Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Summarily Suspends the Child Day Care License of Hands and Hearts Around The World

Contact: Maura Campbell 517.373.9280

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

October 27, 2003-  The Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS)Bureau of Family Services issued an order of summary suspension and notice of intent to revoke action to Wayne County child day care center Hands and Hearts Around The World, 29830 Ford Road, Garden City, Michigan.  Hands and Hearts Around The World was ordered to immediately cease providing care to children effective 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2003.  This action is the result of a recent complaint investigation of the CDC center.

Under Michigan statute, a Child Care Center is defined as "a facility, other than a private residence, receiving 1 or more preschool or school age children for care for periods of less than 24 hours a day, and where the parents or guardians are not immediately available to the child.  Child care center or day care center includes a facility that provides care for not less than 2 consecutive weeks, regardless of the number of hours of care per day.  The facility is generally described as a child care center, day care center, day nursery, nursery school, parent cooperative preschool, play group, or drop-in center."

The October 22, 2003, findings of the complaint investigation are:

On October 8, 2003, Catherine Lee, License Designee for Hands and Hearts Around The World, was arrested and charged with three counts of federal fraud, which included false statements, mail fraud and state agency billing fraud. Garden City Police entered the center while children were present and confiscated child care records, computers, and file cabinets.

On October 15, Wayne County Health Department conducted an environmental health inspection of the center and found numerous health violations, including backed up floor drains, water on the floor in the food service area, standing water in the basement, food not refrigerated at a safe temperature, and food preparation areas not sanitized.  The Health Department ordered the center to cease operations until all necessary repairs were made and it was in compliance.

On October 15, 2003, Ms. Lee failed to assure officials that she had sufficient staff available to care for children, failed to assure that the center was heated at an approved temperature and failed to post menu and document meal substitutions.

On October 17, Ms. Lee re-opened the facility without approval from the Health Department.  Ms. Lee again did not have sufficient staff available to care for children, failed to assure the center was heated properly, and the center smelled of raw sewage.

Ms. Lee was previously cited in February 2003 for failure to assure that the center did not exceed its capacity, failure to meet adult-to-child ratios, failure to have adequate staff to prepare meals, failure to obtain Department approval for a passenger van and failure to maintain the premises in a clean and safe condition.  Ms. Lee submitted a corrective action plan and was placed on a provisional license.

Effective 6:00 p.m., October 24, 2003, the Summary Suspension Order requires Hands and Hearts Around The World not to operate a child day care center at 29830 Ford Road, Garden City, Michigan, or at any other address or location.  Children are not to be received for care after that date or time.  The order also requires Hands and Hearts Around The World to inform all of the parents of children in their care that their license has been suspended and that they can no longer provide child care.

Hands and Hearts Around The World has held a license to operate a Child Day Care Center since April 12, 2000.  The license was for 43 children.

Click here for more information about Child Day Care Licensing.

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