Parents rely on daycare facilities to provide a safe and caring environment for their children while they are working outside the home or attending to other responsibilities. Life can be so busy with having small children, and parents should be able to take a deep breath after drop-off knowing that their children are being properly cared for. Sadly, not all daycare providers live up to the standards of care children and parents deserve.
Children are our future and should be able to grow, learn, and play in a setting free from neglect or abuse. At Lojewski Abuse & Injury Law, Attorney Kristen Lojewski is a mom and understands the unconditional love a parent has for their child -- like Elizabeth Stone said, "it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
The civil justice system is not based on an eye for an eye approach, and while it cannot undo the harm done or pain felt, it allows for financial compensation, or what Kristen calls money justice, to help hold wrongdoers accountable and support the recovery process. When Kristen represents parents and children who have suffered at the hands of a day care facility, she fights for her clients like it was her own son who was hurt, like any mama bear would. Call her today at (414) 999-3771 to share your story.
Identifying Day Care Abuse
You know your child better than anyone. While it can be difficult to detect day care abuse immediately since accidents do happen, it is important to continuously monitor your young child and their behaviors. If your child can talk, ask them about what is happening at the day care center. Always stay vigilant in questioning staff and management too. Some common signs of daycare abuse may be:
- Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns on your child. Even if these are explained, ask questions. Ask to see video camera footage if the daycare has surveillance. Also look for unexplained injuries reported by daycare staff or inconsistent explanations by staff as to what happened.
- Lack of appropriate supervision, resulting in accidents or unsafe conditions.
- Inconsistent or insufficient communication from daycare staff regarding your child's wellbeing. If staff also seems annoyed or panics with an unannounced visit, this could be a red flag.
- Regression of milestones
- Sudden changes in your child's behavior, such as fearfulness, withdrawal, or aggression.
- Reluctance or refusal to go to daycare, often accompanied by signs of distress. This may not be just a case of the "terrible 2's" or "threenager" years. If your child can talk, ask questions.
- Poor hygiene, including dirty clothes or frequent diaper rashes.
- Emotional or developmental setbacks that seem to appear after daycare attendance.
- Frequent infections, illnesses, or complaints of being sick after attending daycare.
What Should I Do if I Suspect My Child is Being Abused by the Day Care Center?
As soon as you suspect day care abuse, act without delay. You want to eliminate the harm to your child and provide them with an immediate safe environment. Depending on the severity of the abuse and how long the abuse has been occurring, the damage done to your child can be severe. Acting quickly and seeking help is important for the safety of your child.
Some steps that you should take if you suspect your child is being abused at their daycare include:
- Call 911: If it is a medical or life-threatening emergency, call 911. If you are not entirely sure if your child's life is in danger, it is better to be safe than sorry - call 911 - you will never regret "overreacting."
- Seek Medical Attention: You want to make sure your child sees their pediatrician as soon as possible. Most pediatrician's offices can book a same-day appointment. If your child's injuries seem severe, take them to the emergency department. Children's Wisconsin has locations throughout the State of Wisconsin and, if you are not near one, go to the nearest ER.
- Report the Day Care Center: Report the daycare to its respective regional licensing office. To report a day care center in Wisconsin, you can contact the Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR) Regional Licensing Office. BECR administers child care certification and regulation in Wisconsin.
- Inform Management: Inform the daycare management about the incident. Take detailed notes about who you spoke with, when you spoke with them, and a detailed description of what was discussed.
- Cooperate with Law Enforcement: Even if 911 was not contacted, inform both local law enforcement and Wisconsin Department of Children and Families about the suspected daycare abuse. The Bureau of Early Care Regulation is part of Wisconsin DCF.
- Document Everything: over time, memories may fade as to who you spoke with or what specifically was discussed. Keeping detailed records like a timeline of events, notes on your child's injuries and behaviors, and names of people involved can assist in a day care abuse claim.
- Contact a Lawyer: the sooner you contact a day care abuse lawyer, the quicker the lawyer can take action and begin uncovering the truth about the incident and injuries of your child.
Additional Resources
While it is important to be vigilant and always on the lookout for signs of day care abuse and neglect, Wisconsin has a YoungStar's child care quality rating system that you can navigate and read about a day care center before you ever place your child there. Some other steps you may want to take before placing your child at a particular day care center include:
- Research the daycare's reputation, e.g., online reviews, the YoungStar's quality rating system.
- Verify licensing and accreditation, which you can do on the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families website.
- Tour the daycare, conducting an in-person visit to assess cleanliness, safety measures, and environment. Pay attention to how staff interact with children and ensure the space is child-proofed and secure.
- Check staff qualifications, such as inquiring about training, certificates in CPR and child development.
- Review the daycare's policies for handling emergencies, discipline, and child illness. Also be sure to ask about staff-to-child ratios to ensure proper supervision.
- Trust your instincts and pay attention to your feelings during an in-person visit to the daycare.
By taking these steps, you can make a more informed decision.
Why Should I Hire a Day Care Abuse Attorney?
The emotional toll of discovering that your child has been harmed by those entrusted with their care can be overwhelming and intense.
At Lojewski Abuse & Injury Law, Kristen understands the deep pain and distress that comes with these horrific and unimaginable situations and provides compassionate, honest legal advice from attorney-to-client and from one parent to another. She will investigate every possible legal avenue to pursue the truth and share your story because she believes that negligent daycare providers should be held accountable for their actions.
Contact Kristen to Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Safe, and Be Championed.