Pocono News Section

Day Care Disgust

Day Care Disgust - Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 4:15PM EST

SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - Officials say children at a Pocono Day Care Center were put "in imminent danger by being there." So now the 4 Kidz Christian Academy Preschool and Day Care Center is closed. Eyewitness News found out why.
Every day Joanne Johnson and WIlliam Renkel look past the busy route 209 traffic at the Christian Academy's playground.
Saturday, they noticed something unusual along the road. JoAnne said, "I seen this little girl running toward the street." The toddler, just 16 months old, was about to step into traffic and Joanne screamed, “The baby’s running, go get her, go get her!” William darted across the street and grabbed the child. He said, “Somebody could have hit the baby and it would've been the end of the baby.”

The incident was apparently not the first trouble at that Day Care. Kris Huse owns the business next door, United Hairlines. He told Eyewitness News he saw workers abuse kids three times. "My blood was boiling," he said. He explained he once saw someone drag a child, and twice saw workers smack kids. He reported, “The lady jumped up grabbed the boy started screaming at him - smacked him alongside his cheek - slammed him down in a chair and kept on yelling at him."

Kris told Eyewitness News he reported two of the incidents to Monroe County Children and Youth but he doesn't know if anyone investigated. Monroe County Commissioner Suzanne McCool could not tell Eyewitness News what happened with the case. She explained, “We can't go out and say we did what we did because of the laws of confidentiality.”

McCool did say Day Care Centers are not Children and Youth's responsibility. The Department of Public Welfare Regulates them. A department spokesperson said the 4 Kidz Christian Academy had dozens of violations over the past two years. The most recent was the girl wandering away.

The department did an investigation and got all the kids out of the building Tuesday. On Wednesday they made sure the place was shut down. The doors remain locked.

A woman named Theresa told Eyewitness News she is the Center Director. She claimed she and her employees are cooperating with investigators. She said, " They're upset, they're upset we've been here almost ten years and nothing like this ever happened.”

Everyone involved said no matter who may be responsible for letting a little girl wander near the road, parents are responsible for finding quality day care.

4 Kidz Christian Academy Preschool and Day Care Center still has its license. The Department of Public Welfare says it is suspended until an investigation is complete. They hope to finish that investigation within the next few weeks.
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Pocono officials and day care providers say there are some things you can do to make sure your child has a good caregiver. Several of them shared advice during a Thursday afternoon News Conference. They said parents can pick up sheets with suggested questions to ask providers at the Monroe County Children and Youth office.

They also said to make sure your day care is accredited and don't be afraid to stop in to watch how children are being treated. Ask how many kids each employee cares for and find out if staff turnover is high. They told us it may take time but it is worth the effort.
Family Care Provider Angela Bayer said, "The first five years of a child's life are the most important years. 90% of their brain develops at that point. They are little sponges and they need the best possible care."

A public service called Childcare Information Services can help you find the right day care. You can reach the service at 570-420-3590.

To report child abuse at a Day Care Center you should call the Department of Public Welfare at 1-800-222-2108.
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