State Looking Into Safety, Welfare Violations At Long Beach Day Care Facility
Updated at 5:40 p.m., April 4, 2014
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Violations that could endanger children are the focus of a state investigation at a Long Island day care center.
As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported from Long Beach, failure to report suspected child abuse or mistreatment is among the 21 violations the Magnolia Day Care Center has been accused of by the state.
Child care workers are required to report any cases of abuse of maltreatment directly to the state. The newest violations alleged that wasn't done and the children were the ones who reported the incidents to their parents, CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.
Those 21 violations have racked up since July. There have been nine in the past month alone as the center continues to operate, Xirinachs reported.
Delilah Smith told Gusoff her 5-year-old cousin was the victim of an angry day care worker at the facility.
"She wasn't hurt but she was scared," Smith said. "One of the ladies pulled her arm and pointed a finger in her face. The mother is pretty upset."
The child's mother, didn't want to speak on camera, but withdrew the little girl from Magnolia Child Care and reported the incident, Gusoff reported.
Sources told CBS 2 at issue is the use of physical contact for discipline, an allegation a child was shoved into a wall, and that a toddler was left unattended for 23 minutes.
In July, the center was cited for eight violations, including the use of corporal punishment. A worker was fired and the reasons for the violations had all been corrected, Xirinachs reported.
Parents were shaken by the allegations, Gusoff reported.
"That shouldn't be taken lightly. They have a license to take care of kids, they should know better. They shouldn't do that, that's not something minor," said Long Beach parent Louisa Pinga.
The city of Long Beach, which runs the facility, said in a statement they are awaiting advice from the state on the specific issues and charges.
"Running a top-notch day care facility for Long Beach families is our number one concern," a City of Long Beach spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Children and Family Services said a day care shutdown only occurs in cases of imminent danger to safety or health and that their investigation into the facility continues.
The city of Long Beach said it is also pursuing an internal review of all policies and procedures pertaining to their day care facility.
The state has said some of the violations have been corrected but refused further comment due to its ongoing investigation.
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