'm pulling for you. I'm just waiting to say thank you for being high elected government officials and Betty, for being an appointed official who has taken action with integrity, that our leaders are obeying a very simple to implement law.

Five words.

Department of Early Learning - Laura Clarice Martin - Summary Suspension Letter

2011-11-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

Received through a public disclosure request is a copy of the summary suspension letter delivered to Washington State family home child day care provider Laura Clarice Martin:

Notice of Summary Suspension of Child Care License
Rev. 11/11
1
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF EARLY LEARNING
Bellevue Field Office 805 156th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98007-4514
NOTICE OF SUMMARY SUSPENSION
Hand-Delivered on __________ by ____________

24 November 2011

Laura Martin
3720 78th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Dear Ms. Martin:
The purpose of this Notice of Summary Suspension is to inform you that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) is summarily suspending your child care license. DEL is summarily suspending your license because you do not meet DEL’s licensing requirements and the violations require immediate action and remedy.

You are directed to stop providing child care after the receipt of this letter. It is illegal to provide child care without a license. If you continue to provide child care after the receipt of this letter you may be subject to civil and criminal penalties under RCW 43.215.300, RCW 43.215.330 and RCW 43.215.340.
This action is being taken pursuant to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 43.215 and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapters 170-296 and 170-06. Below I will describe the factual and legal basis for DEL’s decision to summarily suspend your child care license. At the end of this letter you will find important information about how you can file an appeal and request a stay of the summary suspension.

You must immediately cease offering child care services. This summary suspension is in effect until 26 May 2012, or until the department takes further action, whichever comes first.
Factual Basis for the Decision to Summarily Suspend License
These are the facts DEL considered in making its decision to summarily suspend your license:

On 21 November 2011, DEL licensor Anna Marie Thebo visited your home for a routine licensing visit. During that visit, you became very agitated about some of the violations of licensing rules discovered by Ms. Thebo.

On 24 November 2011, it came to the department’s attention that after Ms. Thebo left your premises you engaged in an altercation with your paramour, attacked him, and were arrested by Mercer Island Police. I checked the King County Jail registry and discovered that you had been booked into jail on 21 November 2011 for three charges:

1. Assualt/DV/Inv
2. Assault/DV
3. Malicious Mischief/DV

Notice of Summary Suspension of Child Care License
Rev. 11/11

2
A review of news stories revealed that, following Ms. Thebo’s visit, you became agitated and contacted you paramour. According to a story in the media, events then unfolded as follows:
Your paramour arrived at your home and determined that you had been drinking and were inebriated. He attempted to get you to lie down and rest. You then allegedly asked him to contact parents of the children in care and have their parents pick them up. When he resisted, you “went crazy” and attacked him with a kitchen knife, cutting him on the cheek. You also allegedly attacked his car while attempting to prevent him from leaving, breaking the antenna and a mirror. Mercer Island police arrived to find you “intoxicated and agitated”.

You admitted to law enforcement that you had assaulted him and told them to “just arrest me”. You were arrested and booked into King County Jail.

Legal Basis for the Decision to Summarily Suspend

DEL may immediately and summarily suspend a license if it finds that conditions in the licensed facility constitute an imminent danger to a child or children in care; or if the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. See RCW 43.215.305 (2)(b) and WAC 170-03-0300(1). Based on the facts described above, DEL finds that the conditions in your child care facility constitute an imminent danger to a child or children in care; and/or the public health, safety, and welfare requires emergency action. DEL also finds that immediate action is imperative.

Under RCW 43.215.300 (1) DEL also has the authority to suspend a provider’s license when the provider fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of chapter 43.215 RCW or the requirements that are adopted pursuant to chapter 43.215 RCW. DEL may also suspend a provider’s license if the conditions required for the issuance of a license under chapter 43.215 RCW have ceased to exist with respect to such license. See RCW 43.215.300 (1).

Specifically, the facts described above violate DEL’s licensing requirement(s) contained in WAC 170-06-0120(2). This WAC lists crimes that have been determined to disqualify a person from holding a child care license or working in licensed child care. Assault/DV is a permanently disqualifying crime on that list, and Malicious Mischief is a five-year disqualification.

WAC 170-06-0050(1)(a) states that pending charges are given the same weight as convictions.
WAC 170-296-0450(1) states that “When you demonstrate that you cannot provide the required care for children in a way that promotes their safety, health and well-being we must deny, suspend or revoke your license. (emphasis added)

Your behavior on 21 November 2011, which led to your arrest by the Mercer Island Police Department for being intoxicated and violently assaultive while child care children were present, placed the children entrusted to your care at risk. Suspension of your license is required by WAC 170-296-0450.
Based on the facts described in this letter and the legal authority cited in this Notice, DEL is summarily suspending your license.

Also, please be aware that pending charges or convictions for Assault/DV and Malicious Mischief are both disqualifying crimes and DEL will be examining the record for possible disqualification and revocation of your child care license.

Suspension Appeal Rights

You may contest DEL’s decision to suspend your license and the effective date of the summary suspension. If you wish to contest DEL’s decision to suspend your license, you have the right to an administrative hearing under chapter 43.215 RCW, chapter 170-03 WAC, and WAC 170-03-0030 through WAC 170-03-0090. To request a hearing, you must complete the following steps within 28 calendar days of when you or your agent received this Notice:

 Your request must be in writing;
 Your written request must state the basis for contesting DEL’s decision;
 Your written request must include a copy of this Notice of Summary Suspension;
Notice of Summary Suspension of Child Care License
Rev. 11/11

3
 You must file your written request with the Office of Administrative Hearings in some manner that ensures proof of receipt;
 You must serve your written request on DEL in some manner that ensures proof of receipt;
 Your written request must be received by the Office of Administrative Hearings and DEL within 28 calendar days of when you or your agent receive this Notice; and
 Your written request must be sent to the following addresses:

(1) Office of Administrative Hearings PO Box 42488 Olympia, WA 98504-2488
and

(2) Bellevue DEL Field Office 805 156th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98007-4514

If you wish to contest the date the suspension becomes effective, you may do so by requesting a stay of the suspension under WAC 170-03-0300(3). A request for a stay of the suspension means a challenge to the date the suspension becomes effective. You must timely request a hearing to contest the suspension in order to request a stay or seek other relief. A request for a stay may be included with your request to contest the suspension. Notice for a request for a stay must be provided to DEL and the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Your request for a stay of the suspension must include the reasons why you believe OAH should stop DEL’s immediate action, including facts supporting your position. Please remember that if you successfully obtain a stay, your license may still be suspended. A stay relates only to the date that the suspension will be effective.

The complete text of Title 170 WAC (DEL licensing rules), and chapter 43.215 RCW (DEL statutory hearing and licensing rules) cited in this Notice can be found at www.del.wa.gov .
If you have questions regarding this decision, you should call the child care licensor, Anna Marie Thebo at 425-590-3108, or Pat Long at 425-590-3101.

Please note that while the facts outlined above provide a legal basis for this action, DEL may have additional facts not included in this letter that support its position. In addition, if new information about your situation becomes available, DEL may amend its action against you and issue a revised letter to that effect at any time.

Sincerely,

Joel Roalkvam, M.Ed.
Seattle Field Office Supervisor
Department of Early Learning
206-760-2462

cc: Anna Marie Thebo, Child Care Licensor
Pat Long, Bellevue Field Office Supervisor
Elaine Ranson, DEL Assistant Service Area Manager
Nancy Myles, DEL Service Area Manager
Patricia Allen, Assistant Attorney General’s Office

SEIU and AFSCME Still Looking for That Taxpayer easy money - Minnesota child care

2011-11-30T17:51:00.000-08:00

Minnesota child care providers sue to block unionization election - TwinCities.com

Here's a story of family home child care providers in Minnesota fighting back over the so-called collective bargaining bills. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) are at it again.

From the article:

"A group of Minnesota in-home child care providers sued Monday to block a unionization election ordered by Gov. Mark Dayton."

"The issue is we're private business," said Becky Swanson, a provider from Lakeville and one of the 11 plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court. "We just don't understand the role the union would be able to play."

Having experienced this directly in Oregon this is such a scheme against the taxpayer and small business owners.

Department of Early Learning (DEL) - Laura Clarice Martin - "Provider Notes"

2011-11-30T03:01:00.000-08:00

For parents here is an example of your right to know under Washington State law regarding public records associated with the Department of Early Learning (DEL) in Washington State.

Below is information that Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) would not have on this or any child day care provider that CCRR might refer you to nor does the DEL website have this information.

I don't see any "provider notes" from 1995 to March 1997 when she was first licensed and the most recent ones regarding Laura Clarice Martin's arrest this November 2011. I've made a request about that. As well as the question of why she still has a full license according to the DEL website.

As early as 1999 an assault occurred in her home. The notes have gaps and omissions for which I have questions.

Read and see what you think.

HERE ARE THE "PROVIDER NOTES" KEPT IN THE DEL COMPUTER SYSTEM KNOWN AS FAMLINK PROVIDER NOTES WHICH YOU AS A PARENT HAS A RIGHT TO RECEIVE A COPY:

