Download Article
Download Article
Daycare violations are serious issues that should be reported as soon as possible. Whether you directly witness the violation or simply suspect misconduct, filing a formal report is an important step for keeping children safe. In most states in the U.S., filing a report for a violation is a simple process that can be done online, over the phone, or through a written letter. If you witness or suspect any immediate danger, escalate the situation to emergency services immediately.
Steps
-
1Call 9-1-1 if you see a child in immediate danger. If you directly witness any physical abuse or immediate danger at a child’s daycare, call emergency services immediately. File a police report as soon as possible if you saw or have any direct evidence of situations that may constitute abuse or endangerment. [1] X Research source
-
2Search online to find your state’s child safety or child services office. In most cases, you will register an official report with your state’s office of child services or child safety. Search online to find the office or department in your state that handles child safety issues. [2] X Research source
- In some states, this may be its own department. In other states it may be a division under another department, like the department of social services.
- If you do not have consistent internet access or cannot find the correct office online, call 3-1-1. In most U.S. cities and towns, this line can connect you to information about local services. [3] X Research source
Advertisement -
3Look into what constitutes a violation in your area. The exact definition and parameters of a daycare violation will vary from state to state. Check with your local child safety office to get guidance on what specifically constitutes a violation according to your state and local laws. [4] X Research source
- Typically, government offices will not handle things like tuition disputes, disagreements about curriculum content, or other minor disputes.
- Government offices instead generally pay more attention to issues like licensing violations, abusive and/or neglectful behavior, or criminal activity from the daycare provider during or after daycare hours.
-
4Consider the evidence for your report. If you have any legitimate reason to suspect any kind of violation from a daycare, you should report it. You do not need to witness or record a violation for your report to be considered valid, and in most cases it is better to be safe than sorry. In cases where you haven’t directly heard or looked into a specific violation, though, you should consider your source. [5] X Research source
- If your normally happy and outgoing child frequently comes home nervous, sad, and talking about their mean daycare instructor, for example, there may be cause for concern.
- If, however, your neighbor tells you stories about their cousin’s kid who had a bad teacher there 15 years ago, you may want to do more investigating on your own before filing a report.
-
5Try to solve minor disputes with the daycare first. If your issue is a minor dispute, such as a disagreement about tuition or schoolyard behavior, talk to the daycare center first. Let them know your concerns and try to work toward a solution that is beneficial for both you and the daycare. [6] X Research source
- If, for example, you and your child’s daycare teacher disagree on matters of religious beliefs, you may say to them, “I respect that you have your own belief system, but I am raising my child in my tradition. I won’t ask you to teach them about my faith, but please do not teach them behaviors that actively go against it.”
- If your complaint cannot be resolved directly with the daycare facility, you still need to consider if it is in the scope of your local child safety office. An unresolved complaint does not always directly translate into a reportable violation.
Advertisement
-
1Review the agency’s preferred contact information. Depending upon your state’s policies, you may be able to contact your local child services office by phone, mail, or email. Look over your local office’s website to see how they accept warnings and complaints regarding child safety.
- Not all offices take online complaints or reports. Some may require a phone call or mailed written report. [7] X Research source
- While most offices will allow you to make an anonymous report, if you submit online or in writing, they may have to release certain information about your email address or return address. Consider this when you file your report. [8] X Research source
- If you plan on calling, check the office’s regular business hours to make sure you are able to speak with a live person.
-
2Provide the name of the daycare center and any involved employees. When you file your report, you need to let the state agency know about anyone who you suspect is involved. This means you need to let them know not only the name of the daycare center, but any employees and volunteers that you think may be involved in any violations. [9] X Research source
- If you are unsure of a certain employee or volunteer’s name, you may be able to provide a brief physical description.
-
3Outline the perceived or suspected violations as completely as possible. When you make an official report, try to provide as much detail as possible. Let the office know what types of violations you suspect, and why you suspect them. The more detail you can provide, the more complete the report will be. [10] X Research source
- Do provide as much information as you can. Do not guess or lie about information you do not have. Your report will typically be investigated based on good faith. There is no need to fabricate additional details.
