When Another Provider Admits They Operate Illegally

[Mike]

Why you gotta pick on Mike? He's a nice guy! :dislike::confused:

Don't need to worry about me, but thanks for sticking up. I've had plenty of experience on forums dealing with all kinds of people. The poster wasn't attacking me, just giving his/her opinion. I'm guessing male because 90% of the problem posters I've ever dealt with were guys.

[TomCopeland]

mandated reporter

To further clarify mandated reporting - we have been told that we are only mandated to report what we observe/find during WORKING hours. There are some professions that are 24/7 mandated (I think police and social workers) but we are not.

So a friend telling you over coffee after hours that she's operating illegally would not merit a mandated report. Watching a mom at the grocery store lose it and beat her kids a$$ wouldn't mandate it (though common decency would)

Essentially you are only mandated for the children in YOUR care during your working hours.

This can vary by state. In some states family child care providers are mandated reporters 24/7. Check with your licensor about this.

[DaveA]

This can vary by state. In some states family child care providers are mandated reporters 24/7. Check with your licensor about this.

I was going to comment that I've been told that IL considers you a mandated reporter regardless of if you see it professionally or personally.

[Pestle]

Watching a mom at the grocery store lose it and beat her kids a$$ wouldn't mandate it (though common decency would)

That's state by state. My state law is this:

Everyone in Tennessee is a mandated reporter under state law. Any person with reasonable cause to believe a child is being abused or neglected must, under the law, immediately report to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or to local law enforcement. The reporter can remain anonymous.

More in-depth explanation of the law is here: http://criminallaw.uslegal.com/manda...ing-tennessee/

[Play Care]

That's state by state. My state law is this:

Everyone in Tennessee is a mandated reporter under state law. Any person with reasonable cause to believe a child is being abused or neglected must, under the law, immediately report to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or to local law enforcement. The reporter can remain anonymous.

More in-depth explanation of the law is here: http://criminallaw.uslegal.com/manda...ing-tennessee/

Yeah it says on there that Tenn has the most in depth law for reporting. We don't. In fact we are given two numbers. The one to call for when we are acting as a mandated reporter and the regular number for anonymous calls. I want to say we were told we could only call the mandated line for instances we were legally mandated to report, all other calls went to the other line. I have to re-take the training shortly and it will be interesting to see if that's changed.

[MyAngels]

I was going to comment that I've been told that IL considers you a mandated reporter regardless of if you see it professionally or personally.

I was curious, so I looked it up. Apparently it only applies if it is a child known to us in a professional capacity:

"child care worker having reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused child or a neglected child shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Department." (325 ILCS 5/4)

Obviously it should not stop anyone from making a report on suspected abuse or neglect.

I found it interesting that on the lengthy list of people that are mandated reporters is "homemaker."

[Unregistered]

When my son was 1 he went to an unlicnsed daycare. Out of the 6 licensed daycares i interviewed, this lady was the only one i felt comfortable with. She had cpr, first aid, all the important certificates. But i dont think someone needs to be licensed to know how to care for a child. We arent required to take classes or have home inspections when we decide to have our own kids...

[Josiegirl]

When my son was 1 he went to an unlicnsed daycare. Out of the 6 licensed daycares i interviewed, this lady was the only one i felt comfortable with. She had cpr, first aid, all the important certificates. But i dont think someone needs to be licensed to know how to care for a child. We arent required to take classes or have home inspections when we decide to have our own kids...

Maybe people aren't required to pass classes or have a home inspection to be a parent(not including foster parent because they have lots of hurdles to jump)but I bet we all know at least one parent who should have.

Years and years ago, I took care of kids without being registered. The parents didn't care and quite frankly, I did pretty much what I do now. Big difference now is, more paperwork, lots more training under my belt which has come in handy lots of times, we can take state subsidized kids and be part of the food program, we get tons of support from mentors and agencies, plus hey, it's legal now. May not matter to parents but it sure does in the eyes of the state.

[Jupadia]

Yes I would report her at this point. From what you have said she knows that she is operating illegaly.
It's not a mater if she is unlicensed or not but that she is illigal. Depending on where your from an unlicensed daycare provider can operate legal. Currently I am a legal unlicensed caregiver. I could if I wanted to add extra kids in and be over ratio and then I would become illegal. But I don't (though last year I was allowed more kids then now laws changed and I now count my kids in my ratio). I don't have any one that comes and checks things out unless I have a complaint filled. But for any reson they were to come by I would be legal.

[Alwaysgreener]

When my son was 1 he went to an unlicnsed daycare. Out of the 6 licensed daycares i interviewed, this lady was the only one i felt comfortable with. She had cpr, first aid, all the important certificates. But i dont think someone needs to be licensed to know how to care for a child. We arent required to take classes or have home inspections when we decide to have our own kids...

A legal day care can be licensed or unlicensed depending on the state. In MI you must me licensed to be legally running.
However in OP case, she is referring to a unlicensed day care that legally can expect state aid for care of a child but running illegally by not paying taxes and stealing from the government by charging when the child is not in care. Who knows what other risks she is will to take with the lives of the children in her care.
Hopefully the unlicensed day care you used ran legally, kept the children safe and paid her taxes.