Page 1 of 15
Provider Name: MARTIN LAURA CLARICE
Provider ID: 165295
04/16/1997
Note ID: 342365
Note 1 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Child/Member
Worker Making Contact: SAVAGE, JENNIFER
Telephone call from Laura Bullis. She is having some difficulty with a parent who tends to pick her child up late. Ms. Bullis has implemented a policy of $1.00 per minute for late pick ups, and this parent was very Ms. Bullis stated that this parent was very rude and angry when she picked her child up hour late and was charged $30.00. Ms. Bullis had sent out letters regarding the change in her policy, and posted signs about it in her child care facility. Ms. Bullis is concerned that the parent will retaliate with an untrue complaint. I told Ms. Bullis that I would document our conversation, so if a complaint did come through, there would be proper context to put it in.
______________________________________________________________________________________
01/22/1999
Note ID: 342366
Note 2 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Child/Member
Worker Making Contact: SAVAGE, JENNIFER
Telephone call from Laura Bullis. She is preparing to renew her child care license, and she wanted to inform the Department about an issue that may come up on her husband's criminal history check. About 7 months ago, she and her husband thought they had lost a substantial amount of cash. They called the police, because they thought someone might have broken in to their house. Before the police arrived, her husband accused Ms. Bullis of taking the money. They started to fight, Ms. Bullis lunged at her husband, and he hit her "in self defence" according to Ms. Bullis. The police arrived and found the money, which had been misplaced. Ms. Bullis told the police that her husband had hit her, and he was arrested. The couple decided to start counseling, and eventually the charges were dropped. Ms. Bullis is concerned about how this will affect her license. This worker said that, chances are that the most the Department will want is a note from the counselor regarding her husband's safety around children. This worker said that the worst case scenario is that Mr. Bullis will not be allowed to be on the premises during child care hours. Ms. Bullis said that Mr. Bullis isn't on the premises during child care hours, anyway. This worker informed Ms. Bullis that Stephanie Chastain is currently the licensor for Mercer Island, but that this information will be passed on to her.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/16/1999
Note ID: 342364
Note 3 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: CHASTAIN, STEPHANIE, O.
There were no children in care when licensor arrived for the relicensing visit. The provider does not regularly do care on Fridays. She has a lovely Mercer Island home, somewhat small but arranged in an interesting way with several_large rooms in the back dedicated to child care. There is a great dal of equipment in the home itself, including climbers for indoor use and shelvesand_boxes of toys which are accessible to the kids. This house has several nice wide exitsdischarg ing directly to the outside including one from each room where cild care is done. Provider had all documents posted clearly at the entrance t o the home and had an abundance of outdoor play equipment and a large cemented area for the riding toys. Provider stated that very little television was watched ad that she encouraged arts and crafts over video and tv. There is no TB test on file for husband and provider does n ot have current First Aid. She is updating her CPR and First Aid on 5/1/99. Provider has taken STARS but not reorientation.She mst do all this befopre she can get a new license. Provider's husband has an Assault 4 dating from a domestic dispute last July 98. Everything was resolved. Husband went to counseling and the couple sought pastoral counseling. Provider says there was never another incident and that this was the first of its kind. See certificates from counselor's i file. I recommend that provider be relicensed when she has completed her deficiencies which are listed on the last page of her home study. She should be relicensed for 6, birth to 11 or 8, 2-11.
______________________________________________________________________________________
07/01/1999
Note ID: 342367
Note 4 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: CHASTAIN, STEPHANIE, O.
Page 2 of 15
Spoke with this provider todsy and asked her to get the poli ce report for her husband's assault. She says__she is not su re what kind of paperwork was done on the arrest since they never pursued the case. She agreed to secure whatever docume nts she could however.__She also said that no one ws injured at the time of the complaint.
______________________________________________________________________________________
07/27/1999
Note ID: 342368
Note 5 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: CHASTAIN, STEPHANIE, O.
I made a visit_to Laura Bullis to 1. monitor since I had not been out there in some time and 2. find out where the police report for her husband's assault was. She had told me some time ago that she was sending it. She was surprized to see me and said she had sent it in several weeks ago. I had not received it, however. She made meanother copy and we talked and looked at the childcare facility. Laura has expanded her outdoor area to include the front yard.The front is also enclosed and she has added a gate th ere.She had 3 childern in care and one was her own. I recognized a child from C. Marshall's facility. This provider wasvery current on that issue and distressed at what she hadread and that Cheryl called and attempted to win her support. Provider has a small houseand the back 2 rooms aredevotedto childcare. Her back yard is pretty small and has someequipmentandher front yard increases thast space and also has a small climber. Kids had pbj for lunch and had had afield trip to the carwash that morning. Laura is very concerned about the status of her license due to the assualt on her husband which happened last summer. She told me the sotry again and it was identicAL to what she had rold me the first time. Her husband had accused her of taking money out of the safe. He called the police on her. In the meantime they argued and she lunged at him. He thought she was going to hit him and he slapped her. The police arrived about that time and arrested her husband. Her husband has since gone into counseling and they are active in their church and things are going very well for them,according to provider.She has also said her husband wi ll agreeto being out of the homeduring day care hours if ne cessary. He already leaves between 7 and 7:30 and the first child comes at 7. He arrives home after all the children have gone. I recommend that Laura's license be renewed and she be allowed to continue to do cc.
______________________________________________________________________________________
09/23/1999
Note ID: 342369
Note 6 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: CHASTAIN, STEPHANIE, O.
Provider called and asked for forms. She and husband have been to counselor twice and things appear to be going very well. This counseling was part of the requirements for provider to be relicensed since husband was charged with assault 4 over a year ago. He left scratch narks on provider. Providerreports that nothing has happened since and that counselingis helpful. Sent out forms which had been requested byprovider as well as a release so that coun selor can release any pertinent information to our office. P{rovider was very agreeable to these terms.
______________________________________________________________________________________
12/05/2000
Note ID: 342370
Note 7 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: GRAHAM, MERNIE
Unann mv to this west Mercer Is. home. Whole family was home but few dc children in attendance. Home is almost entirely given over to child care and kids have complete access to the huge array of materials. Set up in learning centers, the environment is friendly and conducive to child-initiated play, without being overwhelming. Multicultural materials are woven in as a natural part of the setting. Minor correx needed (see compliance agreemt this date)and waiver written for 10 hrs cont STARS.
______________________________________________________________________________________
01/02/2001
Note ID: 342371
Note 8 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: GRAHAM, MERNIE
Prov called. Corrections complete. FirstAid and CPR not due until end of May. Prov will take classes, including STARS, and send certificates. Will return current correction plan with copy of fire ext. tag.
Page 3 of 15
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/28/2002
Note ID: 342372
Note 9 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: GRAHAM, MERNIE
Lic exp:4/10/02 App Rec'd: 2/1/01; Orient: Feb 20,02; Cr Hx's:2/22/o2 - no "hits" Nicely set up home with lots of materials available for children to access on their own. Mixed age group keeps the provider quite busy. This am there was a 6 mo old baby, a quite bright 3 yo needing interactive experiences, a 2 yo with severe balance problems and a year old child arrived about 10am who likes to have lots of "holding" time. Provider stays on the move to address all these developmental needs. Provider needs extra time to complete STARS requirements and waiver was written to address this. States she has been enjoying the classes - but a recent one was just canceled due to snow. She was referred to on-line classes since she has a 7 yo of her own and her husband works evenings. She still intends to attend live classes when available on weekends. The child with the balance problem pulled over a large cabinet during re-licensing. (Correx written to attach it to the wall and referral made to seek help for this problem.) Please see correction plan this date. Licensor highly recommended ground cover under the outdoor climbers.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/28/2002
Note ID: 342373
Note 10 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: GRAHAM, MERNIE
Parent of 2yo mentioned in last SER called for clarification of referral. Told him I noted his child seemed to be having balance problems beyond average for his age and that it might be good to have his pediatrician refer him to an OT or PT to make sure everything was alright.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/06/2002
Note ID: 342374
Note 11 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: GRAHAM, MERNIE
It took several phone calls to prompt this provider to return corrections. (4/29; 5/2)
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/08/2002
Note ID: 342375
Note 12 of 60
12:00 AM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: ROALKVAM, JOEL, D.
Renewal License approved.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/22/2003
Note ID: 342376
Note 13 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: ANDERSON-WIGGINS, JENNIFER, M.
Jennifer reviewed the file after receiving the file from the past licensor Mary. Laura's file was missing copies of STARS training. She had been given waivers in the past to get caught up on STARS but she had not completed the training. Jennifer sent her a letter and called her several times to discuss her situation. She was going through a difficult time in her life. She was in the process of getting a divorce. Jennifer asked her to call when her life was not so difficult. She sent Jennifer copies of what classes she had taken and a list of the classes she had signed up for on the computer. She is currently only caught up through 2000. Once she completes the classes she has signed up for she will be current through 2003.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Page 4 of 15
03/25/2004
Note ID: 342377
Note 14 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/DEL Monitoring Visit
Worker Making Contact: SU, GERALDINE
Unannounced MV by Gerry Su and Malinda Ervin was made on this date. There were 6 children in care, 4 under 2 yrs. 2 children were in high chairs in the DC area and 2 children were napping in port-a-cribs in the back bedroom. There were 2 other preschool children playing quietly with interactive toys. We informed the provider that she could not have 4 children under 2 years of age. The provider stated that this occurs only on Tu, Wed., and Thurs. 2 of the children do not come on Mon. and Fri. She did say, however, that one parent of a child under 2 was flexible and she probably could work something out with that parent. We discussed her getting an assistant and gave her the information regarding assistant qualifications. The provider attempted to reach one of the parents without success. She asked that we give her time (this evening) to discuss the situation with the parents and stated that she would have a corrective plan in place immediately. The children's files were incomplete, some files had no information at all. The files, however, were by the front door when we arrived and she was planning to give them to the parents to complete. She was unable to locate her CPR/First Aid cards but stated they are current. We requested that she locate them and send us a copy. The home is very small and as a result cluttered. The provider has recently moved the inddoor play area to the room in the front of the house by the front door. The napping room is at the rear of the house. There is an abundance of toys, all age appropriate, and accessible to the children. There is a small fenced in yard, from front to back, with age appropriate toys, also. The provider was attentive to the children and the children appeared to be happy and comfortable. Compliance agreement developed. See file.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/29/2004
Note ID: 342378
Note 15 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: SU, GERALDINE
TC from Laura Bullis. Laura stated that she has a girl friend who is not working who is willing to be her assistant. This friend has worked at Children's so she does have her CPR and probably has her First Aid, too. She is inquiring about the HIV training and will get the Criminal History Background check done. Laura has talked with CCR and is updating her CPR/First Aid this coming Sat. 4/3/04. She will also get her Fire Extinquisher updated this Sat. CCR is sending her info. on SID and she will update her Parent Handbook to include SIDS info. She has replaced her syrup of Ipecac which had expired. This worker staffed the case with supervisor, Joel Roalkvam. The assistant must complete all the requirements and the provider will need to request an increase in capacity to 9, which will include care for 4 under 2 ys. with an assistant. Once these two components have been met and approved she can provide care to 4 children under 2 years. In the meantime, she must decrease her number to only 2 children under 2 years. TC to Laura. I explained that she cannot continue to care for more than 2 children under 2 years until her assistant has met the qualifications and her request to increase her capacity has been approved. She said she understood. It was agreed that I would mail her the forms: Background Authorization, Provider Assistant Resume and Request to Change Capacity. I told her she needs to keep a file on her assistant. She said she would do that.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/07/2004
Note ID: 342379
Note 16 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
Page 5 of 15
Follow up telephone call to provider. Provider has only two children under 2,with a total of 7 children enrolled at this time. One child turned 2 on April 4th, and the other child was let go. Provider stated that all children's records are now up to date and the home has been cleaned.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/27/2004
Note ID: 342380
Note 17 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
04/27/2004 announced site visit. This was a follow up to the monitoring visit to check on capacity. At the time of the visit there were only three children in care, with only two being under two. The home was clean organized and had an abundance of toys.
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/04/2004
Note ID: 342382
Note 18 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
TC from provider. Provider was able to obtain both a restraining order and an anti-harassment order.
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/04/2004
Note ID: 342381
Note 19 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: CAMIS-FAMLINK, CONVERSION, W.
Facility Complaint Record Closed
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/15/2005
Note ID: 342383
Note 20 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Facility Inspection
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
This was a scheduled visit as the provider has moved to a new home. Present at this visit was this licensor, Irena Fajardo, DLR investigator and the provider. After this licensing visit was scheduled a complaint came in to both DLR and Child Care licensing. This licensor and the DLR worker decided to go out together. The provider was visibly shaken by the complaint and talked about a bitter divorce that she and her husband are going through. The complaint incident happened after child care hours and no child care children were involved. However, it was brought up that the provider had a previous DUI that was not disclosed to child care licensing. The compliance agreement that was written included having a new criminal background inquiry sent in to the BCCU unit immediately. There were ten items written on the compliance agreement in regards to licensing this new home. 1. Complete a criminal background check. 2. Send in a copy of the provider's social security card and drivers license. 3. Notify the fire department. 4. The Blood Borne pathogen plan is not written yet. 5. The parent policy needs to be updated. 6. Non-removable outlet covers need to be installed in all accessible electrical outlets. 7. The locking devise for the bathroom was not accessible. 8. The flashlight could not be found. 9. The fence is not four feet tall. 10. The Business practices are not written yet. When all compliance issues are resolved this licensor recommends licensing this home. The complaint will not be closed until DLR completes their investigation.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/15/2005
Note ID: 342384
Note 21 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Facility Inspection
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
This was a scheduled visit as the provider has moved to a new home. Present at this visit was this licensor, Irena Fajardo, DLR investigator and the provider. After this licensing visit was scheduled a complaint came in to both DLR and Child Care licensing. This licensor and the DLR worker decided to go out together. The
Page 6 of 15
provider was visibly shaken by the complaint and talked about a bitter divorce that she and her husband are going through. The complaint incident happened after child care hours and no child care children were involved. However, it was brought up that the provider had a previous DUI that was not disclosed to child care licensing. The compliance agreement that was written included having a new criminal background inquiry sent in to the BCCU unit immediately. There were ten items written on the compliance agreement in regards to licensing this new home. 1. Complete a criminal background check. 2. Send in a copy of the provider's social security card and drivers license. 3. Notify the fire department. 4. The Blood Borne pathogen plan is not written yet. 5. The parent policy needs to be updated. 6. Non-removable outlet covers need to be installed in all accessible electrical outlets. 7. The locking devise for the bathroom was not accessible. 8. The flashlight could not be found. 9. The fence is not four feet tall. 10. The Business practices are not written yet. When all compliance issues are resolved this licensor recommends licensing this home. The complaint will not be closed until DLR completes their investigation.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/20/2005
Note ID: 342385
Note 22 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
The provider mailed in documentation that all compliance issues have been corrected. This licensor recommends an Initial license for 8 children, when the CPR and First aid cards are sent to this licensor. The provider will mail in documentation of STARS for 2004 as soon as she completes the classes. The provider stated she will take the on-line classes this weekend.
______________________________________________________________________________________
08/24/2005
Note ID: 342386
Note 23 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
All issues of compliance have been corrected. The provider mailed in a copy of her Social Security card. This licensor recommends a full license.
______________________________________________________________________________________
08/31/2005
Note ID: 342387
Note 24 of 60
12:00 AM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: Garrison, Mildred, M.
Approve full license for Laura Bullis.
______________________________________________________________________________________
11/18/2005
Note ID: 342388
Note 25 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: CAMIS-FAMLINK, CONVERSION, W.
Facility Complaint Record Closed
______________________________________________________________________________________
09/15/2006
Note ID: 342389
Note 26 of 60
12:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/DEL Monitoring Visit
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
This was an unannounced monitoring visit. This home is well set up for child care with enough toys and equipment to meet the physical, developmental and cultural needs of the children in care. There were 4 children during this licensing visit. There were five items written on the compliance agreement. 1. The children's records need updating. 2. The attendance records need full signatures. 3. The CPR and First aid cards are not in the licensing file. 4. The parents have not been informed of the providers Day Care insurance status. 5. The first aid kit is not complete. All compliance issues will be resolved by October 1, 2006.
Page 7 of 15
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/19/2006
Note ID: 342390
Note 27 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: Swanson, Rita, J.
TC from provider. Provider called to say that her divorce is now final and she has changed her last name to Martin. She will mail in documentation of this change. She also stated that she has acquired child care insurance and will be receiving the cards in the mail shortly. She will mail in copies of these when they arrive. She also gave the insurance provider my name so that she can call and confirm that insurance is in place. The insurance providers name is Julie King.
______________________________________________________________________________________
08/09/2007
Note ID: 342391
Note 28 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider was phoned regarding a cancellation endorsement on her child care insurance from Western Heritage Insurance Co. This provider will check insurance and will let her parents know she currently does not have child care insurance and send that documentation to this licensor. This provider had divorced and this licensor asked that she send this licensor a copy of her drivers license for picture ID for her file. This provider does have a copy of her Social Security card with the name change and will amend her license to reflect last name change.
______________________________________________________________________________________
01/10/2008
Note ID: 342392
Note 29 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This licensor met with this provider for a monitoring visit. This provider utilizes a deck and her back yard for outdoor play and the compliance agreement required that the slats that surround her deck be closed and under the fence as the gap could be a safety hazard for young children. The provider's fire drill was being serviced and fire drills and smoke detector checks were not documented as checked. Children's files lacked dentist information and sign in and out was not complete as one parent did not sign with a full signature and one parent had not signed the child in at all. The providers file lacked documentation of HIV/BBP training. The provider will complete training in both and provide documentation of her 20 hours of STARS. All corrections will be completed by 1/30/08.
______________________________________________________________________________________
01/15/2008
Note ID: 342393
Note 30 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider was provided technical assistance by sending BB Pathogen training, information on Dental Care for Kids in King County for herself and parents of children in care. This provider provided her STARS Registration ID 773427485 so that her 20 hours of Building Blocks training could be confirmed and retrieved as a copy was sent to the provider for her own staff file. The provider stated she will be completing fencing in her deck for the safety of infants and toddlers in care and has redesigned her sign in and out sheet to elicit compliance in regard to sign in and out procedures. Once the decking fencing is completed, the provider will finish working with parent to add dentist names to children's files. The provider will complete HIV training and will complete the offered BBP training this licensor will mail today.
______________________________________________________________________________________
01/31/2008
Note ID: 342394
Note 31 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
Page 8 of 15
This provider has returned as completing all documented issues related to the compliance agreement that was developed on 1.10.08.
______________________________________________________________________________________
02/07/2008
Note ID: 342395
Note 32 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This licensor phoned this provider and a message was left to call back in regard to setting an appointment for renewal licensing. This provider was encouraged to set an appointment prior to the end of February.
______________________________________________________________________________________
02/20/2008
Note ID: 342396
