The license of a Detroit child care center, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Care, was suspended after multiple complaints of health and safety concerns were substantiated by a state investigation. Reports of raw chicken being served, spoiled milk on offer, and cold, drafty rooms sans heat prompted an inquiry from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).
Yesterday, the center, operated by the Antioch Church of God in Christ and sharing a building with the Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy, was ordered to cease operations. Investigations began shortly after the initial complaint on Jan. 16, which alleged that children were to be sent home cold due to inadequate heating at the facility, as per documents cited by Detroit Free Press.
Further allegations indicated that the daycare center lacked cleaning supplies, had no hot water, and that children were exposed to yellow water with an unpleasant odor from dispensers. "Children have gotten sick from the room being too warm and the milk turning sour on their stomach," a staff member reported, according to Detroit Free Press. An emergency suspension was invoked due to "the potential risk it represents to vulnerable children in Licensee’s care."
An inspection that followed the complaints found evidence of unsafe conditions and improper food handling practices. According to FOX 2 Detroit, the consultant's Jan. 23 visit revealed many violations, including expired food, a strong sewage odor, and black mold underneath a kitchen sink. In the face of such distressing conditions, the consultant found it necessary to protect the children's welfare by suspending their licenses immediately.
Parents and guardians were to be notified that care could no longer be provided, and the licensee was responsible for informing them of the suspension. A hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled, and the Antioch Church of God in Christ can appeal the suspension.
