FORT MYERS, Fla. - Rats, roaches and bottles of dangerous chemicals left in the reach of children. These are just some of the citations Call for Action discovered when we went through hundreds of child care inspection reports in Southwest Florida. It's why as a parent you need to know how to check up on your daycare.

The Garrett Family Home Daycare playground is quiet, even though it's open for business. You'd never know at one time it was closed while the Department of Children and Families' Childcare Division investigated, unless you checked DCF's childcare inspection reports.

In December of 2006 a parent complained her 9-month-old hit her head on a metal garage door hinge, and she was upset owner allegedly never called her or a doctor. We went to owner Katrina Garrett's Home Daycare to ask what happened. She was home, but wouldn't answer the door for us. Instead she sent a man claiming to be her neighbor to talk to us. He told us, "That kid fell against this garage and quote 'a simple bump on the head.' I sit there and see 'em at other times jump up where they shouldn't be jumping off and I have never seen any negligence on her part."

But the complaint report shows the parent took the child to the emergency room and learned the child had a concussion,as well as damage to her ear canal and facial swelling.

Katrina Garrett never would talk to us about what happened. But the childcare division's complaint documents another incident in 2002 where a child suffered a head injury. It shows other parents also complained of unexplained injuries to their children.

The Department of Children and Families started taking action against Katrina Garrett's license-repeatedly citing supervision as a problem.

Garrett closed the daycare, then reopened in September after a new inspection.

"Supervision is very important," says Alice Parrish, Childcare Licensing Supervisor for the Department of Children and Families.

"You want your child to have those eyes on them all the time. Even if they're really great caregivers, if there aren't enough staff it could be a problem," says Parrish.

Inspectors look for cleanliness, whether the facility has done background checks on staff, and safety.

They can fine, and even revoke licenses.

Parrish told us, "There are some cases where we've had to do that. Some extreme cases. Either the provider didn't comply, wouldn't meet minimum standards, or in other cases, there are providers who have done things that have hurt children."

She says parents should look at inspections. "There's a lot of work done behind the scenes and we'd like parents to be aware of that."

However, they only inspect licensed daycares. Meaning in just Lee County 173 registered child care facilities aren't included. "There's a whole range of health and safety issue on registered homes that we wouldn't be monitoring," says Parrish.

That leaves you as a parent without critical information you need to make a decision about their child's daycare facility.

In licensed facilities, WINK news found some disturbing citations.

We found a child whose pull-up wasn't changed, so his socks were soaked with urine.

We found facilities with rats and roaches.

After reviewing another daycare called the Robinson family daycare, we saw the owner was cited for having cigarette butts and a bottle of gin within the reach of children.

She told us it was a one time occurrence as she was cleaning up from a Christmas party.

"When I'm inspected, my parents know I tell em," said owner Lisa Robinson.

Still, the Department of Children and Families hope parents will check out their child's daycare...just to be sure. In Florida, all of these inspection reports are on-line. You can look up your daycare's inspection report and see everything inspectors saw when they came through. You can also see complaints that triggered inspections.


Website link: DCF Provider Search