Note 33 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider completed as site visit to this home in regard to renewal licensing. The provider licenses the kitchen, living room, family room, dining room, large pantry and two bedrooms. This provider demonstrated a solid schedule of activities that include math, science and ECE activities appropriate to the children served. The interactions between this provider and the children were loving and nurturing and her methods of disciplining the toddlers were redirection and reinforcing being kind to one another even when another might be having a bad day. The children responded warmly to this provider who consistently demonstrated in many ways her compassion, humor and love of life and how she translates this into her work with small children that supports her profession as a child care provider. All toys were developmentally appropriate and in cubbies reachable by the children. The provider engaged the children in cleanup activities after free play time promoting independence and the caring for their environment. The outside play area is generally her large deck off her kitchen accessible by a large sliding door along side, a large "doggie door" children are allowed to slip in and out of as they wish. This outdoor play area is well fenced, is visible and within hearing distance to the main child care room having an abundant of varied play equipment promoting both pulling and pushing, sensorial play and large and small muscle development. During this visit, the provider held an impromptu fire drill for this licensor that demonstrated the toddlers understood the alternative method of sounding an alarm, responding quickly and demonstrated they know where to meet and what to do in case of fire. The children recently conducted a science experiment hatching ladybugs and were engrossed with the process. This provider had an abundance of good quality, diverse and culturally relevant books available and accessible to the children. The children evidenced their early reading literacy by the provider reading to them, their knowing the words by rote and being appropriately engaged in the reading process for much longer than toddlers are generally able to tolerate. The child would recite many of the words in the books that reinforced their early learning and reinforcing a love and excitement around written language through appropriate reading materials. The provider had not completed her 13 page checklist making the visit longer than necessary. A monitoring visit on 1/10/08 had been completed and this licensor confirmed the provider had completed all requested plans of correction. New issues related to children's file were that full addresses for emergency contacts were missing on two of the children's files. On the whole this provider now appears to understand the requirements in this regard. Many of the children in care had runny noses and the provider admitted they had all been ill and were on the road to recovery it seems. The provider utilized tissue to wipe children's noses and sanitized her hands, however; this provider neglected to have the children wash their hands afterwards. This licensor recommended the provider work on teaching the children to blow their own noises then wash their hands as part of the process of gaining independence and reinforcing good hygiene. The provider appeared reluctant to do so. One child was in a rocker seat and during the visit it was indicated the child sometimes "sleeps" there. The provider corrected this licensor stating she only uses the rocker to put the child to sleep then places the child in his crib. She also informed me of a list of health problems, including stated respiratory and reflux problem that makes sleeping difficult for this child that were not documented in his file. The provider will ask the parent to update the health records of this child to verify should anything happen while in care. This licensor went over SID's guidelines and WACs around sleeping children and the provider stated she would
Page 9 of 15
never sleep a child in a rocker seat. A compliance agreement was developed around this along with the provider needing locked storage for any medications on site.
______________________________________________________________________________________
02/25/2008
Note ID: 342397
Note 34 of 60
12:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider returned her completed compliance agreement related to the 2/22/02 renewal licensing visit. This licensor recommends this provider's license be renewed.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/11/2008
Note ID: 342398
Note 35 of 60
12:00 AM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: LONG, PATRICIA, D.
approved for a renewal license.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/10/2009
Note ID: 10071999
Note 36 of 60
04:13 PM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
A TC was received from this provider in regard to an upcoming move she plans on making which would be to a new residence in the same general area. This provider plans to be settled into her new home by 4/1/09 and would like to be re-licensed at the new address. This licensor provided technical assistance in regard to moving and asked that the Administrative Assistant, Judy P be called so that she may receive the required forms. This provider stated she will mail back required documents as soon as possible so that the transition to her new home will be seamless. This licensor will accommodate this request by promptly meeting with her at her new address on 4/1/2009 with the time TBD for her licensing inspection. This provider will also send in a BG check for her fiancée' that will be moving into the home. The provider's son is now thirteen years old and will be living in the home as well.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/01/2009
Note ID: 10093091
Note 37 of 60
09:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider received an announced visit to license her home at a new address. This provider has moved into a split level home that includes the entire upper story as licensed child care space that enters directly into her back yard. The dining room and family room are combined to allow for generous play space. The provider was utilizing a hall bedroom on that floor for sleeping children, however; this licensor found that it had no rescue window and had window blinds that form a loop. The provider agreed to close the room for child care and make it totally inaccessible. The 13-page checklist was completed by the provider and the examination of the child care spaces resulted in some compliance issues. Some children's files needed more information to be complete and some did not have all of the required documentation (trip permission forms). The provider had no written evacuation plan or fire drill plan that included exit procedures in case of a fire drill. The home appeared well maintained and the living room and dining room were well set up for child care. Children in care were playing a sensory game when this licensor arrived with shaving cream and the provider has no problems with children "getting messy". She stated that some of the most fun they have had was playing out in the rain, examining mud puddles and just getting down and dirty without care. During this visit this licensor found the provider allowing children to eat a snack prior to hand washing and cleaning the table that is also used for free play and art work. The children in care appeared secure and well nurtured and during this visit, the provider demonstrated her
Page 10 of 15
program for early childhood education that includes a lot of outdoor play and imaginary play that offers the children to utilize their gross motor skills. Toys and play materials inside and out support children's active and passive play. There was an abundance of learning and play materials accessible to the children in care and they children demonstrated cooperation in cleaning up their space when asked. This provider appears to be happy working in the child care profession and the children in care related to her with trust and she returns their respect. This licensor observed the provider utilizing good supervision and clearly felt comfortable interacting with them during free play time. This was evidenced that while encouraging independacnce she also promoted appropriate interactive play. Circle time consisted of music, dance and reading along with color recognition and language skills. This provider demonstrated compliance in many areas with few excpetions noted on her compliance agreement. This licensor recommends that once this compliance agreement is returned as completed, this provider's home be fully licensed for home child care.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/01/2009
Note ID: 10093091
Note 38 of 60
09:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Facility Inspection
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider received an announced visit to license her home at a new address. This provider has moved into a split level home that includes the entire upper story as licensed child care space that enters directly into her back yard. The dining room and family room are combined to allow for generous play space. The provider was utilizing a hall bedroom on that floor for sleeping children, however; this licensor found that it had no rescue window and had window blinds that form a loop. The provider agreed to close the room for child care and make it totally inaccessible. The 13-page checklist was completed by the provider and the examination of the child care spaces resulted in some compliance issues. Some children's files needed more information to be complete and some did not have all of the required documentation (trip permission forms). The provider had no written evacuation plan or fire drill plan that included exit procedures in case of a fire drill. The home appeared well maintained and the living room and dining room were well set up for child care. Children in care were playing a sensory game when this licensor arrived with shaving cream and the provider has no problems with children "getting messy". She stated that some of the most fun they have had was playing out in the rain, examining mud puddles and just getting down and dirty without care. During this visit this licensor found the provider allowing children to eat a snack prior to hand washing and cleaning the table that is also used for free play and art work. The children in care appeared secure and well nurtured and during this visit, the provider demonstrated her program for early childhood education that includes a lot of outdoor play and imaginary play that offers the children to utilize their gross motor skills. Toys and play materials inside and out support children's active and passive play. There was an abundance of learning and play materials accessible to the children in care and they children demonstrated cooperation in cleaning up their space when asked. This provider appears to be happy working in the child care profession and the children in care related to her with trust and she returns their respect. This licensor observed the provider utilizing good supervision and clearly felt comfortable interacting with them during free play time. This was evidenced that while encouraging independacnce she also promoted appropriate interactive play. Circle time consisted of music, dance and reading along with color recognition and language skills. This provider demonstrated compliance in many areas with few excpetions noted on her compliance agreement. This licensor recommends that once this compliance agreement is returned as completed, this provider's home be fully licensed for home child care.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/22/2009
Note ID: 10112495
Note 39 of 60
08:00 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This licensor received this provider compliance agreement showing most tasks completed as indicated by this provider however; children's files needing updating was marked in process to be completed by 4/25/2009. This licensor will verify this provider has completed this task prior to re-licensing along with clearing this provider SO to live in the home.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Page 11 of 15
04/27/2009
Note ID: 10112491
Note 40 of 60
01:50 PM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider was phoned and a message was left in regard to a background for Michael Sagmoe (SO) and TB test along with file documentation of FA and CPR training. This provider was scheduled to take this training on 4/1/09. This licensor found that this provider's SO, Michael S. is listed as living in the home and for this reason, the provider will need to supply a completed background check and TB test results for this individual prior to licensing This provider background check was sent to Judy P for processing today.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/04/2009
Note ID: 10117395
Note 41 of 60
12:00 PM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider sent her updated criminal background check for processing. This provider's background was cleared today. This licensor does not have a completed TB test and background clearance to date. this providers SO, (Michael's Sagmoe's) that is living in the home.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/07/2009
Note ID: 10119539
Note 42 of 60
08:20 AM
Contact/Provider
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider was contacted in regard to her SO's TB testing and Background Check. This licensor has not received a copy of the BG and has not found it as submitted to BCCU. The provider was asked to call Judy P to verify its receipt. The provider's SO will be taking his TB test on 5/11 and will have the test read and results sent to me immediately. The provider will send copies of her FA and CPR updated training documentation by mail as well.
______________________________________________________________________________________
06/04/2009
Note ID: 10140877
Note 43 of 60
10:20 AM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: LONG, PATRICIA, D.
Approved for renewal relocation license
______________________________________________________________________________________
06/28/2010
Note ID: 10520623
Note 44 of 60
08:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This licensor made a home visit to this provider's home in regard to a request for a capacity increase. This provider is due for a monitoring visit in November; therefore this licensor did not conduct a monitoring. This provider utilizes her entire first floor of her home for child care with the exception of one bedroom that is not licensable due to lack of a WAC approved exit. The provider licenses the living room, dining room and kitchen and one bedroom utilized as an additional play room. There provider has organized play spaces that include dress up and kitchen for dramatic play, reading area and room for art projects and displays them promoting self esteem and pride in their work. There is an area set up for preschool and the provider has age appropriate themes which continue until children have hands on and demonstrated appreciation for the learning and play activities associated with the themes. The provider does not utilize TV time, instead encourages free play and active play for the very young children she serves. The provider is nurturing, supportive and respectful of the children in care and demonstrated responsiveness as needed even when conversing with this licensor. The square footage supports the increase of children in care and the provider has a fully qualified staff member to
Page 12 of 15
assist her. Both the provider and staff member helped the young children develop appropriate social behaviors and self-control and respect for the rights of each other. There is a variety and quantity of age appropriate play equipment that promotes active play, development, and coordination and the children appeared well supervised at all times. The provider works well with the male staff that appears to enjoy working with the children and although nurturing and caring, does not do diapering. The reason for this is that because he is male, he feels that it would not be a good idea for their business for him to do diapering as both feel parents are more relaxed with a male caregiver that does not do diapering. The provider has accessible play materials and the entry was well gated. This licensor found well supported play materials for large and small muscle development, creative expression and sensory stimulation as well as books, beads, blocks and puzzles to support intellectual ability at their pre-k age levels. This licensor supports this provider to increase her capacity to 12 children in care.
______________________________________________________________________________________
08/10/2010
Note ID: 10524244
Note 45 of 60
02:12 PM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: LONG, PATRICIA, D.
Approved for a capacity increase
______________________________________________________________________________________
08/16/2010
Note ID: 10530799
Note 46 of 60
11:30 AM
Inspections/Visits/DEL Monitoring Visit
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider received an unannounced monitoring visit today. This provider had recently received a capacity increase although the address was written as NE when the provider's home is SE. Changes will be made to change the licensing document. This provider had five files reviewed with this licensor finding full addresses missing for contacts or not the required (2) emergency contacts, lack of legal consent for medical treatment and some files lacked dentist information. This provider documented that she will complete these issues of not compliance.
______________________________________________________________________________________
09/01/2010
Note ID: 10553141
Note 47 of 60
08:00 AM
Contact/Correspondence
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This provider has returned her compliance agreement generated during the 8/16/2010 monitoring. No health and safety violations were present at monitoring and no re-visit is required at this time.
______________________________________________________________________________________
09/02/2010
Note ID: 10553149
Note 48 of 60
10:00 AM
Contact/Collateral
Worker Making Contact: HENDSCH, CYNTHIA, L.
This licensor noticed that the address in the computer generated license indicated and address of "SE" when it should have been "NE". Corrections were made in the data base and a new amended license will be issued with the correct address and mailed to this provider this week.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/02/2011
Note ID: 10719432
Note 49 of 60
08:00 AM
Contact/Law Enforcement
Worker Making Contact: PATZKE, JOY, E.
After consulting with experienced licensor, this worker contacted the Mercer Island Police to check if there were any police reports of domestic violence between provider and former boyfriend as indicated in the
Page 13 of 15
original referral. Follow up from the police indicated there were reports of DV with this provider. Please see file for documentation.
______________________________________________________________________________________
03/02/2011
Note ID: 10720782
Note 50 of 60
03:30 PM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: PATZKE, JOY, E.
Unanounce visit to provider's home with her previous licensor Cynthia Hendsch to gain additional information regarding the visit to the complaint. Provider recalled the week as perticualary stressful as she is having problemswith her teenage son, was not sleeping or eating, and was experincing stress in her relationship with her partner as well as dealing with the recent unexpected death of her ex-husband. She reported that she did had not taken any additiional Xanax that day but had been "feeling sick" all day. She reports that she does not remember going to the hospital just waking up there. Provider reports that she is no longer taking Xanax and has started counseling to cope with the life stressors/anxiety. Provider has also decided to quit her child care business and move to Wisconsin with her son and boyfriend. Provider denied using more than the prescribed dosage of her medication. She stated the scratches on her arm were from her cat.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/05/2011
Note ID: 10749555
Note 51 of 60
10:00 AM
Inspections/Visits/Home/Site Visit
Worker Making Contact: PATZKE, JOY, E.
TC with provider to check in on her stability and overall decision regarding keeping her child care open or moving to WI. Provider has graduated from therapy, is doing yoga, and is working on herself care. She has decided to stay in business and reports she is overall doing very well. This worker decided to visit and observe her and her assistant with 6 children; provider appeared to be calm, articulate, and well organized during this visit. The children were playing with play dough at the table and were well on task during the visit. Provider stated they were focused on older children, part time children, and some before and after school care. She does not plan to regularly have 12 children in care but felt there were times when there might be overlap during the summer or during school breaks. Provider completed the FLCA regarding failure to report change of circumstance regarding this complain. There were no further concerns and the provider agreed to keep DEL updated in the future on change of circumstances.
______________________________________________________________________________________
04/29/2011
Note ID: 10770917
Note 52 of 60
04:30 PM
Contact/Collateral
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Received community complaint. Reviewed allegations & identified issues. Noted some of the allegations were reported in complaint 827777 which was investigated 2/2011 but there may be new DV and/or police involvement w/family so all issues will be investigated again
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/04/2011
Note ID: 10777569
Note 53 of 60
03:00 PM
Inspections/Visits/DEL Complaint Inspection
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Completed unscheduled site visit for complaint assessment. The provider and her asst. were present w/8 children in care, 3 were under the age of 2 yrs. old. Some parents were arriving to pick up their children during the visit. This allowed this licensor to observe the transition out; parents did utilize sign in & out forms correctly. Explained the purpose for the visit, the provider stated that the complaint was already closed. Explained that a different intake was received even though many of the allegations are similar.
Page 14 of 15
The provider stated that since she got home from Overlake Hospital she feels empowered, and has taken control of her life. She stated she called the police on her own son when she got home and found him smoking pot w/a friend. The provider stated the son has completed a diversion which includes counseling. The provider gave this licensor a document from Youth East side Services which verifies the youth diversion services contract, the provider stated she will have his counselor write a statement. This licensor gave the provider a BCCU form for the son and showed her the correct way to complete it. Agreed to stop by and pick up the form the next day. Also explained the need for current TB test results. This licensor was able to inspect the licenses areas and found the home to be clean & well kept. The outside play area was also well kept, the lawn was mowed & trimmed, and spring flowers have been planted. There was no trash or glass noted in the yard. The provider stated she thought maybe the mother of the other boy that was turned in w/her son complained as the mom got mad at the provider, when she called the police on the boys. This licensor explained that the referent is not at issue, as this complaint came in anonymously. Agreed to come back the next day as more parents arrived to pick up their children.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/05/2011
Note ID: 10777585
Note 54 of 60
12:30 PM
Inspections/Visits/DEL Complaint Inspection
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Arrived for unscheduled site visit to follow up w/provider. The provider & her asst. were present w/9 children in care, 3 were under the age of 2 yrs. old. All children were having lunch at the child sized table in the main room. The provider gave this licensor the completed BCCU form for her son. This licensor explained that if BCCU shows any disqualifying info I will contact her to discuss options. Used this time to explain reporting mandates and the issues regarding failure to report. Reminded provider to obtain recent TB for son, she stated she would call his doctor, as the son went on a class trip and she thinks he has a current test results. The provider also stated she has a call into their counselor, but has not heard back yet. Provider will continue to gather documents and send them into DEL next week
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/17/2011
Note ID: 10787562
Note 55 of 60
03:00 PM
Admin/General/Staffing/Other
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Staffed info received as of this date, with this licensors supervisor. The supervisor felt there was no need to contact Mercer Island PD again, as their report is in the DEL file from when similar allegations were assessed in a complaint rec'd 02/2011. Agreed complaint is ready to be closed w/no valid allegations.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/17/2011
Note ID: 10787656
Note 56 of 60
04:26 PM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: LONG, PATRICIA, D.
Reviewed complaint inspection. Provider is proactive in dealing with setbacks. Concur with licensor findings.
______________________________________________________________________________________
05/31/2011
Note ID: 10801450
Note 57 of
Page 15 of 15
60
02:31 PM
Admin/General/Supervisory/Administrative Review
Worker Making Contact: LONG, PATRICIA, D.
Reviewed complaint inspection. Provider's son had not been cleared. Finding is valid for failing to insure provider's son has been cleard.
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/21/2011
Note ID: 10933769
Note 58 of 60
10:20 AM
Contact/Collateral
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Received intake referral, reviewed allegations and identified issues in complaint. This licensor had taken a call from this man earlier in this week, when he called asking for info on other providers on Mercer Island. After providing him with the names and phone numbers of every home provider on Mercer Island and info on the various centers, this licensor had asked the man why his son was leaving the child care. The man stated it was due to a capacity issue, and stated he was not upset at all. He then went onto state that this child has been diagnosed as autistic. We discussed the different environments he could expect to see at some of the centers, and homes and then the call was ended. This licensor will follow up with another call to this man to discuss more of the details. One of the other allegations in this complaint is related to capacity but the allegations clearly state that there were 2 staff present with 10 children. This would be within the providers licensed capacity, but will follow up to ensure the capacity for infants met capacity.
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/28/2011
Note ID: 10942965
Note 59 of 60
12:15 PM
Contact/Collateral
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Called to speak with referent on this complaint. The man who answered the phone and identified himself as the referent had a thick Russian accent. The man who this licensor spoke with the other day, who had verbalized concerns about this child care is not the same person as this referent as this licensor had thought. The referent this date, stated he wanted to book an apt. to meet with this licensor, to address all issues. He stated he was at a mall this date with his family and it was not a good time to talk. This licensor gave him my email address, per his request, and he will email me to set up a time next week to meet.
______________________________________________________________________________________
10/28/2011
Note ID: 10947211
Note 60 of 60
02:07 PM
Contact/Collateral
Worker Making Contact: THEBO, ANNA MARIE
Received an email from the referent on this case. This licensor scheduled an apt. with the referent to meet at the Bellevue DEL office on Wed. 11/2/11 to discuss the allegations. The referent called this licensor later in the date to discuss where it would be best to meet. In that conversation it became apparent to this licensor that this was not the same man with the autistic child, that this licensor had spoken to a few weeks ago, but this is a different dad enrolled at the child care.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Department of Early Learning Update on Laura Clarice Martin - Day Care Provider Arrested November 21, 2011

