Monday, January 9, 2012

Day Care, Food Programs and the Military

In 2011 retired generals testified to the Washington State legislature to focus on high quality daycare and preschools because they are afraid they won't have enough young people join the military when the economy gets better. It's the same reason the federal government started the federal food program during WW II. Makes you ponder, ey?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

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

Amazon.com: DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 eBook: Margo Logan, Delle Jacobs, Michelle Hunt: Kindle Store

My book went up on Amazon.com on New Year's Eve. It is a memoir/anthology. It is about my journey into DSHS as a child protective social worker and then as a family home child day care licensor my journey out of the agency when I went public with what I had witnessed. My book is a conversation with the parents and citizens of my home state, Washington.
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.

Monday, January 2, 2012

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

State Shuts Down Spokane Valley Daycare For History Of Non-Compliance Issues - Local News - Spokane, WA - msnbc.com

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) does not post information on their website if a provider is out of compliance. DEL had started at one point of scanning in the violation of regulation sheets then stopped.

I heard through other sources that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) complained so DEL quit posting that information. Only a small minority of day care providers are active in SEIU and they didn't want compliance violations posted. Did DEL willingly go along with that view?

From the article below you can see how tricky, almost sleight of hand DEL responded to the media's question about the out of compliance issue.

"A letter sent to Kids Are Us on September 1st of 2010 advised Berland of these issues and allowed the daycare to stay open while Berland appealed the state's findings. Today, more than a year and three months later, their appeal was officially denied. KHQ dug deeper to find out what requirements day care providers have to notify parents in case they are not in compliance. The answer is, there is none. Kara Klotz, a spokesperson for the Department of Early Learning, said "There is no requirement in state law or rules that licensed providers communicate a revocation letter to parents. We do maintain licensees' status on our website which shows when a licensee is in no referral status."

The media asked one question and DEL's media spokesperson avoided the actual question and flipped it over to whether there is a law that licensed providers are to inform parents if their license is revoked.

Well, first of all you can't require a "licensed" provider whose licensed has been revoked to do anything as  she is no longer a "licensed" provider.

DEL did not tell the reporter there doesn't have to be a law for DEL to post non-compliance on their website. DEL didn't tell the reporter that a 2007 law, RCW 43.215.370 requires DEL to post on their website revocation action taken by DEL.

But if you look today Spokane Valley Day Care no longer exists on DEL's website and the lawful "shall" requirement is not met:

"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.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

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

State regulators close down MLK center day care in Spokane - Spokesman Mobile - Dec. 31, 2011

This Spokane child day care center was shut down for violation of the fire codes. From the article:

"The city offered to provide the certificate as long as certain standards were met, including an inspection by a state fire marshal and the hiring of a “fire watch” to be present at the center at all times. A representative of the state Department of Early Learning, which oversees child care centers, said the department went beyond the deadline to give the MLK center, which serves about 250 to 300 families, more opportunities to meet the requirements."

I'm glad to see another center weigh in on this article, a center that follows the law. As a former licensor I had a provider on my caseload who said to me on each visit, "Why do you let them have a license? It's not hard to follow the regulations."

The very reason that child day care licensing was enacted by the legislature in 1966 was due to a fire that killed four children.

A certain minority segment of day care providers have been flipping off the rules for years. If DEL is enforcing the laws now kudos to them. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled in July 2011 that the law that has been on the books since before 1995 is, indeed, the law. The law states that the health, safety and well-being of the child is paramount over a person thinking they have a right to a license.

If DEL will now enforce the regulations consistently and fairly then kudos to them. For that certain minority segment of providers who have been whining about the regulations for years, it is never too late to become a successful small business person. I've recommended before that folks get with your local SCORE Chapter to help you do that, get with successful business executives.

Many years ago I had an intern do a fire drill study on my caseload (I had 260 on my caseload). The random sample showed poor compliance with doing fire drills and/or doing them incorrectly. It's a mindset that must change.

Unless there is something I am missing from this story, I have to give kudos to the Department of Early Learning for enforcing the regulations.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

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

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.

Friday, December 30, 2011

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

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
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

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