Story Created:
Jul 3, 2008 at 5:54 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 3, 2008 at 7:40 PM EDT
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - A WINK News CALL FOR ACTION Exclusive: A mother is claiming her son was the victim of abuse at a local Christian daycare. The Department of Children and Families is investigating.
Laura was looking for an affordable daycare for her son. She decided to send him to Grace Community School off Miramar Street in Cape Coral.
She says, "I thought this would be the best place it's church related you think you can't go wrong."
She became concerned when she went to put diapers into her son's school bag and the other diapers from the day before were still in there. Laura says, "He was coming home with this diaper between his knees."
We asked her how she knew they weren't using other kids diapers or spares. She says her son developed a severe rash.
She feared he was never being changed and so she tested the school by coloring several areas of a diaper with a marker. Laura says she took her son to Grace and when she picked him up eight hours later he was wearing the same diaper.
The Department of Children and Families is now investigating.
We contacted the school's director who declined to comment.
DCF says there are no specific requirements for changing diapers, children should be changed as necessary.
However, if inspectors noticed children were not being changed it could be a health violation.
Grace Community School are among two dozen daycare facilities not regulated by the state.
A childcare facility can claim a religious exemption if: it's an integral part of a church, meets background screening requirements, and is accredited by an organization requiring compliance of health and safety standards.
WINK News made several attempts to contact the accrediting agency for Grace Community School, Nicene Schools International, to see the latest inspection reports but we have not received a call back.
DCF has a 62 point inspection checklist for all state licensed facilities inspecting the physical environment, cleanliness, staff to child ratios, and employee background records.
Laura says, "I put trust in those people they are a religious school you think you can't go wrong with a religious school and Grace is totally wrong."
Since 2000, the state received 48 reports of abuse at all Grace Community Schools throughout Southwest Florida. DCF found evidence of abuse in 8 of those cases.
http://204.90.20.58/childcare/provider/providersearch.aspx
Monday, Jul 28 at 3:00 PM Andrea wrote ...
As someone who attended the school over 20 years ago, I can tell you that these things happen. I can remember being 7 or 8 years old and having a teacher pick me up by my shoulders, shake me violently and then drop me back down on the ground while yelling. I was also threatened with a paddle on numerous occasions, even though their policy has always been against corporal punishment. I adore the family personally, and I recieved the best education possible, but it's no excuse for abuse. Never.
Friday, Jul 18 at 9:25 AM Daisy wrote ...
The one that say this group needs a life...Well if we need a life what are YOU doing in this group then????I have a life and I think everyone else does too.Maybe your the one that needs a life.
Monday, Jul 14 at 12:58 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Nicene Schools International is a shell agency created by McIntyre and the father of McIntyre's daughter in law...good luck getting anything legitimate from those people.
Wednesday, Jul 9 at 5:10 PM continued on mom needs a life wrote ...
And the fact that she keep picking on the workers for being spanish, she knew that when see signed up there, and that part of the curriculum as one of the classes for the day. So you definately know I am not racist. I think we all need to mind our on situations, raise our kids to except every race, and find that daycare that you know without a dought I feel 100% comfortable to leave your kids. Mine is Grace. We love Ms. Racheal and would not have it any other way. Thank you T,D,S,A, and J
Wednesday, Jul 9 at 4:57 PM This whole group needs a life wrote ...
I have read most of the comments. My chidren go to grace. It is my option to sent them there, as to everyone else. I love them. My kids love them. No one will ever raise your kids the way you do, and at any point if you feel uncomfortable, Pull them out. It's your right. They do have an open door policy, you can walk in at anytime and see your kids. I think if you pooled all the moms whos children are in daycare, all the daycares throughout SWFL most of us have had a bad eperience.
Wednesday, Jul 9 at 12:14 AM Annoyed re Heather's comments wrote ...
THEY DON'T LEAVE CHILDREN IN THEIR DIAPERS FOR 8 HOURS! I have talked to many of the parents who are quite pleased w/their children's care. They have charts that show everything they do in a day. Give the people the benefit of the doubt. You keep attacking the school when in actuality, you don't know what happened. You're believing someone who CONTINUED TO LEAVE HER CHILD THERE. If I had suspicions, my child would be out. I don't care how affordable. That tells you something.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:07 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
O.k. I’m almost done, as far as the curriculum; it’s great they had when I was there the Abecka curriculum, which did my son wonders, but he did have English speaking teachers at the time. Good Luck out there. It’s the management.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:06 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
The school has a Portuguese Church that they call if they need some one fast, that why you don’t see to many Americans there. Think about it, why would, illegal immigrants say anything to anyone about what’s going on, because they would be check out. One lady, Portuguese, older lady had fell in the bath room, and she had a friend of hers come in and work for her, and the friend received a paycheck in her friend name, in stead of her own name, Why???