2011-11-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

I checked the website this morning and below I've copied in the latest information off the Department of Early Learning website. The latest complaint investigation is tagged "valid" for an number of WAC (Washington State Administrative Code) violations. It says she is still fully licensed and not suspended as the newspaper reported.

I called the licensor who did not answer so I pushed "0" and got the agency secretary, Judy, and asked her if the provider's license had been suspended. Judy said yes. I advised that that information was not on DEL's website. Judy stated, "It just happened." I asked if she meant today. She said yes. I asked if that information then will be post on the website. Judy said yes. I asked if the licensor is the one who will make the change on the website she said yes.

I will check later to see. If that is accurate then DEL for the first time will be obeying the 2007 law (RCW 43.215.370) the legislature passed to put suspension, revocation, denial of a license.

In addition, I see the update law this year has now been posted to the public. The law was expanded through the Colby Thompson act, a nine month old permanently damaged from being in unlicensed day care. The Department had already made steps to include that information on the website but still wasn't obeying the 2007 law.

Here's the important information the legislature updated this year:

From RCW 43.215.370: "Suspension, surrender, revocation, denial, stayed suspension, or reinstatement of a license. The department shall also post on the web site those agencies subject to licensing that have not initiated the licensing process within thirty days of the department's notification as required in RCW 43.215.300."

If the Department of Early Learning (DEL) will now post suspension, revocation and denial information starting with this case I will give them kudos and thanks. I'll keep checking and keep parents and the public posted regarding the implementation of this law.

Here's the information on Martin as of this moment (today)

MARTIN LAURA CLARICE Doing Business As Laura Martin	Data current as of 11/29/2011
Mercer Island, WA 98040
206.232.4545
* Provider currently on no referral status, please call 1.866.482.4325, and choose option 3 for more information.

Provider ID	165295	Licensed Capacity	12 children
Facility Type	Family Home Provider	Ages Served	From 1 month To 11 years 11 months
Initial License Date	7/27/1995	Current License Status	Fully Licensed
Anniversary Date	06/03	DEL Licensor	Anna marie Thebo
License Expires	Non-Expiring	DEL Licensor Phone	425.590.3108

Complaint ID#	Issue Type(s)	WAC	# Valid Issues	Complaint Resolution
827777	Business	170-296-0550	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 02/18/2011 Resolved on: 04/05/2011
838844	Staff Qualifications	170-296-0180	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 04/29/2011 Resolved on: 05/17/2011
870851	Character Failure to Report Nurture/Care Supervision	170-296-0140 170-296-0450 170-296-1390 170-296-1360	4 Valid Issues	Received on: Resolved on: 11/28/2011

DSHS Department of Early Learning: Day Care provider charged with assault - loses license - Mercer Island Reporter

2011-11-26T15:02:00.000-08:00

Daycare operator charged with assault - loses license - Mercer Island Reporter

The Washington State child day care provider in this news article appears to be Laura Clarice Martin. I've copied in the Department of Early Learning (DEL) website page to assist parents in understanding what parents will not see on this page. This day care provider has been licensed since 1995.

Martin has had recent complaints:

Complaint ID#	Issue Type(s)	WAC	# Valid Issues	Complaint Resolution	Self Reported
827777	Business	170-296-0550	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 02/18/2011 Resolved on: 04/05/2011
838844	Staff Qualifications	170-296-0180	1 Valid Issue	Received on: 04/29/2011 Resolved on: 05/17/2011

As a former day care licensor with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), now under the Department of Early Learning (DEL) you, the parent will not know from reading the DEL website:

         1) if Martin had any valid complaint allegations before July 27, 2005,
         2) if complaints were lodged that were poorly investigated,
         3) if there were valid complaints prior to July 27, 2005,
         4) if and what child day care licensing violations she might have had since 1995,
         5) if the provider had any valid child protective services (CPS) findings

MARTIN LAURA CLARICE Doing Business As Laura Martin	Data current as of 11/26/2011
Mercer Island, WA 98040
206.232.4545
* Provider currently on no referral status, please call 1.866.482.4325, and choose option 3 for more information.

Provider ID	165295	Licensed Capacity	12 children
Facility Type	Family Home Provider	Ages Served	From 1 month To 11 years 11 months
Initial License Date	7/27/1995	Current License Status	Fully Licensed
Anniversary Date	06/03	DEL Licensor	Anna marie Thebo
License Expires	Non-Expiring	DEL Licensor Phone	425.590.3108

The Washington State citizen legislature passed a law in 2007 that required DEL to post suspension, denial and revocation actions on providers who pose a risk to children. DEL will not post that information.

See the information in RED above that tells you Martin is on no referral status?

DEL easily could type information onto this page of their website informing parents of suspensions, revocations and denials of day care licenses.

DEL won't do it. DEL's flagrant flaunting of a simple law passed by your citizen legislature has been going on now for five years. The news article states that Martin's suspension notice will be served to her on November 28, 2011. Then DEL if they follow their usual pattern will take Laura Clarice Martin completely off the website.

Why is this information important to parents? Because folks whose licenses have been suspended, denied and/or revoked will sometimes go right back to providing care and parents won't know that there was a major event that happened in that daycare they've just started to use.

Kara Klotz, described as DEL's media person was quoted as saying: "From what I've seen and heard, there were several violations to license rules," Klotz said. Martin does not have a prior criminal record. Klotz said individuals with a criminal background are not eligible for day care licensing."

First of all Klotz is being vague. It would be easy to determine exactly how many violations and for which licensing regulations Martin was cited. November 21st was a Monday. This article was written on the 25th, more than enough time for DEL to gather that information.

Klotz remark about a prior criminal record simply is not accurate. Folks with criminal history conviction records do get issued licenses.

New regulations are getting ready to be published. Most of them aren't new, however, a certain segment of the licensed day care provider community has been angry about licensing in general. There has been lack of consistency and fairness with the government licensing agency at times. And there have been providers where DEL did not take action to revoke their licenses that by law and regulations the day care license was required to be revoked.

I will make a public disclosure request for Martin's licensing information via what is called "FamLink provider notes" and ask for the narrative record. Parents (and any citizen's right) it is your right to request information yourselves on any licensed day care provider.

In my last article I gave DEL kudos for its transparency of the meetings DEL has held with that certain segment of providers, most who are with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

I described some of the meetings and in my opinion it was a nightmare journey of a process. In that article you can click on the link I provided to read some of the providers' comments yourselves and come to your opinion if some of their focus was or was not concern for the health, safety and well-being of your child in care (which by law is paramount over the privilege of a person getting a license).

This event and assault where young children were present may be the new intention of the Department of Early Learning attempting to establish now a pattern of consistency in enforcing regulations. For that certain segment of providers who have "gotten away" with not having to be in compliance there will be push back and emotional reaction.

