YWCA risks losing daycare license | News, Sports, Vacancies

Some Jamestown-area parents are struggling to find a new child care provider after the state Department of Children and Families filed a notice to restrict and ultimately revoke the Jamestown YWCA’s daycare license.

The first thing that will impact parents will be the closure of the so-called Dandelion Room at the YWCA, which houses a universal preschool program. According to a letter from YWCA representatives to parents provided to The Post-Journal, as well as a notice from the state Office of Children and Families, the YWCA’s license to operate the YWCA Jamestown Day Center was limited effective Oct. 18, while the state OFCS sought to revoke the state license for the entire center.

“The YWCA plans to appeal both decisions, and we are fully cooperating with OCFS in resolving these actions,” Amanda Gesing, YWCA executive director, wrote in a letter to parents posted at the YWCA’s Fourth Street facility.

State officials inspected the YWCA on Oct. 2-3, 10 and 15 and found that daycare staff had taken a group of preschoolers to the playground and on their way back discovered that a child had been left behind in the playground. The group had been gone for 4 or 5 minutes when he was found hiding under a slide. On Oct. 8, state officials said, day care employees allowed a 3-year-old child to leave the preschool general-purpose room and go into the break room unattended for two minutes. The employees also allegedly did not immediately report the incident to the state center registry. Then, on October 9, the child was left alone in a UPK3 classroom for 19 minutes without the incident being immediately reported to the child’s parent, the Department of Children and Families, or the state’s central registry.

“Effective immediately, your day care program has been removed from the office’s list of day care providers,” the state’s notice of violation states. “Your program will be reinstated to this list if you successfully challenge the office’s decision to limit and revoke your license if the office decides to remove you from the limited and revoked category.”

Gesing’s letter to parents said YWCA staff believed the problems were caused by systemic issues at their facilities, including classroom layouts, bathroom layouts and the lack of an enclosed outdoor play area. A full review of the daycare is currently underway, and Gesing said YWCA officials will review the program if necessary.

Over the past 12 months, the YWCA has worked to secure additional funding and is working on a plan to renovate its facilities. The changes will happen over the next 18 months, Gesing wrote.

“In the meantime, YWCA Jamestown is implementing immediate changes to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in our care,” Gesing wrote. “We have replaced our nursery director with an interim director and will be conducting a national search for a new director who is fully qualified and able to resolve any remaining staffing and equipment issues. We have made additional staffing changes and adjustments and will continue to do so as needed or requested by OFCS.”

YWCA Jamestown was still listed late Monday as having a pending license revocation as of Oct. 18. The facility can accommodate 59 children, including eight infants, 12 toddlers and 39 preschoolers, according to the data. The agency’s license for the daycare center was first issued in 1991 and was supposed to be valid until 2028.

Joining that list in Chautauqua County is YWCA Westfield, which lost its state license in July. This institution was designed for 143 children.