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:03 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
As far as the non-speaking teachers, yes I have know, that most are illegal. Now, I do want to say I had really go friend that didn’t speak English, and because I did have friend there I didn’t call or say anything about it, when I left there.But now, I feel that it should come out, yes I know that there are illegal teacher that work there. One of the teachers was talking about her step-mom getting until the states, illegally and the next week when her mom was there she was working at Grace.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:01 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
One time we had a employee the didn’t understand English and she was in the baby room, and she was older woman and she would say that she understood what you said, but do the opposite of what you said. She was so confused that she didn’t know how to feed 6 babies, and at that time, the radio was 6 to 1 teacher, and that was babies under 12months, which really wasn’t that hard to do, just the 10 to one was hard to do, but we did it.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:00 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
I have seem where only one toddler teacher was in the room, and was told to put the toddler in the crib and have the toddler room door open and the teacher was to go outside on the porch and clean and then their was No teacher in the room, watching the children, that one teacher had to clean picnic tables outside and watch the children from a window. Teachers and children said the milk didn’t taste god, and it was told to the kitchen person and when to management and they said to still serve it
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:00 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
All of the schools are run by the children of the owners, so it is all family owned and run. So of the management are better then some others. Now I have seen, children being pick up to firmly by the arm, and had the way to many children in a class with only one teacher/ employee. I have seen in the baby room one teacher with 10 to 12 babies in the morning, until the other teacher got their by 9am.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:58 PM April Raiyn wrote ...
I have been an employee of Grace Community School and I had seen so much, which I can’t tell you all of what I seen. Also I was at the time a single mom and they offer free child care for the employees and it make it hard to leave there, because Of the day care cost. Of course if anything was said about things we saw, the person was a goner.First it is all about the management, if you have it until good management then you should have any problems.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:30 PM elizabeth wrote ...
i had an experience like that but in "here we grow" day care center in golden gate". I put my son there when he was 12 months.My son started loosing weight,he was sick all the time, and one day when i picked him up he had a broken lip and he was bleeding alot, i got upset and ask the teacher what happen and she got nervouse and said that she didn't saw anything and she wanted me to sign a paper. I refuse to sign a never took him there AGAIN!!!
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 2:03 PM Heather...re Daisy's comment wrote ...
Daisy: did you not actually watch the Wink report? According to them, this is one of numerous stories done by them regarding this daycare. Grace's had 48!!! abuse allegations, and 8 were found abusive. There's been class action lawsuits against them, and there has been a child who has died in their care. Also, theres been proof that this facitity has tied chilren to chairs and locked them in room w/ no lights. So check your facts before saying anything, Daisy. Grace should be prosecuted. Period.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 1:17 PM heather... re Annoyeds comment wrote ...
Annoyed.. are you joking? You think its ok to leave a child in his diaper for 8 hours. Is that how you raise your kids? If so you should be prosecuted as well. This mother, Laura, put trust in this facility to take care of her son. And they did not. They should be shut down, thrown in jail and throw the key away forever. To be so judgemental shows that you obviously have no clue what real parenting is. I'm astonished by the criticism this poor mother is getting from you people. Its a disgrace.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:32 AM Annoyed wrote ...
Since so many of you are wonderful daycare providers, why don't you run Grace? It sounds to me like it's a good ol' case of "Mommy does everything better and no one will ever match up." Which is true, but you can't make such extreme accusations just because something isn't how you do it at home.
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:13 AM Daisy wrote ...
Well if you all had such things happen to your children.Why we all did not hear on the news,newspaper,any police reports for childabuse from Grace or other daycare's centers?I would think that as a parent you would want them to pay for what happen to your childrens.I know if that happen to my children I would not just take them out of the daycare but would complain and do more about it.There is many daycare centers that are good to the children and some are not you need to do check them out 1st.
Monday, Jul 7 at 3:09 PM Heather...re Ang D.'s comment wrote ...