I had one provider on my caseload who said every time I went to do a licensing visit with her, "Margo, why do you allow them to keep their licenses. It's not hard to follow the regulations, why do they get to keep their licenses." Of course, in those early years of my career and trying to understand what the heck was going on...I couldn't just say, "Because my managers won't let me." That is why.

The revised regulations of family home child day care licensing will come out in 2012. DEL maybe was moving forward in attempting to apply consistency now which would benefit the whole community, the providers themselves and most of all protect your children. Give you peace of mind while you are at work.

If DEL was doing that in this particular situation then they were moving forward in the manner legally legislated by your citizen legislature. I would commend that.

And for today DEL managers, director Betty Hyde and deputy director Bob Hamilton please implement:

RCW 43.215.370: "... the following actions shall be posted to the department's web site accessible by the public: Suspension, surrender, revocation, denial, stayed suspension, or reinstatement of a license. The department shall also post on the web site those agencies subject to licensing that have not initiated the licensing process within thirty days of the department's notification as required in RCW 43.215.300."

Maybe DEL is looking to make the Guinness Book of World Records?

Department of Early Learning - Journey into a Nightmare

2011-11-16T15:48:00.000-08:00

CES_FHCC_WAC_170-296A_final.pdf (application/pdf Object)

This is actually a thank you to the Department of Early Learning (DEL).

My intent is to give kudos when kudos apply. Today I say thank you to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for their transparency in documenting the journey of how the new family home child day care rules and regulations came to be and which are to be implemented in 2012 came to be.

I blog for the benefit of parents who must go to work and who must put their children in daycare. And today I want to give you some insider witnessing and my opinion.

I sat in on some of these Negotiated Rule Making Team (NRMT) meetings, sometimes as a substitute for and representing the non-profit organization Washington Parents for Safe Child Care; the sole parent voice.

From the introduction to this document in the link above: "RCW 34.05.325(6) requires that when a state agency adopts a permanent rule (known as Washington Administrative Code or WAC), the agency must prepare a “Concise Explanatory Statement” (CES). This statement is a public document that generally summarizes comments received on a state agency’s proposed rules, notes the agency’s responses to those comments, and whether the comment resulted in any changes to the final rule compared to the proposal"

Parents and citizens of Washington State, it was a nightmare! As Spencer Breslin child actor in the Disney movie The Kid yelled, "a nightmare". If it wasn't about the health, safety and well-being of children it would be funny.

I give my kudos to DEL for being transparent. Representative Ross Hunter from Bellevue has long advocated for complete transparency in government. This long document moves in that direction. It recorded the comments of family home child day providers who were overwhelmingly represented on this NRMT. Parents were not represented.

Revising the rules was delayed for almost eight (8) years because of this certain segment of the licensed family home child day care provider community and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Parents were not represented.

Stu Jacobson, director of Washington Parents for Safe Child Care was on the NRMT and all work ground to a halt one meeting day when I was present as the day care providers were in an uproar because Mr. Jacobson spoke to the press. These day care providers stopped talking about the health, safety and well-being of the child in licensed day care to focus their energy and attention on taking away Mr. Jacobson's Constitutional first amendment rights.

Advising these day care providers that the committee work they were doing was public, that all their meetings were public meetings had no effect on their outrage and desire for revenge. It was as though this committee was their private little club.

Like Dave Barry writes, "I'm not making this up."

Like Carrie Fisher wrote in her memoir Wishful Drinking: "If this wasn't funny, it would just be true."

This is a long state record document and I have only read up to page 31 and scanned through some of the rest. But I want parents to have access to this document now for their own review.

I recommend reading the "comments column" as it is in the providers' own words and you can get a sense of the attitude and the focus of some of the child day care providers on this committee.

I say kudos to DEL for in many instances not changing the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rule when this certain segment of day care providers and SEIU demanded it; and for reminding this group of day care providers that rules must match the law. In Washington State that is the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). That's what we call our laws.

Read the provider comments for yourselves and decide which of their comments are truly for and which are truly not for the health, safety and well-being of your child. The child you must give over to the care of a day care provider that you pay to keep your child healthy, safe and happy while you are at work.

A provider at one of the meetings when I substituted for Washington Parents for Safe Child Care said it wasn't the government's business if after day care hours she was a hooker on the street.

SEIU isn't taking your parental money to keep your children safe.

SEIU takes money from all folks in Washington State (and those visiting), easy money on a monthly basis with the state government acting as their banking system.

So kudos to DEL today. Tomorrow the question is: will DEL enforce these regulations fairly and consistently? That is and has always been the key.

Dumb "Experts" Weigh in on Why Folks Don't Report Sexual Violations Done to Children

2011-11-10T20:34:00.000-08:00

Why Penn State Officials Didn't Call the Police | Yahoo!

Having a Ph.D does not make anyone an expert. I find more wisdom in the folks who come to take my class on reporting suspected child abuse than the so-called experts, like the one in this report.

From the news article:

"You’ve heard the allegations: In 2002, now–assistant coach Mike McQueary witnessed former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, then 58, sexually violating a 10-year-old boy in the coaches’ locker room shower. McQueary told his father as well as head coach Joe Paterno, who passed the buck to athletic director Tim Curley, university vice president Gary Schultz, and university president Graham Spanier. Sandusky’s “punishment”: He wouldn’t be permitted to bring kids onto campus anymore."

First of all the question should have been asked: Why didn't McQueary stop the assault he was witnessing? It was an assault. An assault to a ten year old boy. He was there. He was witnessing it as it occurred. He was witness to a crime.

One out of three girls and one out of six boys are sexually violated.

The expert was quoted as saying: “Organizations are also very self-protective,” adds Dr. Lubit. “The number-one rule is, Don’t embarrass the organization. Whistle blowers are often treated very badly.”

Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Replace his comment with "Don't embarrass the family" and we may begin to help folks lift the veil on denial of sexual violation to children in this country (and other countries).

If it's one out of three (3) girls and one out of six (6) boys it's happening and has happened to a lot of people in this country. There are many people who have had to repress the memory of being so horribly violated, sexually and emotionally. It's devastating to children. For the really horrible sexual assaults 38% of those young children will totally repress the memory.

But what one doesn't consciously remember will manifest in some fashion. One of the biggest possible manifestations is denial. If you're in denial you won't "see" an assault. Another possible manifestation is acting out the abuse on others.

Most children if they are going to be sexually violated are sexually violated by age five. When I was a child protective services investigator, sure we'd get some referrals from school districts but no where close to the statistical reality of children who have been sexually abused. If you have a classroom of thirty children, it's likely ten have been sexually assaulted to some degree.

When I worked group care for six years with severely emotionally and behaviorally disturbed adolescents (is that not a long label or what?), everyone of those kids had been terribly sexually and emotionally abused as children.

We have to have the conversation to make it stop. Only three (3%) of sex offenders are ever caught, convicted and put in prison. So where are the other 97%? Only three to ten percent are strangers. Yes, it is people around us that we know.

Even if we caught the other 97% there's no room in prison for them. We have to stop it by talking about it. And for goodness sake, if you see someone assaulting a child, stop them!

From the micro to the macro and back again. Please start talking about sexual violations that happen to small innocent sweet children; and don't stop until it stops. Sex offenders go where no one asks the questions and no one talks about the subject matter thus the problems of not telling in our various institutions schools, churches, girls and boys clubs, classes and political organizations.

Experts like this one, in my opinion, reinforce the behavior of not telling.

And we have to ask what portion of the rioting students have that background in their own families or that when they were children they suffered such abuse but now are not consciously connected to that abuse? One way to keep the memory of a sexual assault at bay is to self-medicate; and there can be quite a bit of self-medicating going on around college.

Rather than rely on "experts" I encourage folks who come to my class to trust their intuitions. Sometimes in my classes when folks are feeling comfortable and they self-disclose, it matches the statistic...one in three girls.

Maybe they aren't "dumb", maybe they are in denial.

Please have the conversation and sex abuse will stop.

For Those Sexually Violated as Children - Healing Can Happen

2011-11-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Miss America By Day, Marilyn Van Derbur's journey of healing from incest

Since sexual violation to children is continually in the media here is a source (Marilyn Van Derbur) so folks can know that they can heal.

From Marilyn's website:

"As a childhood incest survivor, she has devoted much of her adult life to raising national awareness and understanding of sexual abuse and its long-term effects. In 1989 her family funded an adult incest survivor program in Denver, and in 1993 she co-founded two national not-for-profit organizations dedicated to public education and strengthening laws protecting victims of sexual abuse."

See the video interview with her at this link.

You can also get Marilyn's memoir and other DVDs like Once Can Hurt a Lifetime.

Email Marilyn if you need support. She will email you back.

DSHS & Washington State, Penn State etc - We must Speak Up when Children are Hurt

2011-11-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

Paterno stunned by firing in Penn State scandal - CBS News

In a rational world how could Paterno be "stunned"? CBS cites a "source" without naming the source.

In Paterno's own words:

This is a tragedy," Paterno said. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

"I wish I had done more."

That says so much.

What a way to end his life.

If people can consider what excruciating trauma happens to children who are so violated and used by a person in authority a better outcome will result from exposing secrets.

I teach a child abuse reporting class. I've had some folks in my classes who have been weighed down for years because they didn't "tell" what they witnessed or information they had that a child had been hurt.

Those things don't go away. Paterno could help the country and children who were so violated by telling all that he knew and knows.

An excellent film to watch on the impact of sexual violation to boys is called Mysterious Skin. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays the main character. You get an idea how sexual violation by a male authority, in the film, a coach impacts two boys in the film. It shows how the impact of sexual violation manifests differently yet just as traumatically in the two characters in the film.

For those students who rioted...I would recommend as well that they see this film.

When institutions cover up; whether it's Penn State or school districts in Washington State, or the Department of Early Learning in Washington State or the folks who worked for former Oregon governor Neil Goldschmidt; cover ups and secrecy creates a bigger and bigger bubble...that ultimately, must pop. And will pop in some fashion.

Folks lashing out at kids for "telling" likely have a history that they have suppressed. Thirty-eight (38%) percent of children violently sexually assaulted have no memory of their assaults. When little ones bury something so deeply it will still manifest in some fashion.

For folks who were sexually violated, emotionally violated, physically violated as children I recommend getting Marilyn Van Derbur's memoir, Miss America by Day. Marilyn also has a DVD out. In Marilyn telling her story she gives healing moment for anyone with that history. Marilyn will help you.

Here's Marilyn Van Debur's link to her website:

http://missamericabyday.com/

DSHS Department of Early Learning WA State vs Program Information New Yorkers can Find

2011-11-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

New York State Office of Children and Family Services - Program Information

In New York parents can at least look up the information on-line if a day care provider's license has been suspended, denied or revoked unlike in Washington State. The citizen legislature of Washington State passed such a law in 2007; and the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has simply ignored it.

The New York site shows violations for the last 24 months. This provider where a four month old died in October 2010 had concerning violations. Unfortunately, for New York parents, the violations she may likely have had going back to 2002 aren't listed.

In Washington State before the day care licensing agency became DEL, it had started posting violations of law and regulations regarding day care facilities. The information I received was in combination with a minority of day care providers and the Services Employees International Union (SEIU), they complained about having violations listed on the website for parents to see. So DEL removed important and vital information parents need to make a decision about where to put their children while they must go to work.

The news article lacks important information about the functioning of their child day care licensing agency. This "inspection" occurred the day the four month old died. Then the government agency simply "closed" the investigation.

In my experience as a child day care licensor this is a red flag. It tells me the government agency doesn't want anyone looking too close at its fulfillment of their regulatory functions. The type of "uncorrected" regulations New York cites on their website causes me to want to see the entire history of this facility.

Regulations don't work because unelected government managers aren't enforcing the laws.

In addition, to not enforcing regulations I know and I am the witness from inside Washington State government in my twenty years of evolution in learning and understanding the system that the public and most importantly parents are not given the most vital information they need to make decisions to keep their children safe. In addition, unelected bureaucratic government managers in Washington State ordered the alteration of public records and had public records destroyed.

Meanwhile taxpayer money has given such managers a high income, health benefits and retirement benefits. The deputy direction of DEL in Washington State makes $112,000.00 a year. The communication manager makes $93,000.00 a year. When I pointed that out in another article then got their emails, the deputy director wrote in an email to the communication manager that he was happy to find out he made more than she did. Another email showed him asking her what she was doing. She said she was doing nothing and that she was bored.

The times are hard for so many folks, children have been permanently damaged and some children died; and such a cavalier attitude is not ok.

DSHS Department of Early Learning Child Deaths - Memorial Website

2011-11-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

State liable in tot's death

This website is a memorial to children who have died while in child care or under states' child protective services agencies in Washington State and nationwide.

Not all the children I know about who died in Washington State are on this list but some of them are and if you click the link you'll see a sweet child, Gabriel Tobin, who is no longer with us.

You can also search the website for a name you might know.

Maybe take a moment to see a child's face to honor and remember these children. Sometimes numbers and statistics can numb folks out. If we care and protect the little ones we know and love, it seems right to have some tears for these little ones who left this earth too early.

cute signing baby!..One year old .baby sign language - YouTube

2011-11-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

cute signing baby!...baby sign language - YouTube

Just a fun video of a baby learning to sign as well as talk. Enjoy.

