Who Cares

If you already have not read the article in the Gainesville Sun, "Who Cares," then maybe you should read this. Considering staying in Gainesville with the possibility of raising a family? You as future parents should think twice in my opinion! Dozen of complaints have been made and filed against daycare facilities in Alachua County due to abuse and lack of supervision over the past five years. In 1996, the article tells readers, a nine month old boy drowned because the babysitter ran to answer the phone and left the child unsupervised! She babysat at home and was registered with the state but did not obtain a license. Which all meant, her home was not subject to inspections except in response to certain complaints. In another incident, a child ran out of a day care across Tower Road to his apartments back in 2004. Makes you wonder would your kids be safe in a facilty. Many places here in Alachua County fail to provide enough workers, background screenings and display of licenses. Also, many employee licenses are expired and there are not enough certified in CPR training.Parents should make it first priority to do a thorough background check of the daycare they are sending their child to. Who has money to waste? As a facility, you charge an arm and a leg but you cannot provide supervision, screening, proof of license and many other things? They want to say that parents are at fault for some of this because they do not provide information needed so they have to go out and get it which leaves them in the office. No, you should have enough employees to operate that daycare.

Secondly, parents need to make sure they fill out an emergency form and provide medication that child might be taking, has taken or allergic to as well.I am sure this alreay exists already, but the state should require photos of all employees including licenses and certification, proof of training and any other legal documents needed. If I were a parent here in Alachua County, I would be terrified of leaving my child in a facility here knowing there is possibility they will be unsupervised, abused or neglected. Thats just the same as leaving the child at home alone but for free.

The best thing to do is to leave the child with a family member that you trust and pay him or her the same amount of money you would pay weekly to a facility. What is your opinion? Do you plan to send you child to daycare or have a family member watch the child?