12 child-care centers ordered closed; state cites problems
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The state social service agency Tuesday announced closure of a dozen child-care centers throughout the state that posed safety risks to children.
Two of the centers are in Baton Rouge — Victoria Kiddie Castle on Victoria Drive and New Dawn Daycare Center on Renoir Avenue.
The Department of Social Services, or DSS, revoked the licenses of the 12 child-care centers after a 90-day risk assessment of around 150 centers.
The centers typically care for the children of working parents during the day.
Each of the 12 centers either had had their license revoked previously and were issued new ones, or had licensing standard violations that raised risk or safety concerns, according to a news release from the department.
“Because they were repeat offenders that failed to take corrective action after being cited for serious violations, it was imperative that these centers be closed,” DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols said in the release. “We are working with the families of children in these centers to provide them with information about other child care available.”
Examples of deficiencies cited at the centers included inadequate child-to-staff ratios, inadequate staff training, supervision violations, transportation issues, inappropriate storage of harmful substances and other hazards.
Other centers that closed are in Metairie, Leesville, Clayton, Sulphur, Bossier City, LaPlace, Pineville, Edgard and Rayville.
As a result of the revocation of the licenses and an “emergency rule” issued by the department in September, the centers will not be able to reapply for a new license for a period of two years.
The rule, which is in effect for 120 days, is in the process of being finalized.
In September, Nichols announced plans to reform child-care center licensing, which included reviewing the select centers as well as an assessment of all child-care centers in the state over the next year.
Nichols said the problems found in the 12 centers are not indicative of what goes on in other centers throughout the state.
The majority of the child-care centers assessed over the 90-day period provide quality care in a safe and secure environment, she said.
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