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Startling! Distressing! Unconscionable!
A few words to describe the findings of a legislative performance audit of the state’s Bureau of Child Care Licensing (BCCL).
To protect children from potential harm, state law says serious criminal offenders may not provide child care and may not reside in homes where child care is provided. Yet the audit found the BCCL has granted child day care licenses to facilities where the provider, their employees or family members have been convicted of serious crimes. The audit identified 28 such individuals. In one instance, according to the audit, an offender who received an exclusion by the state later abused a child who was in his wife’s care.
Yes, startling, distressing and unconscionable! In KSL’s view, changes in the way child care licenses are granted can’t be made soon enough.
Thankfully, the BCCL has a new director, and both he and his boss, the Executive Director of the State Health Department say no more exclusions will be granted and the statute will be strictly enforced.
Nothing less will do.
Every parent faced with placing a child in a state licensed child day care facility deserves assurances that laws, regulations and procedures established to protect children are being fully followed and enforced.