Babies and little ones are paying attention to us adults. : )

DSHS Department of Early Learning Website - What You Won't Find

2011-11-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Child Care & Preschool Options - About Licensed Child Care - Child Care Check - Department of Early Learning

When you go to check out a child day care provider on the Department of Early Learning's (DEL) formerly with DSHS, website you won't find:

1) you won't find violations of law and regulations witnessed at a particular day care

2) you won't find day care providers whose licenses were just suspended or revoked

3) you won't find complaint referrals made on a day care

4) you won't find how to make a complaint on a day care facility, for example, a link to the licensing regulations

5) you won't find any founded CPS (child protective service) reports (and yes, DEL has allowed folks with founded CPS allegations keep their licenses)

6) you won't be informed that in calling child care resource and referrals numbers looking for day care, that agency has no records on the history of
day care provider they are referring you to

7) you won't find, even though a law was passed in 2007, all the licenses that were revoked and denied, and yes, some of them continue to do care after their licenses were revoked and/or denied

8) you won't find valid complaints before July 2005, and, yes, there can be vital information the public has a right to see

9) you won't find information as to when DEL made monitoring visits and the information that DEL only goes out every 18 months regardless of having knowledge the facility has a history of complaints

10) you won't find information showing you the licensing system to be more pro-day care provider than day care parent even though the law makes the health, safety and well-being of the child paramount over the privilege of a person being granted a license

These factors and more, the day care licensing agency, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) won't be telling you, the parent.

As a former day care licensor and whistle blower on DSHS (and now DEL), an insider for twenty-years with DSHS I put this information out to the public to help in your decision making.

To make the best decisions we all need information and when the government doesn't give us that information then the government is in charge, and not, we, the people as created and established under our Untied States Constitution.

Judge caught on video beating daughter 'needs help' - Yahoo! News

2011-11-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

Dad caught on video beating daughter 'needs help' - Yahoo! News

This is a judge who makes determination on child abuse cases in his court room.

The daughter, in my opinion, has done the right action for the benefit of the larger community. Her mother has come to an understanding of what happened back then (seven years ago) as well.

Letting the secrets bubble to the surface is healthier in the long run than keeping them suppressed.

DSHS & DEL & Other State Governments - Blame the Parents - Don't Study Us!

2011-11-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

13 Indicators of Quality Child Care: Research Update

This is a study from 2002 done by National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, University of Colorado and presented to the federal government, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It was to guide licensing by giving states 13 indicators of quality care in child day care.

The paragraph below tells us more abuse occurs in families than in child day care. That's like saying more crashes occur from the public driving their cars than from planes crashing. OK. But when I give an airline money to fly on their plane I expect attention to safety so I get to my destination in one piece. The same holds if I take my child to a licensed day care. I expect my child to be alive when I come and pick him up. I expect that my child won't have permanent brain damage as a result of being in licensed child day care.

"A major concern of parents when they drop their children off at child care is the safety of their children in the hands of the caregivers. The abuse of children in out-of-home settings has generated a good deal of concern. However, all documented research in this area indicates that fewer instances of abuse occur in child care programs than in homes or residential facilities (Finkelhor & Williams, 1990; Goldman, 1993; Margolin, 1991). If abuse does occur, though, parents must be aware of several signs that are cause for concern. According to research, physical abuse most frequently occurs in the form of excessive discipline, often as a response to prior conflict with the child. Sometimes, excessive discipline may have been inadvertently supported by parental permission for corporal punishment. Although sexual abuse occurs less frequently in centers than in homes, the effects of sexual abuse on the child seems worse in centers. Sexual abuse often involves physical abuse (Schumacher & Carlson, 1999)."

The whole study fails to address the children who were permanently maimed and dead because they were in child day care.

What a study omits is more important than what is included in a study.

The study omits the regulators over licensed day care, your state, county and city governments. "Standards" don't mean anything. "Regulations" don't mean anything without the analysis of the state, county or city government bureaucratic managers.

Studies like this often are paid for by the government. When the government gives out the contracts, the money for the items to be researched are governed by the government manager officials.

I have yet to see a completed study where the state licensing agency said, "Hey, research us managers to see if we are licensing, monitoring, investigating and taking enforcement action per law."

My whistle blower reports on the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) now, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) in terms of child day care licensing, on those thirteen quality items, (through our laws) in 2005 resulted in an incomplete investigation, an investigation to this day that has not been completed. No report as required by law was written.

As they were 86ing my whistle blower reports, the State Auditor in Washington State began to conduct a performance audit on child day care licensing. Our director sent us out a memo that one was coming (how is that an audit?). That's like doing scheduled renewal visits on licensed day care facilities, they can clean up the place, get the felons off the property for a day (well for a couple of hours). That audit never made it past that one heads up memo.

The DSHS Secretary in Washington State, Robin Arnold-Williams, ordered a few of my whistle blower complaints be investigated internally (not from an outside, objective, neutral agency). The investigators before interviewing the supervisor, Darcy Taylor and other licensors promised them before hand that no disciplinary or retaliation action would be taken for speaking to them. Problems were found and then the Secretary's follow up order to do a more complete and systemic investigation may have gone by the wayside as no such record has been released to me.

It's better for the public to know rather than to not know. The government websites including the non-profit agencies' websites don't provide the most vital information that the public needs to know about licensed child day care facilities.

I told parents as a licensor and tell parents now to trust their intuition. That will be more valuable than any study and any information the government gives you through any study or information they put on their websites. All paid for by the parents' money, the taxpayers' money.

DSHS - Child Deaths in Washington State and Arizona

2011-11-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

More Arizona kids died of abuse in 2010 - Arizona News from The Arizona Republic'

Here is another state reporting an increase in child deaths in 2010 in Arizona. In Washington State in the last report I reviewed showed that almost before every child death someone had called the Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline. The review only focused on the intake worker having missed something. The report didn't study the managers who hired, oversaw and trained the intake workers.

In this Arizona news article it reported:

"CPS had not been notified in at least one-third of child-maltreatment deaths, according to the report, even though those who knew the children died of abuse or neglect were required by law to notify the agency. Those so-called mandated reporters include police, medical personnel and teachers."

It then went on to say that law enforcement had a phone line to CPS that CPS answered immediately whereas the other "professionals" who were mandatory reporters did not thus per the news article:

"...professionals must wait on hold with the general public and those waits can exceed 30 minutes. In 2009, more than 12,000 of the 123,000 callers to the child-abuse hotline hung up before they spoke with anyone."

Without the news article giving such a precise assessment one could think that there were fewer CPS reports because they couldn't get through to the hotline staff.

Did professionals not call? And was it because CPS didn't pick up the phone? Then the logical next step is to call the police if a child is in danger. Then the next logical step is to write it down and send in a report to both CPS and the police.

We been so taught to get in line through our public education careers (K-12 and most colleges) that we believe we can't think outside of the box. We can. The common person is intelligent, children are intelligent and we all have critical thinking skills and we can problem solve. I know this from teaching in the community these last five years. The community is filled with kind, feeling and competent folks.

I made a CPS report on CPS in August 2011 for failure of CPS to protect four and six year old brothers. The intake worker said, "You can't do that." Yes, I can. And he did. Then we had a meaningful conversation about the system as I am a former CPS intake/investigation social worker.

We can figure out how to be in community and maybe help out before it gets so bad we have to a call a failing government system.

Silence Can Kill

2011-10-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Silence allows child abuse to persist, worsen | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com

Excellent articles highlights the issue of silence that can lead to child deaths.

From the article:

""If (people) can see and witness harsh discipline going on in public, the odds are that things are worse in private," Taylor said."

"Nationwide, some 13,856 children died of abuse or neglect from 2001 through 2009, The National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths reports. Advocates believe the number is closer to 20,000 because of inconsistencies in fatality reporting and the inexperience of medical examiners unfamiliar with child abuse deaths."

As a former child protective services investigator I saw the same silence go on inside the government agency where I worked that was charged with the duty to protect children.

Young children, research shows, with single moms who have boyfriends increases the risk to very young ones.

Speak up and say what you see; and we will move forward to making a difference in the lives of children who are at risk.

Day Provider of the Year Arrested on Felony Charges in death of 2-month-old Avin Rominger

2011-10-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

Infant's death leads to arrest of former 'child care provider of the year' - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com

From the article above about Sheila Caceres, child care provider of the year in 2008:

"She also is being charged with "repeatedly" violating the state Health and Safety Code by placing unattended infants in the upstairs of her home, while watching older children on the first floor."

"Caceres' arrest stands in stark contrast to the image she presented in February 2008, when the Sacramento Child Care Coalition honored her as provider of the year at a downtown gala. Nominated by parents, she was lauded by government leaders and education professionals for her "commitment to building strong, trusting relationships" and her welcoming spirit."

What the article does not address is the possible failure of the state licensing agency in California for either giving her the license to begin with or not revoking the license for "repeatedly" violating. The article is not clear when the other "repeats" occurred.

As a licensor in Washington State I witnessed a provider keeping two babies upstairs in two separate rooms with both doors closed. Plus she had six other children hidden in another room. The second floor of her home was not licensed due to the fire codes. She was the only one in the house with 21 children.

Hers, also, was a repeat violation. What did my supervisor, Darcy Taylor, do? Taylor allowed licensed provider Connie King to keep her license.

I made whistle blower reports on that situation and many others to the Washington State Auditor's Whistle Blower program; and I was fired for doing so.

Now I have my own consulting business, I am an author, a trainer and I continue my whistle blowing as a private citizen to get my insider information and documents out to parents here in Washington State and across the nation.

One of my whistle blower reports to the State Auditor concerned state government managers ordering the alteration of public records then having the original records destroyed. Computer systems can make it easy to delete a record.

I advised Attorney General Rob McKenna and Governor Christine Gregoire as well of that violation of that crime. I actually advised Christine Gregoire when she was the Attorney General in 2002, the first time I had ever been ordered to change a public record in my then sixteen years with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Maybe Bill Gates being a Washingtonian and a computer genius will step forward and make a computer system where the managers can easily be exposed when they delete records out of the state computer systems.

I'll see if I can get my article to him and maybe get a reply.

DSHS Washington State & Kentucky Adoption Scandals

2011-10-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Kentucky Unjustly Terminates Parental Rights For Federal Money by Valarie Honeycutt Spears

In researching a question from one of my readers I found this article about the Whistle Blower in Kentucky who exposed the quick termination of parental rights and quick adoption out of children to qualify for the Feds $4000.00 bonus check for each of those children.

From the article above: "The attorney for former state social worker Pat Moore says Moore was fired because she criticized her supervisors for insisting that two foster children be placed with an adoptive family in Verona in Boone County even though the family, among other problems, allowed a man described in court documents as a pedophile convicted of sex crimes to be around the children."

I found my August 13, 2003 DSHS email sent to all of us social workers urging us to meet the goal of adopting out 150 more children by September 30, 2003 to reach that $4000.00 federal bonus money.

Can you imagine? In a month and a half...quick...get 150 more children adopted out to get that federal money.

Then a few years ago a bill got floated in the legislature by DSHS that essentially created the impression that...well...for those children we were not able to sell (my opinion and cynicism towards this program)...well...parental rights may be able to be restored.

I keep praying an individual out there will take on the massive investigation that rightfully should be done to give clear transparency to this issue.

I am not aware of any study about what happened to these children who were "quickly" adopted out. I know I had a couple of folks over the years who I was processing a child day care license for that were on my caseload who wanted to do foster adopt. My initial assessment was not only shouldn't they have a day care license, they were not healthy candidates to be foster or adoptive parents.

Were they allowed to adopt? I don't know, I did not have access to those records after I recommended denial that they not receive a child day care license.

A former co-worker and former foster care licensor in the state of Washington told me when I asked how many foster care parents on her caseload should not have gotten or kept a foster care license? She said 50%.

If you read my blog piece on the Manson foster parent who was also doing unlicensed child day care and read the child death review on the four babies who died while under her care...it is heartbreaking and revealing.

Out of those child deaths review the legislature strengthened the law (RCW 74.15) in 1995 to protect children. What did the unelected bureaucratic managers to over the ensuing years? Ignored the law, violated the laws made by our citizen legislature.

From the article above quoting Pat Moore's attorney:

"He said Moore was fired for going against regional management's judgment:

"The state found foster parents willing to adopt, and even though the state knew the family had major problems, the state needed to get the kids out of the 'system,' regardless of how unfit the foster parents were."

That was my experience as a social worker licensing and investigating child day care homes. Our duties under the law and regulation were simply ignored by the unelected bureaucratic managers. Then when Administrative Law Judges ruled against the state, instead of the state looking to see what they did wrong in terms of losing their cases, the state managers mucked around with the regulations related to the Office of Administrative Hearings.

When the Department of Early Learning (DEL) was created in 2006 they created new laws for this new department. They took out the protection of children piece in the law. I asked the legislature in 2007 to put it back in, put it into the law that governs the state licensing child day care providers. The legislature did, bless their hearts and integrity.

But then the unelected bureaucratic managers of DEL kept on ignoring the protection of children laws. The Washington State Supreme Court this year (2011) ruled the protection of children is the law in the Hardee v DSHS case. I'll have to look at it again, it might be Hardee v The Department of Early Learning.

Thank you to the legislature, the Appellate Court and Washington State Supreme Court for affirming the law around protecting children.

Now we watch DEL and get records through public disclosure; and see if they will obey the Washington State Supreme Court.

If they don't I will be writing about it.

Day Care - Stay at Home Dads

2011-10-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Family

I like this blog, the attitude, the caring and with such poor oversight on daycare, licensed and unlicensed; and the many sad faces I've seen in day care; the children who've been hurt and those that died to see couples managing and fathers enjoying taking care of their own kids....it is a good feeling.

From the article:

"Acknowledging that being an at-home dad is an economic privilege, most of the dads agreed that if a family is able to afford it, someone – regardless of gender – should stay home with the kids. For men in an ostensibly counter-cultural role, the sentiment felt practically retro. “My wife and I both felt we didn’t want a daycare raising our children,” said Tavill, who quoted Laura Schlesinger’s advice that there should always be a parent present when the child is awake. “We felt that if we had kids, we should raise them,” Ferguson said. These were, on the whole, men who didn’t believe in “outsourcing” (as one dad put it) child rearing."