For you to think this is racist of Laura just shows your obvious racism. This is about a Chrisitian funded daycare that is neglecting children. Period. It has nothing to do with race. As you said, we are in a diverse nation. Which by the way has a primary language of English. Regardless, this is disgusting. These people should be prosecuted for abuse and neglect. And Ang D., your friend should thank her lucky stars she did not have this problem. Because Lauras not the 1st and won't be the last.
Monday, Jul 7 at 8:31 AM Jen wrote ...
my son when to grace in port charlotte, i had to take him out of there he came home with a nasty bruise and i pulled him out the same day. he always threw a fit when i took him there he would scream and latch on to me, but when i take him anywhere else he's fine. his diaper was changed, but that doesnt make up for anything else.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 11:16 PM Troubled wrote ...
I am troubled by this story on so many levels. I am a preschool teacher (2 yr olds) at a Christian daycare which is also religious exempt. Being compared in any way or shape sickens me. We have an open door policy and welcome our parents at all times. We have daily schedules posted which include many potty breaks (diaper changes for those who are still in them) and the idea of a child not being kept clean is horrible. Laura, good luck and I hope you don't group all christian schools together.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 10:35 PM Ang D. wrote ...
I've only ever heard of good things about Grace and a friend of mine took her kids to the one in Golden Gate and she said that she never had to schedule drop off and pick up times. It sounds to me like some mothers here are looking for a free ride and power. It's sound how uneducated you all are. And as for the Spanish comment: are you racist? We live in a diverse nation. You will find Spanish speaking people. And they are the only ones willing to care for your child. So love them.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 10:20 PM Andrea J wrote ...
My 11 month old has been going to Grace for the past 5 months and he is extremely happy. And just as Laura supposedly marked her child's diaper, I count mine. Not only do they change his diaper often, he has NEVER come home with his diaper full. His teachers are excellent and caring. He greets them with a smile. One should always review the daycare they select for their child. Everyone has faults. We're human. But to say they abuse the children? There's something wrong with you.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 10:13 PM Jamie wrote ...
My daughter went to Grace in N. Ft. Myers and didn't even make it a week. She had fallen and had 3 teeth go all the way through her tongue and nobody did anything, it was not even reported to anyone higher up. The teacher confessed she saw it happen. My daughter was teriffied of the school that when I took her back the next day she screamed until my friend took her outside, but I had to go get to the bottom of what happened. When the teacher fessed up to what happened I immediately with drew her
Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:20 PM Supertired wrote ...
There's a story just like this, or worse, every couple of years for the same daycare. We've been here for almost 20 years and it's like clockwork. Yet they never get shut down. Sad really, how little regulation DCF has over a private church day care.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 10:36 AM Bev wrote ...
First off, why all the hate comments? As a mother, if something is going on you want to first validate it before questioning the daycare. Do you honestly think the daycare would have said "Oh sorry, you're right. We haven't been changing his diaper and we have been neglecting him." Come on people. Laura did the right thing, which is more than I can say for most out there. Kudos to you, Laura. You questioned it, tested it and then went to proper measures to handle the situation. I commend you!
Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:29 AM Sari M wrote ...
When I was looking for a pre-school for my son (about 15 years ago in Golden Gate) my "red flag" was the fact that parents were not allowed to drop by anytime, but rather had too make an appointment. They also had too know ahead of time if you were going to pick them up early. One parent I met elsewhere said she pulled her child because she arrived early only to find the front door LOCKED!!! NO WAY would I leave my son with any one who restricted MY access too him.
Friday, Jul 4 at 11:04 PM krystal wrote ...
grace needs to be checked out by dcf i was thinking about putting my kids in grace but after learning this iam thinking twice
Friday, Jul 4 at 10:52 PM Laura RE SUNFLOWER wrote ...
I'm new to the state. If you saw the interview I did I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I work for a living and I'm a single parent. And one woman spoke broken English...very broken. I'm hearing more and more about the majority of them not speaking English at all. As a new woman to the area and single parent, I put TRUST in those people! And they broke it.DONT ever speak ill of my parenting!There is a loop hole here, that's the most important part that needs to be addressed.Kids safety
Friday, Jul 4 at 9:03 PM Sunflower wrote ...
In the first place if anyone thought something was going on with there child in a daycare.Why would you contiue to leave your child there for one week?If I thought they wasn't changing the diapers on my baby I would't take my child after the first time.If I notice something was wrong.And this talk about illegal workers well why would you contiue to take your childrens to a daycare if they didn't speak ENGISH and gave homework in SPANISH?If you didn't like that you should't have them in there.
