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.

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