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This story was aired on our local nightly news last night. The story is is about how "inadequate" our states licensing department is, in regards to CA not having an online database of provider (FCC/preschool/afterschool etc) records. Now, I started off reading the article and agreeing, sure wouldn't it be nice to have all the info in one place.....until....you get to that ONE paragraph
"Calling or visiting such a little-known office is too high a barrier for busy parents of young children, the state auditor concluded in a 2006 report. The offices are open only during typical work hours, and most parents who send their children to child care do so because they’re at work."
And that did it for me. Making a phone call to check the backround of the person who you are entrusting with your child's life is "too much of a barrier"
I just don't know what to say. Yes, our states licensing agency is prob not the greatest. Yes, there are so e awful providers out there who make a bad name for us all. I won't disagree that. But I've always received a call back within 24hrs. Furthermore, parents in CA are given the provider lic # along with the phone number for the local community care licensing department with their notice of parents rights.
Now, I've ranted on. What are your thoughts?
He wouldn't tell me why at first but I said after 7yrs with her that he owed me an explanation! He said she was entering a treatment facility for alcoholism. No details. His sister on the other hand was more than willing to tell me ALL the details. How she drove drunk with my kids, she had been called on numerous occasions to help because our provider was so out of it. She have me a specific incident that I remembered and it made sense. My dh & I had argued probably 18 mos prior that he thought she was maybe indulging a little close to pickup because she seemed really loopy when he picked up early one day. There were times my toddler was wearing the baby's clothes and the baby wearing the toddler's clothes but chalked it up to being busy. There were several red flags looking back but I trusted her so much, she was more like a sister to me than just a daycare provider. We went camping together, we did other things together after hours, we were friends too. I eventually turned her in when it was called by a social worker asking about my experience at her daycare and if anything out of the norm happened. I was worried about lying to this person and told them what happened. But I also told them she went to treatment and I took my kids back after because she said she was better but recently switched to in-home provider a couple months before and hadn't heard from her since leaving her care (which was weird as well...) I assumed something horrible happened and felt awful. It turns out they were investigating something else altogether. Why didn't the provider give me a heads up? Why didn't she give me a heads up? Did she expect me to lie when they called? That was the end of our friendship and the beginning of a lot of issues with her. The only thing they could cite her for was sleeping during business hours because there was no "proof" of anything else and she went to a treatment program. I called licensing just to see what was on her record back at the end of 2012 and the only thing on her immediate record was some violations from 2009, unlocked meds, unlocked cleaners, no earthquake/fire drill on record, files not up to date, etc. No mention of the drinking or sleeping. I believe she's still doing childcare, at least for her own grandson and perhaps a couple other kids. I know she accidentally gave someone an old referral sheet with my info on it and asked that I ignore their call. :
: It happened to be someone I had interviewed as well and I knew they wouldn't call me since they just were at my house. It scares me to think of children in her care. She's also since gotten a DWI conviction after hitting someone's car and blowing under a 0.08, but since she was in an accident it's a DWI not a DUI. Anyway, no one has access to that info either.
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