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Blaine daycare abuse allegations prompt calls for change
The arrests of two daycare workers at Small World Learning Center have shocked many families in the community.
BLAINE, Minn. — The arrests of two day-care workers in a child abuse investigation at Small World Learning Center in Blaine came as a shock to many families, and the incident has prompted questions from Twin Cities parents about how their kids are kept safe in facilities across the state.
On Wednesday afternoon, Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine) will appear with victims’ families to outline “legislative solutions to ensure the abuse that occurred at a Blaine daycare center never happens again.” West said his own daughter previously attended Small World Learning Center and came home with bruises herself.
“The fact that this was clearly going on, on a daily basis, is insane,” West told KARE 11 earlier this week. “My first child … never in a million years would you think this would happen.”
West said one of his legislative proposals could include rules around the use and storage of surveillance video at daycare facilities.
In the Blaine case, surveillance video played a critical role in the arrests of the two Small World Learning Center teachers, but West said he wants facilities to store this video for longer periods of time.
“Especially since my baby was out months ago,” West said. “And we have no way of seeing the video of when she was bruised.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state doesn’t currently require childcare facilities to use surveillance video or store that video for any length of time although many providers choose to create their own rules.
However, DHS Deputy Inspector General Alyssa Dotson said there are strict requirements for licensing and hiring for childcare facilities. On the hiring side, background studies for all employees include fingerprint checks for BCA and FBI criminal history, searches of the sex offender registry and a review of social service databases.
When there are allegations of abuse or neglect, DHS personally investigates.
“We get reports from all over the place. We get reports from family members, from community members, from law enforcement, medical staff,” Dotson said. “We have databases that we store that information in. We do some general checks to see if there is a history with this provider of similar instances with a staff person, with a child.”
DHS confirmed there is an open maltreatment investigation at Small World Learning Center in Blaine but, citing privacy reasons, the agency can’t say whether it’s related to this latest case. The facility’s license remains active and daycare management told KARE 11 they’re cooperating with DHS to improve policies.
According to the state’s website, a licensing review of the facility last year found some training violations, which have since been corrected.
Cindy Lehnhoff, the director of the National Child Care Association, said cases like the Blaine abuse investigation are relatively rare. Still, she encouraged parents to seek references on childcare facilities and to always review state websites for more information about previous violations and discipline.
“Also, visit the center at different times of the day,” Lehnhoff said. “Make drop-in visits to make sure what you think is going on, is going on.”
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.
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