Honk News (Dallas, TX) – A Texas daycare worker faces allegations of abusing three toddlers at a YMCA child care center located in an elementary school.
A lawsuit filed on January 23 claims that the YMCA did not report incidents to the state or parents as required by law and continued to employ a caregiver despite evidence of abuse. The caregiver has been arrested and charged in the case, and she has also been fired from her position.
A lawsuit has been filed against the YMCA of Central Texas, which runs the childcare program at Northwest Elementary School.
The YMCA has terminated Browning’s employment after reviewing evidence of physical aggression towards several students, as reported by local ABC affiliate KVUE. They promptly informed parents, Child Protective Services (CPS), and local authorities.
In late February 2024, allegations emerged during a search for a child’s missing shoe, leading to the discovery of ongoing use of prohibited punishments against several children, according to the lawsuit.
The senior program director at the YMCA reached out to the Pflugerville Independent School District to review video footage in search of a missing shoe. The human resources director of Pflugerville ISD observed a YMCA employee using “inappropriate and unsafe discipline methods” on kids in video footage, according to the lawsuit.
On February 21, 2024, video footage captured several children playing in a small makeshift enclosure while an employee sat in a chair, focused on her cellphone, and seemingly unaware of the children she was responsible for, according to the complaint.
Documents reveal that a YMCA employee approached a child, firmly grasped her right upper arm, and led her to the center of the enclosure, where the child was made to sit on the floor.
A YMCA employee places a child on the floor and then checks her cell phone while the child looks very upset.
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A YMCA employee is accused of choking and shaking a child while scolding her for crying, according to court documents.
The girl is shown holding onto the YMCA employee’s hand, which is around her throat, according to the documents. The worker lets the girl go and goes back to checking her phone while she keeps crying.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department started looking into the footage from Feb. 21 after the girl’s mother informed detectives that her daughter frequently returned home with unexplained bruises and scratches, according to the lawsuit.
The document stated that when the mother inquired about the injuries, the YMCA was unable to explain their cause and did not supply incident reports.
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Detectives uncovered additional suspected abuse while reviewing more video footage. The legal complaint details nine additional events occurring from January 29 to February 21, 2024. Video footage reveals an employee grabbing a child by the neck, spinning her around, and forcing her to the ground before walking away, according to the lawsuit. Shortly after, the employee returns to confront the girl, leading her to cry uncontrollably while her classmates stand frozen in fear, according to the document.
The lawsuit highlighted safety violations cited by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Child Care Licensing Division since 2019.