A one-year-old who came home from an Antioch daycare drowsy and glassy-eyed later tested positive for THC, and now state regulators have told the unlicensed operation to stop taking children while they dig into what happened.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services has opened an investigation into the home-based operation, identified in court filings as Sparkles Playhouse, and has asked operator Sparkle Goins to cease operations while officials review the case.
Parents told investigators their toddler appeared "drowsy" with "drooping, fluttering eyelids" after being picked up from the daycare, then was taken to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, where the child tested positive for THC, according to NewsChannel 5. In a statement to the station, DHS said it "does conduct investigations to determine if unlicensed day care operations, like this one, are operating illegally."
According to WKRN News 2, DHS has now moved to formally order the facility to stop operating, and court documents indicate the site has been the subject of past complaints. The order requires the operator to give DHS access to the home for monitoring and inspection while the probe is underway.
What the Law Requires
The Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses child-care agencies that care for five or more unrelated children for three or more hours per day unless they qualify for an exemption. The agency’s summary of rules outlines its authority to inspect facilities and to investigate and document incidents when a child is harmed.
Parents with concerns about a child-care provider can contact the department's Child Care Complaint Hotline at (615) 313-4820 in Nashville or toll-free at 1-800-462-8261. A licensing summary is available from the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Legal Implications
Operating an unlicensed daycare can lead to civil penalties and, in more serious cases where children’s safety is threatened, criminal investigations and prosecutions. Previous Antioch cases where operators ignored stop orders have resulted in indictments and jail time, showing how quickly things can escalate when providers repeatedly defy regulators, per WSMV.
DHS says it will continue its review while parents and local agencies are notified. Officials are urging anyone with information to call the department's complaint line or Metro Nashville police. Parents whose children attended the facility and are worried about possible exposure are advised to seek medical guidance, keep detailed records of any doctor visits, and use DHS online tools to verify a provider's licensing status before enrolling their children elsewhere.
