Tips for researching a daycare provider

A baby and toddler sustained bruises and bite marks this week during a stay at an unlicensed daycare in south suburban Matteson.

Now, state officials want parents to know what questions they should ask a daycare provider and how to research the facility for violations.

Hattie Guy faces misdemeanor charges after Ma'Liyah Crockrel, a 7 month old, and a second child, Car-leah Allen, were hurt Wednesday. She told investigators a 2-year-old bit the children.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) said all daycare providers must have a state license and Guy is not licensed

"Find out if their license is posted," said Shontee Blankenship, a DCFS licensing representative. "You want to know that this program is being monitored by a state agency. Then you have some type of assurance they are meeting the minimum standards to hold their license."

Blankenship says if you're searching for a daycare, the first step is to call the Illinois Action for Children, an organization that can help you find a licensed daycare.

Next, research the DCFS Sunshine website to see if the daycare provider has violations - many do.

"They shouldn't be so alarmed if they see violations," Blankenship said. "They need to check to see what were those violations and what did they entail?"

There are 3 big questions parents should ask, Blankenship said.

1. Again, ask, are you licensed?

2. Can I interview you and do a walk-through of the facility?

3. Can I observe?

"Observation speaks a whole lot louder than anything you can put on piece of paper," Blankenship said. "How does a staff member interact with their children? How do they respond to a child when they're need?"

For the parents of the injured children, it's been a difficult lesson.

"She won't be in daycare - at all," said LCharea Allen, the mother of the 20 month old who was injured.

MORE INFORMATION

ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN

WEB: http://www.actforchildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Family_onlinereferrals

PHONE: 312-823-1100

DCFS SUNSHINE WEBSITE TO CHECK VIOLATIONS

WEB: https://sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/Content/Licensing/Daycare/Search.aspx