Advertisement
-
1Reach out to local child and family services nonprofits. Many states and metropolitan areas have branches of nonprofits such as Childhelp, which are dedicated to aiding the victims of child abuse. Look for an organization in your area that offers intervention programs or is otherwise involved in regulating and reporting local instances of child abuse.
- If you are in the U.S., you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
-
2Alert your local media outlets. Media coverage is often an effective means of inciting action. Alert your local news agencies and radio stations, as well as websites that cover local news and events, to let them know what you have seen. The coverage not only has the ability to inspire action in your community, it can also warn people about a potentially dangerous environment. [11] X Research source
- This should be done in addition to filing a formal report.
-
3Post on social media. Just like local media coverage, social media can help your complaints and concerns get attention in your community. Try leaving reviews on the daycare’s Facebook and Yelp page, and link it out to your own social media. This gets the information out to even more people. [12] X Research source
-
4Consider any additional action you may want to take against the facility. In addition to filing a formal complaint, you have the option of taking additional action in the form of a civil claim. If you are the parent or guardian of a child who you believe was physically or psychologically harmed or neglected by a daycare, you may choose to file a civil lawsuit. This can hold the daycare provider financially responsible for things like medical bills, therapy, and alternative child care. [13] X Research source
- Local law enforcement and licensing officials will ultimately decide if any criminal charges are justified.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWho do I call in Wilson County, TN to report a child safety issue?Community AnswerTo report a child safety issue in the US, contact 1-800-422-4453 or 1-800-4ACHILD. You can also call the police if it is urgent.
-
QuestionCan I file a complaint for recurring biting incidents with the same child over a 3 month time period? This has been the same child biting my child, and the last time there were bruise marks.Community AnswerHave you talked with the child care provider? If that is unsuccessful, you can report it to the agency who licenses child care facilities. The agency should be able to help you with your issue.
-
QuestionCan a director be reported for drinking alcohol on the playground while children play?Tom De BackerTop AnswererYes, as this is probably not allowed. Follow the correct steps, though. First, talk to the director about this, informally: "Hey, I think I saw you drinking the other day on the playground, that's not very appropriate." Follow it up with an email to create a paper trail: "Thanks for the little chat today, these are the points we discussed." If that doesn't work, talk to the director more sternly: "I already let you know I feel this is unacceptable." Next, file a formal complaint, and persist until the behavior stops.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- Try to file a complaint with your state agency whenever possible. Nonprofits dedicated to local businesses such as your BBB or Chamber of Commerce will not handle your complaints directly. Instead, they will turn your report over to your state agency. Complaining directly to your state agency ensures that your complaint is received in full and handled as fast as possible.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ http://www.daycareabuse.com/how-to-report/
- ↑ http://www.daycareabuse.com/how-to-report/
- ↑ http://www.govtech.com/dc/What-is-311.html
- ↑ http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Reporting/File-a-Complaint/CCLD-Complaints
- ↑ http://www.daycareabuse.com/how-to-report/
- ↑ http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Reporting/File-a-Complaint/CCLD-Complaints
- ↑ https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccregulation/complaint
- ↑ https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccregulation/complaint
- ↑ http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Reporting/File-a-Complaint/CCLD-Complaints
About This Article
Article Summary
X
Daycare violations can be serious, so you’ll want to report them as soon as possible. If you see a child that’s in immediate danger or you witness any physical abuse, call the police right away. If it’s not an immediate safety concern, you can report the violation online on your state’s department of child protective services. Or, you can call a nonprofit family intervention program, like Childhelp. If you have a minor dispute, like an issue with tuition or schoolyard behavior, it’s usually easier to try and resolve the issue with the daycare first. However, if the problem is bigger, you may need to file a report with your state agency. You’ll need to write a letter outlining in detail the situation at the daycare and any employees who were involved. To learn how to alert the media about daycare violations, read on.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 55,425 times.
Advertisement
