DD says she was spanked at daycare today and other issues - Page 2

[e&r]

Where do you live? (which state?)

In Washington State it is against licensing rules to spank *any* child, including your own. I know this because I just recently went through the orientation for home child care.

Even if it not against the licensing rules (which I would be very surprised about) it is surely against the law in your state for someone else to strike your child. As far as I know, there are only a few states which allow corporal punishment for non-parental caregivers. Perhaps formal charges through law enforcement, also - through child protective services, and then also file a complaint through licensing.

Please take this seriously. Ask to see the state statutes governing home child care. Many states have their code online. In Washington it is called the Washington Administrative Code or W.A.C. and you can look up rules for dealing with discipline in a home child care setting.

No one should strike a child in their care. There is no excuse. Even if the child poses a danger (and, of course, your's did not) there are strick rules governing restraint.

Good luck finding alternate care. PM or email me if you need more info - I'll try my best to help you.

Ellen

[Foobar]

Ok- I am going to take a slighty different approach. Right now, the daycare provider said she DIDN'T spank while your daughter said she DID. Do I have it right?

Is it possible that she really didn't spank your daughter? Could your dd be so upset about the accident that she made up the spanking? (remember that in small children lying and making up are not exactly the same thing to them)

If you are really not comfortable with the daycare anyway, you should switch, but you might want to talk to your dd again and really confirm if that did happen.

[Satori]

dd is just now begining to make things up and based on her behavior when she's told she's going there and the behavior she displays after going there I have to believe something is going on. I've been talking to the school psych at dd's preschool and she agree's that based on the behavior were seeing somethings wrong (were not thinking molestation or anything) and dd needs to be removed. She even tried calling dd's new school to find out where she's at on the waiting list becasue they couldn't give me an answer and see if she could speed it up (its an all day program which I need childcare wise and dd will thrive there becasue of her needs) but they said probably this summer I'm going to have to take out an ad in the paper which is really scary and field calls from a bunch of unquailifed people. Maybe instead of a phone number i'll leave an email address and just email those responding with my requirements and if there still interested interview them. Think that would actually work?


ps: sorry if the spelling sucks, new computer and haven't installed Office yet so no spell checker

[Foobar]

Ok- I just wanted to throw that out there.


I have found sitters over the web before.
I would try that. Also check with your church/temple/mosque and see if there is anyone there. Check with your town for daycare providers.

Good luck!

[Clarity]

really, can you tell us what state you're in? Mine for example, has parent resource centers you can call, visit, or check out online to help find childcare placement. We might be able to track down a website or phone # for you if we know your state. If you're near a city, craigslist.com usually has a childcare forum for each city, plus lot of other childcare-centered websites.

[Satori]

I'm in CA, the local childcare agency is Community Connection for Childcare and i've called every single daycare in this area and none are suitable for dd I just picked up a paper today and there's a new daycare in there thats 24 hour in home that I called and they didn't seem phased by dd's severe peanut allergy (which is what is causing so much trouble in finding placement) but I dont think she really understood it either but I have an appt to meet with her tomorrow and there's a SAHM looking for a kid to watch to so i'll give her a call as well. I told dd she would have to go to daycare today becasue I cant take her to work today and she looked absolutly terrified and started crying. Needless to say she's at work with my mother playing in the nursery but that doesn't give me much time as she's getting a new boss and chances are he wont put up with her being there. I'm also placing a ad in the paper today to start looking for someone.

[e&r]

thanks for the info on your state (CA)

I will try to look up the info about rules for home daycares in CA. It is probably good that you are in a large state - they will probably have similar rules as other large states.

In an earlier post you said that there were people in the home that you were not informed about. In WA state *no one* can be in the home while the children are there if they have not gone through a criminal background check and are listed as your assistant. *no one*

This means:
house guests - including the caregivers own parents

other care givers - I asked if my grandparents-in-law could come to watch my little one; the answer is "only if they have gone through the criminal background check and assistant process"

spouse of caregiver - yes, even spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.

caregivers own children above a certain age - I think that it is 16 years old.

friends of the caregiver

neighbors

even parents of the children in care cannot be left alone with any child except their own - not even for a minute!

This rule protects everyone, though it may sound incovenient and harsh. It especially protects the children in care.

If nothing else (if you can't "prove" she spanked your child) you should call her licenser and state that you were wondering about the other people in the home.

You should know, though, that you do not need to prove anything. If your daughter says that she was spanked then that is all you need to file a report with Child Protective Services. In my experience they gently and skillfully interview the child and can usually (not always) figure out what really happened.

Good luck and please keep us informed. I will now do a search of the CA rules regarding home child care.

Ellen

[e&r]

okay, here it is:

Family Child Care Homes - Criminal Background Exemption
It might take a few minutes to download - it's a pdf document.

This is not the complete law, just an update as of 2002. Basically, it states that there should be two posters at your child care stating the law about Criminal Background Checks and your rights as parents.

All members of the household need to have background checks. The exemption is not about whether or not to have a check, but whether someone with a criminal record is allowed on the site. This means that the state *may* allow someone to be on site with a minor offense (non-violent, perhaps a traffic violation), but that you have a right to ask if anyone has an exemption and the care provider must document that she/he provided you with that information. It also sounds like you were to sign something with this info on it - so that you would know your rights - and that that document should be in your child's file.

There are serious fines for not following the rule. If your provider has someone in the home without a background check it seems to me, based on the little that I read, that there could be a fine of up to $50 per day for this violation as well as the risk of the loss of license.

Anyway, good luck and I hope that this info is helpful.

Ellen