Public Health receives second YMCA child care complaint

Cook County Public Health & Human Services has received a child maltreatment report concerning the Cook County Community YMCA “Kids Club” drop-in child care program after a 3-year-old child being cared for in the facility was reported to have left the room unnoticed this Wednesday.

According to Joshua Beck, director of Public Health & Human Services, the child reportedly left the Kids Club and went looking for a parent in the workout area, unnoticed by the on-duty staff. 

Beck said the child was unharmed and did not leave the YMCA building. What was disturbing, said Beck, is that staff was not aware the child had left the “Kids Club” area until the parent came back to the room with the child. 

“The county reviews and responds to all reports that have the potential to meet the guidelines for maltreatment,” said Beck. “We take this responsibility seriously and child safety is paramount.”

The current missing child report occurred in a legal non-licensed drop-in child care program. Beck explained that these programs fall into a “gray area.” 

Because they are “licensed exempt,” Beck said the YMCA program does not fall under the county’s licensing authority and therefore is not under the county’s child protection jurisdiction.

The new missing child report was referred to local law enforcement to determine if an investigation is warranted. This is the second incident of a child wandering off from a YMCA child care program. In December 2016, a child left the Y’s Busy Bee Child Care area and was outside the building before being found, unharmed. 

That incident led to the Minnesota Department of Human Services finding the YMCA responsible for the “maltreatment (neglect) of a child.” 

The state Department of Human Services did not revoke the Cook County Community YMCA’s license, but the facility was placed on a conditional license and fined $1,000. The YMCA was working to meet the terms of the conditional license. 

The YMCA was also working with Cook County Public Health to expand its child care options to meet the community need for more child care. Beck said he is not sure what steps the state will take. However, he said it could hinder the plan to expand and license the YMCA daycare facility. 

This latest incident is not related to a Law Enforcement call reporting an approximately 3-year-old girl walking by herself in Grand Marais on April 28. The person who found the child said she told them she was on her way to the park at the community center.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office told WTIP the family of that child was found and the matter was referred to Cook County Public Health and Human Services.