Federal Audit Points Out Discrepancies In State Day Care Inspections
By Greg Argos
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Children's Village in Center City is a Keystone Four Star Ranked day care center, the highest ranking in the state. It has clean facilities, plenty of teachers and monitors, and safe, clean outdoor play spaces for children.
It is a very different scene at three other Pennsylvania child care centers that received federal money and a passing grade from state daycare inspectors.
"I think that you know inspectors may have missed things," said Ted Dallas by phone. He is Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Department of Human Services.
"They may have been rushed. We may not have gotten out there in time. There is some level of inspectors missing things because we're asking them to do too much," he continued.
In the federal audit, which was released in late September, federal inspectors with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services performed unannounced inspections on three unidentified day care centers in Philadelphia, Bethlehem and Harrisburg. All three had been inspected and given state permits by state inspectors. The federal audit recommended Pennsylvania hire more inspectors who could spend more time at each facility. At the time of the audit, Pennsylvania had just 1 inspector per 143 daycares. The federal recommended amount is 1:50.
"One of the things we're doing is hiring 40 additional inspectors," said Dallas.
Conditions in the three audited facilities were poor. Federal inspectors noted major issues, including exposed wiring in a playground, bleach and cleaning supplies accessible to children, even a sharp fence left in an area that children could play in. As a result, Dallas says one of the licenses has been revoked and the other two have been re-inspected.
"What it really drove home to me is the importance of quality as you're picking child care if you're a parent," he said.
Dallas is referring to Pennsylvania's Keystone Star Program.
"It's a voluntary program that any child care center, or even family child care program can opt to participate in," explained Terry Hayes, the director of the Southeast Regional office.
Hayes says it's important for parents to perform their own assessment of a facility before committing to one. She recommends only allowing children to attend three or four star rated facilities.
"Is it clean? Is it bright? Those are the kinds of things to look for to feel in your gut, those are the kinds of things I need for my child," she said.
To access the full federal audit, click here.
