The Middletown Press has reported that federal inspectors cited all 20 of the Department of Public Health (DPH)-licensed family day care homes they inspected for violations of the Public Health Code. Cited violations included a lack of criminal background checks and safety issues, such as blocked pathways and the lack of electrical outlet covers. The homes are located in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.
After the report was released, two providers voluntarily surrendered their licenses. One of these was charged with risk of injury to a child and neglect after police found five unattended children in the house.
The inspectors recommended that state officials conduct more frequent inspections and develop a mandatory training program to improve health and safety compliance, among other things. Current law requires DPH to inspect at least one-third of family day care homes each year (CGS § 19a-87b). State inspectors said that they are seeking additional funding to conduct annual inspections instead of once every three years.
