State suspends license of Niles-area child care center

NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The state is working to pull the license of a Niles-area child care center.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Child Care Licensing Bureau says it has summarily suspended the child care license of Tiny Tators Childcare LLC, effective 6 p.m. Friday, and issued a notice of intent to revoke the license.

According to the order of summary suspension , a recent investigation found that the center, located at 1036 Bell Rd., did not maintain clean and safe premises. An early August inspection revealed dirty spaces, broken furniture and dirty items of clothing, the document says.

The state also accused Tiny Tators Childcare of not having “the administrative capability to operate the center in a manner that is conducive to the welfare of children,” mentioning a lack of training and a July outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease.

“Licensee did not provide enough cleaning supplies for staff to sanitize all the items at the center, did not send infected or ill children home, and continued to operate as usual,” the order of summary suspension says.

Moreover, investigators found that Tiny Tators Childcare “used prohibited means of discipline,” according to the order of summary suspension. Workers are accused of regularly yelling at children, and one person allegedly grabbed a child by the arm, injuring the child. The document says there was concern that the child’s arm may have been broken, though that didn’t turn out to be the case.

“It was critical to take emergency action to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the children at this child care center,” MiLEAP said in a release.

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