Bound Child Dies At Oklahoma Day Care

Yes, the public can see the record of DHS visits to daycare centers. I went back in the late 80's and read the file on a daycare home that I was considering...all looked good, the woman's references checked out and then one day she locked up my 8-month old son in a storage room and left him lying on an old piece of styrofoam mattress for 5 hours until I returned. She did not try to contact me, his father or any other emergency contacts listed. When I showed up to pick him up and she led me to that storage room (which the door was closed) and stated that he had been there since right after I left because "he was too fussy and wouldn't stop crying", I really thought I was going to "lose it" on the woman. My son was shivering and his little face was so red and swollen from all of the crying. For weeks after that incident, when my husband would rock and pat him on the back or bottom, he would cry loudly. He also had faint but definite bruises on his ribs. He was clearly traumatized. Of course, I immediately reported it to DHS. The social worker did visit and only put some restrictions on her to cut back to 2 children instead of 5, due to "her age" (after the fact, I was advised that she was in her 70's)...I was furious and still am to this day that DHS did not do more after the situation. I do not trust DHS at all and never will. Had I not been such a young Mom and had the guts I have now, I would have called every TV station around, taken legal action and raised some serious HELL. It was a lesson. Be careful with your kids everyone and follow your instincts! Do not count on DHS to do their job!

Kim H wrote:

Yes, the public can see the record of DHS visits to daycare centers. I went back in the late 80's and read the file on a daycare home that I was considering...all looked good, the woman's references checked out and then one day she locked up my 8-month old son in a storage room and left him lying on an old piece of styrofoam mattress for 5 hours until I returned. She did not try to contact me, his father or any other emergency contacts listed. When I showed up to pick him up and she led me to that storage room (which the door was closed) and stated that he had been there since right after I left because "he was too fussy and wouldn't stop crying", I really thought I was going to "lose it" on the woman. My son was shivering and his little face was so red and swollen from all of the crying. For weeks after that incident, when my husband would rock and pat him on the back or bottom, he would cry loudly. He also had faint but definite bruises on his ribs. He was clearly traumatized. Of course, I immediately reported it to DHS. The social worker did visit and only put some restrictions on her to cut back to 2 children instead of 5, due to "her age" (after the fact, I was advised that she was in her 70's)...I was furious and still am to this day that DHS did not do more after the situation. I do not trust DHS at all and never will. Had I not been such a young Mom and had the guts I have now, I would have called every TV station around, taken legal action and raised some serious HELL. It was a lesson. Be careful with your kids everyone and follow your instincts! Do not count on DHS to do their job!

I agree that DHS does not always follow up properly. Years ago, whenever I would place my children in a new daycare, I would wait a couple of days and then make a sudden appearance during the middle of the day...just to see what was going on, etc. When my children were old enough to talk, I also asked them, EVERY day, what they did that day, what happened that day, etc. And, I still made "surprise" visits.

where can u go on the internet to see where dhs had to visit daycares before