Friday, Jul 4 at 4:06 PM Alex wrote ...
Our rising gas prices, declining economy may be the cause, according to local authorties.
Friday, Jul 4 at 1:15 PM Maria G wrote ...
My two oldest went to the Bonita location when we first moved down here and had an awful experience with these schools as well. My husband and I went out of town one day and my mother in law picked our boys up. When we got home that night we saw our son with a HUGE (his entire cheek) deep cut down his face. We didn't receive an incident or accident report regarding the cut whatsoever. My husband and I were beyond furious. My son was 4 at the time and was able to voice exactly what happened. He t
Friday, Jul 4 at 12:07 PM Laura - I made the complaint wrote ...
I did talk to Grace about the diaper issue. They said they were changing him thats when I marked the diaper to find out for sure. I'm glad SOME ppl have had a good experience with Grace, but OURS was horrible and there are a lot more horrible ones too! Most of the "teachers" dont even speak English. How is my 2 yr old to understand what they are saying in Spanish?!He was even sent home with homework that was in SPANISH!And they leave kids ALONE at the front door so they can walk outside!HORRIBLE
Friday, Jul 4 at 11:29 AM Dana P wrote ...
My Children have been going to grace for 3 years, and I have never had a problem. The teachers are great the staff couldn't be better, and my kids love going there. My youngest was in diapers when he started and I never had an issue. He was always dry and clean. To the lady who complained her kid kept getting strept throat, HELLO they are in daycare if you want them to live in a bubble Kept them home!!! If you had a problem you needed to ask, they can't fix it if they don't know. We love Grace:)
Friday, Jul 4 at 10:19 AM suzanna wrote ...
I went to Grace Community School in Naples Park to inspect the area for my 1 yr old son. I went to the room where there were two ladies sitting down and the smell of dirty diapers very bad. I mentioned to the ladies that some diapers need attention but they looked at me like I had 10 heads. I've decided against them even though is two minutes away from the house we rather drive 16 miles away each day and make certain he is well looked after! NO to Grace Community School!!!! Dirty for me...
Friday, Jul 4 at 9:08 AM Tina wrote ...
My children (now 15 & 18 ) went to this school when they were much younger. They remember it as a terrible place. They hated it! They also remember "the screaming man",with the red face.Not being allowed to drink,sitting for hours in one chair, etc. I pulled them out and would never recommened this day care to anyone.Over the years I've only contuined to hear bad things about this place. This is not the first time this place has been investigated
Friday, Jul 4 at 5:38 AM Heidi wrote ...
my son went there for 3 weeks. numerous times i have seen one teacher in peticular yelling at children during lunch time. my son just turned 2 i liked his teacher but as far as the other one no way. also he was not getting enough to drink. i said he can't have juice and brought in his own drinks they continued to give him juice which resulted in him getting diarrea and becoming dehidrated. thats why i withdrew him. never a problem with diapers.
Friday, Jul 4 at 12:37 AM Jackie W. wrote ...
More then half the works dont speak English to the children. I pull my child out for that exact reason. Most are illegal. The state should be able to look into it more! Using God as a loop hole is disgusting!
Friday, Jul 4 at 12:09 AM Concerned wrote ...
When the mother feared her child wasn't being changed why didn't she questions the day care instead of testing them. To me testing them would come after I questioned them and for DCF.
Thursday, Jul 3 at 11:53 PM sheber wrote ...
I am happy that commenter katherine V's children's weren't neglected, but that in no way excuses the fact that this child was. Though the director of the school may be excellent, director's aren't the ones usually changing the diapers!
Thursday, Jul 3 at 11:10 PM Stephanie J wrote ...
My daughter went to a grace school for school not daycare and was fine. But my son when he was 3 was in the day care part and he went through strep throat, pink eye, and finally they were not changing him or actually putting him in his underwear when he was potty training. So he would go in with a pullup and instead of when they changed him keeping him in the pull up and coming home soaking wet. that was only a 2 month period and I pulled them out
Thursday, Jul 3 at 8:30 PM katherine V wrote ...
I would like to say my two children have been attending Grace Community for 2 yrs. My son since he was 10 months. He was always changed and even diaper rash cream applied if needed. The director of the school is excellent and even terminated a teacher for catching her on a cell phone. She expects complete attention for all children from her staff. My daughter is in pre-K and never been neglected. I hope that other parents respond and give Grace a positive review. God Bless all.
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