Allegations have surfaced against a daycare on Charlotte Avenue, involving actions such as “pinching,” “withholding food,” and “humiliating” children.
The Bright Horizon’s Growing Together Learning Center, which is usually bustling with dozens of little children, now sits empty.
Residents in the vicinity were taken aback by the unusual tranquility.
“There’s no cars in the parking lot which I guess is strange but I just heard that they’re closed,” remarked Connor Struckmeyer.
Recent reports reveal disturbing incidents of mistreatment towards young children, involving acts of verbal and physical abuse such as pinching, grabbing, ear-pulling, and bending of the toes. It was reported that a 3-year-old boy experienced corporal punishment.
It was discovered that educators were withholding food from children as a form of punishment and neglecting to change their dirty diapers.
It was also discovered that “Activities were being staged for pictures to parents, but children were not really able to engage in activities. Meals that were reported being served and children were eating were either not being served or children were not getting the chance to eat due to food being withheld for behavior.”
Additionally, a statement was provided by the daycare, as it is utilized by HCA employees.
Effective August 21, the child care center near the main HCA Healthcare campus and operated independently by Bright Horizons was closed by the State until further notice. We are concerned about the issues identified by the State, and we appreciate their efforts to ensure the issues are addressed appropriately and promptly by Bright Horizons.
The center provides services to some HCA Healthcare families as a resource offered through our benefits program. We understand that Bright Horizons has notified families served by the center and is working to temporarily place children at other area childcare centers. This situation creates challenges for our colleagues, and we are working to identify ways to best assist them.
It has been revealed that the abuse was known to upper management at DHS, yet they chose not to report it.
Bright Horizons operates a wide network of daycare centers throughout the nation. Both the Department of Human Services and the Department of Child Services have confirmed that they are currently conducting open investigations.