Enjoy the article.

20 Photos of Sweet Babies now Dead - Unlicensed Care MO

2011-10-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

Missouri lawmakers urged to strengthen child care laws

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. If so, click the link and take a look at twenty babies who died in day care in Missouri.

Forty-five (45) deaths in four years. An average of elven (11) baby deaths a year.

Heartbreaking for those who loved those forty-five (45) babies.

Missouri keeps, at least, some kind of data on the deaths of little ones. Many states don't.

The people who populate our various state governments stay numbed out to the actual deaths of children. They don't go to the funerals or memorial services of these little ones. They don't send a card.

In my state of Washington they wouldn't sign a card that I brought to one of our regional meetings for two year old little sweet Hailee Rhodes who had been slammed down in a playpen by her licensed day care provider.

A simple card that said we, individual human beings in state government charged with licensing day care providers per the laws passed by our citizen legislature, cared about Hailee, that we prayed that Hailee's brain damage would not be permanent. A simple card. A loving human action. A simple act of caring, my co-workers and managers would not do.

Hailee's brain damage I was told last year is permanent.

For all the babies that died, all the children that died and those who were maimed, permanently damaged how do we describe to them our community that created and then set the conditions in which they lived then died?

How do we bring down the veil of denial?

Can we look at each of those smiley baby pictures and weep? Then speak the truth of what we know, what we see and then make a better community?

Day Care Study Done on Southern States

2011-10-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

The scary side of day care | ajc.com

As a former day care licensor in Washington State there are similarities across the many states. It would behoove all states to do valid studies on licensed and exempt folks doing day care.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution above wrote:

"Our analysis of state records for the past five years shows that at least: 8 children died, 239 were injured, 62 broke bones, 4 fractured skulls, 7 had fingers severed or amputated, 34 suffered burns, 50 wandered off."

Dead more than one child a year. It's important to understand the statistics Georgia found are "at least". They are only the incidents"found".

How many times don't we know about injuries and children wandering off?

Day Care Inspections Done Less Often than "Dog Kennels"

2011-09-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Infant death in home of "day care provider of the year": Sac County - California's Children

From the article above:

" As reporter Emily Alpert ("Voices of San Diego") noted at the time, child care facilities -- again, because of budget constraints -- are checked "less than dog kennels."

As a former day care licensor in Washington State it's not because of 'budget constraints". In 1994 when I had 260 day care providers on my caseload I made more monitor visits than are done now when caseloads are around 100 to 140 for each licensor.

When I left the agency in 2006 after making numerous whistle blower reports, open complaint investigations on my caseload numbered about twelve a month. My co-workers? Twenty-seven and thirty one respectively.

When I left in 2006 my caseload was 100. In 2003 when my caseload numbered probably about 180, my open complaint investigations still numbered about twelve a month.

Washington state government workers are not happy campers. I witnessed too many equate whining and complaining to working hard and being stressed out.

The more managers added to the day care licensing agency the harder it was to do the job. Managers often showed little interest in actually reading then complying with the laws passed by our citizen legislature. Their attitudes were very cavalier about not following the law.

A former worker now retired described her time in DSHS as "being in prison."

The conditions within this "prison" and selling ones soul to the devil makes people ill, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

If only the workers would "tell" some truth telling would bring healing to the department leading to a high performing, effective, efficient and economical agency; and thereby be celebrated by citizens.

I had a supervisor for one year who showed that it could be done...can be done.

Baby Dies in Hot Car | momlogic.com

2011-09-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Baby Dies in Hot Car | momlogic.com

Here' a a link to some of the babies that died in hot cars this year.

Something to ponder and pay attention to...and to remember these little ones.

Day Care Licensing Managers "If I Only Had a Brain"

2011-09-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

KELOLAND.com | Parent: Day Care Provider Had Too Many Kids

As the Scarecrow sang in the Wizard of Oz, "If I only had a brain."

From the article on what state child day care licensing unelected bureaucratic managers had to say:

"We've spent a lot of time discussing that and we felt as if we made the right decision we made at the time," Sioux Falls Health Director Jill Franken said. Franken says when the city inspected the daycare there was no indication that any of the kids were in danger, she just had more children than the law allow."

Being overcapacity is a danger.

From the article:

"In-home day care providers can only watch 12 children in Sioux Falls, city citations show at one point she was caught watching 17 kids."

Too many children...danger.

Do state government unelected bureaucratic managers need a tornado to swirl them up and set them down in the Land of Oz to get a brain?

"Day Care Provider of the Year" faces probe into infant's death

2011-09-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Sacramento 'child care provider of the year' faces probe into infant's death - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com

California licensing allowed "day care provider of the year" Sheila Caceres to settle rather than proceed with the revocation of her license.

From the news article:

"Days before the hearing this month, however, Caceres agreed to settle the matter without conceding any wrongdoing. On Sept. 9, the state ordered a lifetime ban on her operating a day care center. Morgan, her attorney, said it was simply too expensive for Caceres to fight the case."

What I've witnessed as a former day care licensor in Washington State is that as egregious violations piled up and children were maimed or even died that the state licensing agency moved to "settlements".

The real purpose of these "settlements" in some of the cases that I am aware and in my opinion were done to keep secret, failures of the state child day care licensing agency, managers their failure to license per law and regulation, their failure to monitor, their failure to investigate properly and their failure to take enforcement action.

Child day care licensing laws originally were passed to protect children. The Washington State law continues to have that language. I'm not aware of California's law.

From the article: "The state also alleged that she operated the facility over capacity and that at one point last year, Caceres "failed to notify the licensing office of an unusual incident in which a child wandered away from the facility and was found in the street."

She was accused of leaving chemicals and medications accessible to children. And, the state alleged, that "on more than one occasion from approximately 2009 to 2010" she took a day care child with her to another home and "engaged in sexual activity in the presence of the child."

Licensing laws were passed to protect children.

State licensing agency managers have allowed folks operating at overcapacity, that don't have enough staff and use isolated areas of the home that are not licensed to continue caring for vulnerable children. In too many cases licensing managers after a child died, the state agency then took action to revoke a license.

In Washington State even though it's a law, the state licensing agency, the Department of Early Learning will not post the names of the licenses revoked. Some folks even after a death will go back to providing day care.

Maybe the Sacramento Bee could do an in depth investigation on California's licensing agencies to get a more full picture.

There was time in Washington State that the Attorney General's Office said revocation action is the only appropriate response to folks who put children at risk. Settlements were not done.

Day Care - Washington State Taxpayers Out $3 Million Dollars in One Year

2011-09-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Audit: Washington paid too much for child care | The Columbian

In the time I was a licensor inside DSHS the controls mentioned in this article by the Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Washington were no better then they are today.

From the news article:

"In 2010, approximately 60,000 children were enrolled in the program for either full-day or half-day care. That year, the program paid more than $300 million to nearly 19,000 providers, including 7,400 who were licensed or certified by the Department of Early Learning.

Auditors compared daily child care attendance records with paid invoices for 146 providers, including one provider in Clark County who received a $95 overpayment"

I'm a little unclear and incredulous; did the state overpay by almost $3 million dollars to just the 146 providers audited?

Out of 19,000 providers then only 146 were audited? Less than one percent.

How much then is the real overpayment cost to the taxpayer each year? And for the last twenty years.

Day Care and Bobbi Gentry

2011-09-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

Bobbi Gentry on Smothers Brothers utube - Yahoo! Search Results

What you might say does Bobbi Gentry's Ode to Billie Joe have to do with day care?

People for decades have scratched their heads trying to figure out what the heck did she and Billie Joe throw off the Tallahatchie Bridge.

When asked Bobbi Gentry said it was a song about indifference that someone we know could die and we don't have feelings about it. Instead we say, "Pass the biscuits, please ... I think I'll have another piece of apple pie."

Are we numbed out? And in particular are people inside state and federal government who are duty bound by law to protect children numbed out? If we can't express our feelings, grieve for those who died what happens in our decision making in life?

As a former child protective service (CPS) social worker I saw many numbed out co-workers. A training I took in the last few years identified that 45% of social workers come from a childhood where they were hurt. How many of that 45% are healed from the devastation they experienced as children? According to one national child abuse center I contacted no studies are known to have been done on that 45%.

Social workers are also day care licensors.

If one is not healed from what happened to them as children denial will come into play when investigating reports of children being abused. You can't see what is too painful to bring to the light of day.

Something to think about as you click on the link and join Bobbi Gentry and her family for dinner as they discuss the death of a young person, Billy Joe McAllister.

A thanks to Tommy and Dick Smothers' creative team for putting together this stark compelling visual to accompany Bobbi Gentry's song.

Day Care - Son of former Marysville WA day care owner charged with sexually abusing children - Marysville Globe

2011-09-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

Son of former Marysville day care owner charged with sexually abusing children - Marysville Globe

This newspaper missed important background information. This is the day care King 5 News investigators found made over $232,000.00 dollars, taxpayer dollars in her daycare, Anne Ladale Moore. By the time of the King 5 News report the Department of Early Learning had suspended the license without disclosing why.

Five months later we find out the allegations. Now allegations of sexual abuse have been disclosed about Anne Ladale Moore's son and we find out this occurred in Idaho where she and he lived previously.

When I got Anne Ladale Moore's records through public disclosure they showed, in addition, she was working another job.

The background check for many years has been a problem that I as an inside witness, that I as a licensor brought up to managers, all the way up through the chain of command to DSHS Secretary, the governor and, in addition, through the State Auditor I made whistle blower reports over five years ago about this issue.

Some of the documents required to have been submitted years ago where one could discern, see gaps and inconsistencies whereby further documents could be requested were made irrelevant. In 2009 I saw a background clearance form that returned some of that data gathering to a form. I'm not aware how it changed the processes and practices.

Five years after my whistle blower report the State Auditor found my allegations were founded, and wrote a report about the problems with background clearance checks in the Department of Early Learning.

A thank you to the Washington State legislature for passing a bill this year to fingerprint all applicants.

Prayers to these little ones mentioned in the stories.

Being violated in one's private areas and being violated emotionally is devastating to young children. Even once can last a lifetime.

My Website - Child Care Consulting - Home Page

2011-09-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Child Care Consulting - Home

In Day Care 57 Times in 5 Years Children Left in Cars

2011-09-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

From the article below:

"The joint investigation found Jazmin’s death was the most tragic example of a very large problem. Records obtained from the state Department of Early Care and Learning showed daycare workers left children in vehicles 57 other times over the last five years."

Investigation shows large number of children left in hot vans - News Story - WSB Atlanta

Also from the article which shows, in my opinion, a bureaucratic mind set:

We can pass rules all day long,” said Cagle. “We can train all day long. We can do public awareness campaigns, but if a person ultimately decides to ignore a rule, that’s something that we can’t factor in.”

Nothing is said about revoking licenses of folks who violate the rules and put children at risk.

I am glad Channel 2 News in Atlanta, Georgia dug into the background of this story. I'd like to see the same thing done in every state.

From a former licensor's perspective 57 times in 5 years is just the number of which the government licensing agency had knowledge. When managers won't allow licensors to make unannounced monitor visits a reasonable person can conclude 57 times in 5 years is likely the low end of the actual number.

Deaths of children in hot cars has been on the rise in the last five years.

Day Care - Russian Roulette - Too Many Children - Children not Supervised

2011-09-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

As a former day care licensor, in my witnessing, overcapacity and leaving children unattended is a big issue my managers ignored.

At times I was directly ordered not to check on day cares with a violation history of having too many children. One I've written about before had 21 children by herself. The law and her license required the day care provider could only have 12 with an assistant.

This article gives some examples in Massachusetts of unattended children in day care.

Unattended children a common nightmare - BostonHerald.com

Getting the truth out to parents is one important means to bring the spotlight to this problem. Parents are not being given the information they need to make decisions on where to put their children while they go to work.

Rather than revoking licenses too many times states have allowed day cares to continue in operation until a child dies ... then they revoke.

Citizen legislators passed child protection laws for a reason and government managers have ignored those laws too many times.

Whose Minding State Government?

2011-09-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

I've noticed commonalities of failure regarding state government across the nation. This news article is about Oklahoma.

It is the most transparent truth telling account of why children die in state care.

The depositions tell the story.

How they got around the Public Open Meetings Act tells the story.

DHS commissioners ignored suit, audit calling for reform | NewsOK.com

Taxpayer Unions

2011-09-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

It may be worth contemplating what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in 1937 about public unions as referenced in this Washington Times article linked below.

FDR vs. Wisconsin Teachers - Washington Times

FDR: "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters."

I recommend the reader Google John Taylor Gatto who wrote The Underground History of American Education. My older grandson, Isaiah, at age six wanted me to read this book to him; and then his younger brother, Cole, age four chimed in that yes, for me to read to them from this book. This book had turned Isaiah's agony in trying to learn to read the way the public school set it up, to joy by my creating a "secret code book" for Isaiah, from using John Taylor Gatto's ideas in his book.

Kids listen and when Isaiah heard me talking to my son about what I was learning from Taylor's book, Isaiah went over and started flipping through the book. I paid attention and followed his interests. At age six and four both boys sat with me at the table for two hours with no fidgeting and no having to go to the bathroom. They were engrossed about the real world of adults, about the lives of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

We were a highly literate nation in 1831 (ask Alexis de Tocqueville) then by 1854 or 1857 (I'll have to look up the date again) through a legislative act Congress created the first taxpayer union, the NEA (National Education Association) thus beginning the slide downward. Reforms since by and large continue that decline. In 1930 phonics got kicked to the curb and we got Dick and Jane. By 1935 we had our first epidemic of dyslexia. By 1955 Rudolf Flesch wrote Why Johnny Can't Read.

