INDIANAPOLIS -- The state is taking action against a Kokomo day care that lost a 5-year old girl earlier this month.
The Family and Social Services Administration is planning to decertify the Dream Makers Learning Ministry from participating in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program, also known as federal vouchers.
According to a letter issued March 21, the day care failed to supervise a child in its care, failed to report suspected child abuse or neglect and did not maintain compliance with its written safety policy.
Latisha Simms’ daughter Morgan went missing at the day care and was found after she wandered back into the facility crying.
She had fallen asleep inside the day care’s van earlier when the van was unloaded and she was left inside.
No one had noticed she was missing until Simms came to pick up her 5-year old.
Simms reported the incident to FSSA, who conducted an inspection.
The day care admitted to losing the child and has already made changes.
“We’ve already made the corrections,” Dream Makers Learning Industry’s Dawn Washington said earlier this month. “We have already implemented two addition roll calls. This experience has really made us stronger and has really made us improve.”
Simms pulled her daughter from the day care.
“I did send an apology to the mother,” said Washington.
The FSSA order takes effect on April 11. However, Dream Makers can submit a written appeal to FSSA, as well as documentation on how the violations were corrected.
The action only affects the day care’s ability to receive CCDF voucher payments and does not impact their ability to legally provide childcare, records show.
“90 percent of our families are on vouchers, so if we lose CCDF, most families will have to get another day care,” said Washington. “That would close our business down.”
Washington pointed out that the day care has not had any violations since February 2014.
“We are not the kind of facility that has repeat violations,” said Washington. “We have a strong foundation.”
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