I've subbed in the school districts in the last few years and took a look at the latest "how to teach reading" materials. It's like a mishmash of "look-say" and phonics, fragments of this and that. It's not hard to learn how to read, but it's made hard. When Isaiah surged ahead and did a week's worth of reading homework in one night he got reprimanded by the teacher (think To Kill a Mockingbird).

I asked a friend, long time teacher, "How did public education start?" She thought it had to do with the Industrial Revolution that it began as a babysitting facility where kids would be put to be safe. That topic wasn't covered in the teacher college she attended. I suspect many if not most teachers don't know the beginnings of this thing called "public education."

I bring this up because we have a fascinating 150 year history to look back on that makes it possible to make other decisions today.

The article below gives a direct scenario how the taxpayer who pays the unions is not allowed at the so-called bargaining table of these taxpayer unions.
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/neal-boortz-public-union-861337.html

I got to be on the receiving end this year of SEIU "union organizing". What did they do to contact me to see if I wanted unionizing? Nothing. Then I got a ballot to fill out to vote, but I wasn't allowed be at the vote counting. Did SEIU contact me to tell me the outcome of the vote? NO. What contact did I have next from SEIU?

If you guessed SEIU wanted more money from me, you would be right.

FDR was right.

DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddock Directly Contacted Washington State Supreme Court Justice Alexander, Unorthodox or unethical?

2011-09-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote a blog article regarding two contradictory events that happened in 2001.

On one hand we, social workers and managers, were getting high quality investigative training by nationally recognized law enforcement personnel and I emailed DSHS Dennis Braddock on March 15, 2001 with wholehearted thanks.

Dennis replied to me: "Thanks for your message. Sounds like well worth the effort." Then Dennis forwarded my emailed to Bernie Friedman, the guy hired to reduce the number of lawsuit payouts by helping DSHS perform better.

Bernie wrote in his email me back in March 2001: "I am very interested in training on investigatory techniques as a risk management tool, so any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated."

By April 2001 I made a series of allegations regarding my managers ordering public records be altered by writing a new records and destroying the original ones, my allegations went directly to Dennis Braddock, DSHS Secretary. Until this date I had never been ordered to alter records where then the managers had the original destroyed.

On August 3, 2001 Dennis Braddock, DSHS Secretary wrote directly to Washington State Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander that he, Dennis, analyzed that the increased payouts in lawsuits were a result of media stories.

Quoted from the article linked below that was written in 2005: "...Dennis Braddock, took the unorthodox step of writing Chief Justice Gerry Alexander of the Washington Supreme Court to complain that the publicity generated by lawyers and reporters was hurting the agency." It's unclear from the news article if this was another contact Dennis made just as he was leaving his post in 2005 or refers back to the 2001 contact with Chief Justice Gerry Alexander.

Bernie Friedman's 2006 obituary mentioned he felt like he had to quit in 2004 in part because of conflict with the Attorney General who was now to become governor.

I was sad to find a Risk Management report Bernie prepared dated October 29, 2004 where he focused not on the poor management of DSHS but blamed juries for being outraged at children and developmentally disabled adults who were abused while under care of the state and being told "to send a message" by attorneys. Rather than suggesting that DSHS functioning be improved as he indicated to me in 2001 Bernie wrote: "The liability environment will not be changed without legislative intervention."

My intuition and experience from being inside DSHS for so long is that Bernie got pressure to write that and I bet that laid heavy on his soul after he quit.

Whether Dennis said that both in 2005 and 2001 when Dennis left the agency on March 27, 2005 Dennis wrote and sent each of us a goodbye letter which in part reads: "You have heard that the DSHS Secretary's job is one of the hardest in the State. I must say that has just not been the case for me."

My question is it unorthodox or unethical for the DSHS Secretary to have such contact with the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court? Is it wholesale ex parte contact given the many cases against DSHS over the years including Dennis Braddock's years? I'm trying to do research to find out the answer to that question. Anyone know?

I have a January 3, 2005 email from a DSHS supervisor who wrote me when I asked why we were being ordered not to put emails in licensing files: "The AAG has told us not to include emails in provider files otherwise the licensor's computer can be subpoena"

From 2002 through 2011 this author still has been requesting the Attorney General release an opinion about the concealment, the alteration, the removal and destruction of public records out of current and established licensing files in violation of the Records Retention Act.

Maybe now that Rob McKenna is running for the office of governor he will compose and release his opinion?

If McKenna doesn't will we have more and more of secret government preventing oversight by the citizens ... you know, government of the people, by the people and for the people?

SR.com: New DSHS boss has daunting task

Rolling Around Heaven all Day: Colleen Hill on her 43rd Birthday

2011-09-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm re-posting my tribute to Colleen after her death in October 2008. The lesson and the teaching of Colleen Hill being in this world, is that the individual is powerful; and that a small group of people can move mountains even when it seems all odds (and money) are against them. Happy birthday Colleen, like that Lucky Ole Sun you get to roll around heaven all day.

Colleen Hill

Parents in Washington State lost a voice this week with the death of Colleen Hill (born September 11, 1968 and died October 29, 2009) in Snohomish, Washington.

There are people because of their hearts and integrity are compelled to respond to those devious and underhanded.

Unable to let Washington State parents' children be used to fill the coffers of a former Pennsylvania social service state bureaucratic worker, Andy Stern, the autocratic, dictator president of SEIU, an organization claiming to be a union of the people and for the people (but is not) Colleen spoke up and organized.

Andy Stern learned from being that former state government worker what a cash cow state government was and has been bringing in the taxpayers' money ever since.

Colleen Hill, small business entrepreneur, child care center owner, past president of the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce became the most articulate, most from the heart activist and the most dynamic listened-to-speaker at the Capitol in Olympia to educate the legislature on what an out-of-state union in name only was doing and further planning to do using your children to fill Andy Stern's SEIU coffers with your money.

Because Colleen truly put children first, her passion, vitality was evident to everyone including the Washington State legislature. With heart, passion and humor Colleen did what was right. Colleen didn't let an organization like SEIU with millions and millions of dollars at Andy Stern's disposal frighten or stop Colleen from doing what was right.

David vs Goliath. Colleen Hill went to Capitol Hill in Olympia and faced down the growing behemoth that had been SEIU.

Because of Colleen, Candi Doran, Ginger Still, Senators Hatfield and Hobbs, a small band of child care centers and others including Washington Parents for Safe Child Care and Child Care Consulting in Washington State (and others), the in-name-only, so-called union, SEIU for the first time in Washington State history was defeated in 2007 and then again in 2008 from using your children and taking your money.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)

Colleen Hill will be remembered, missed and yet she leaves a striking image, a ready smile, a spunky-kind-truth-teller, a role model who continues to inspire others as we craft Colleen Hill truth-telling-moments to come.

We miss, honor and appreciate. Colleen Hill will not be forgotten.

Hold State Gov't Unelected Bureaucratic Managers Accountable

2011-09-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

From my inside view, from being a 20 plus years as a Washington State government social worker, government managers must be held accountable.

I had an intersection moment with Bernie Friedman, the government's attorney hired to lessen risk to children and families by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) thus cutting the number of lawsuit payouts, and DSHS Secretary, Dennis Braddock.

I look at the current government players in DSHS and the Attorney General working to remove accountability in Washington State government.

The citizens of Washington have historically demanded that government be accountable to the people, more so than in other states in our great country.

In 2001 we (government social workers and managers) were given investigative training by national high class investigation experts as a result of a lawsuit settlement.

It was the most stellar training I ever had in DSHS. I immediately wrote an email to DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddock to praise him for giving us this training. I wanted to know who pulled together that training. Dennis emailed Bernie Friedman my email; and Bernie emailed me back.

Then behind the scenes two diametrically opposed events (I got emails through public disclosure showing what was unfolding) began to occur.

My child day care licensing managers instead of replicating the original training as conceptualized by the lawsuit settlement began giving training that took out essential elements of an investigation, like calling the referent back, confirming the information contained within the complaint referral and asking additional questions to get a clear picture of the complaint and what evidence might exist; and who else we might interview.

Meanwhile Dennis Braddock's focus was to attempt to change the law whereby citizens of Washington State could hold the government accountable. From the emails I read Dennis' position wasn't how great it was that social workers finally got stellar training on how to conduct investigations ... it was simply to make the government unaccountable.

DSHS put on the their website that the government's child day care licensing agency could not take any action on licensed day care unless there was "imminent harm" to children. DSHS used a CPS (child protective services) law (RCW 26.44) related to private families and applied it to licensed day care rather than identifying the child day care licensing law (RCW 74.15) which states that the health, safety and well-being is paramount over anyone having a right to care for children. .

DSHS would not correct the error on their website even when they admitted (through emails I got) that my take on the law was correct. In addition, DSHS would not tell me who was responsible for writing this untruth that parents would read on the DSHS website.Government secrecy.

Now our current Attorney General, Rob McKenna, appears to be on the same path. One more attorney general that is running for the office of governor. It's interesting to contemplate this trend.

Check out both linked articles below and see what you make of this move to simply make all government all powerful and take away citizens' rights to hold our government accountable.

From the obituary article on Bernie:

"Five years later, under Mr. Friedman — a sharp, blunt, cigar-loving lawyer — the state's most-sued agency had cut its annual payouts to an average of $10 million (this from a high of 47 million dollar payouts). The results seemed to assure Mr. Friedman's job security. But he feared he had stepped on too many toes, especially in the Attorney General's Office, and he resigned when former Attorney General Christine Gregoire became governor."

Washington State Association for Justice

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003182524_friedmanobit08m.html

From the Washington State Association for Justice article:

"The experience of the state has shown that aggressive prioritization of risk management and loss prevention programs is the best deterrent to incidents causing injuries and harm, and subsequent liability for causing that harm. These programs are the best of both worlds—they prevent injuries from occurring while also saving the state money. In 2003 and 2004, when these programs began and were emphasized, payouts dropped an astonishing 75% in one biennium, and stayed in that range for five years. Only when the emphasis faded did payouts start to rise. We need to get back to trying to prevent injuries and suffering, and thus the payouts that can go with them."

Looking back from my historical perspective Bernie Friedman got blow back for taking the stance, hey government managers do a better job.

Without a Bernie Friedman looks like, in my opinion, the attorneys general and the DSHS managers are perhaps being too chummy which is leading to, hey, let's do away with this citizen accountability law.

Bernie left and things slid back the other way...more children being maimed and dead and instead of hiring another Bernie Friedman to do truth telling to government, the attorney general, governor, DSHS and such other state entities are pushing, in my opinion, on your citizen legislators to simply, to never hold government accountable if they do a poor job, to not allow citizens to ask other citizens in the community through presenting to a jury, "what do you think?"

I've been on a jury and I've testified to a jury. I respect juries. Juries are the citizens, juries are us. It is the citizen holding the government responsible.

From Margaret Meade, anthropologist, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

A jury is a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens. You, your friends and neighbors are a group of thoughtful, committed citizens.

I encourage all to keep the citizen stewardship in holding Washington State government accountable. Your senators and representatives would be happy to hear you. Otherwise, they have to contend only with special interest groups swarming like locusts through the Capitol and legislative offices during the legislative sessions.

How Come South Dakota Can Give Parents Vital Information But Washington State Won't?

2011-09-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

More data added to day care website | The Argus Leader | argusleader.com

Click above to see article and within article is a link to a South Dakota website that gives parents not only inspection information but also revocation and suspension information. And it doesn't appear that a state law was passed like in Washington State to do so. Type in the name "Smith" and see one inspection note.

From the Souix City article:

"The city of Sioux Falls has added revoked and suspended providers to the searchable web page.

The webpage also shows whether a day care has been inspected. Only providers who are new or have complaints are inspected.The move comes after the city revoked day care provider Connie Edwards registration after 4-month-old Meredith Ulmer was found unconscious and not breathing June 30 at the in-home day care of Edwards at 1816 S. Remington Circle in west-central Sioux Falls."

What has to happen for the unelected bureaucratic managers in the Department of Early Learning (DEL) in Washington State to add this information?

Getting State Government Records - Public Records - Day Care & Public Records

2011-08-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

In helping a parent to some degree understand the workings of DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) I had the opportunity to interface with my old agency (DSHS) in Vancouver, Washington and to meet with a former co-worker who advised the parent could make a public disclosure request; that it would take thirty days.

I advised my former DSHS co-worker, Patrick Dixson, a CPS social worker, the law states five business days to produce a record. With elevated energy he said, no, thirty days. The law, I confirmed to him, states five days. I assured him the law states five business days. He emphatically continued to disagree. Later the father after he had talked with Mr. Dixson reported Mr. Dixson was told him he wouldn't get records for six to eight weeks.

I've copied in portions of the public disclosure law below. All boldings are mine. Legal language can be dense so I highlighted portions for a citizen who wants to make a public disclosure request for either their child protective services (CPS) or for day care records. I've bolded the most important portions and phrasings in the law.

When I worked for DSHS I found the same disregard of the law and when laws were identified to various unelected managers, they seemingly acted as if their pronouncements were law not what the citizen legislature had enacted.

Copied below are relevant portions of the law from Washington State's public disclosure law or the Public Records Act.

"42.56.520
Prompt responses required.

Finding -- 2010 c 69: "The internet provides for instant access to public records at a significantly reduced cost to the agency and the public. Agencies are encouraged to make commonly requested records available on agency web sites. When an agency has made records available on its web site, members of the public with computer access should be encouraged to preserve taxpayer resources by accessing those records online."

I'll get a copy to DSHS in Vancouver, Washington and see if DSHS Area Managers, either Bill Paresa or Cindy Hardcastle and see if DSHS will follow the intent of the law.