Very sorry, OP. Did the director follow up with you?

Anonymous wrote:Strange how little attention this got on here. Everyone must have exhausted their wandering from daycare energy on the FCC event.

This is scary that 4 young children could wander away from the center and walk blocks on busy roads. Thank goodness for the kind man who saw them and brought them back. How scary for you too OP.

Yeah, really. I cannot believe this keeps happening. It's so disturbing. Please don't let this get overlooked because we've already expended so much energy on the FCC fiasco. We should be even more outraged that centers aren't being vigilant after what happened at FCC.

Strange how little attention this got on here. Everyone must have exhausted their wandering from daycare energy on the FCC event.

This is scary that 4 young children could wander away from the center and walk blocks on busy roads. Thank goodness for the kind man who saw them and brought them back. How scary for you too OP.

Anonymous wrote:I want to make sure that what happened today to my child doesn't happen to anyone else's.

Today I arrived at the Bethesda Lynbrook Child Care Center to pick up my son and saw him and 3 of his classmates (all 2-3 year olds) DOWN THE STREET. They had somehow left the fenced in playground and walked almost 2 blocks into the neighborhood surrounding the center in Bethesda. A man walking his dog found them and was bringing them back. The teacher never knew they were missing. She literally had misplaced, LOST, half the class.

The center director wasn't there, the program manager didn't know what the procedure was when "things like this" happen, but I was assured that "there would be consequences."

However, several hours later, no formal notice has been made to the class or the list serve and they let the teacher stay in the classroom for the rest of the evening.

I am literally sick to my stomach over the possibilities of what could have happened to these 4 2-year olds who were walking amid parked cars, as a storm was rolling in, and were only identified as Lynbrook kids because they had their pennies on. How anyone could lose track of 4 little kids for such a long enough period of time that it would take those little legs to walk that far away, AND BACK, is unfathomably irresponsible to me.

If you are a Lynbrook parent, please, be aware that this has happened and that the school hardly seems to be concerned. If you are considering this placement for your child, don't. I don't believe they can keep the littlest among them safe.

DC Urban Moms,

As the Executive Director of the Montgomery Child Care Association, I apologize for this incident and am deeply concerned about what took place at MCCA’s Bethesda/Lynbrook location yesterday. As a mom myself, I understand the immense trust placed in our caregivers and I can assure you I am taking immediate action. I have personally been involved in this matter and over the last 24 hours our team has:

a. Performed an in-depth investigation into the incident
b. Terminated the employees directly involved
c. Contacted appropriate licensing and oversight agencies to self-report the incident

We will continue to conduct a full investigation and will further address this situation by implementing a comprehensive review of our policies and procedures. MCCA is committed to striving to provide high quality, play based care to the children in our programs and we take this responsibility seriously.

Sincerely,

Michelle Martineau Green

WOW, OP that is really scary and I would be livid. Did you read the recent thread on the Friendship Children's Center? You may want to contact the local news to do a story if your center does not take any action (the 5 o clock news reported on the FCC incident).

Did you pull your kid out? What are you doing for child care.

One child slipping out of a fenced area, being seen immediately and brought back: this isn't necessary ok but acceptable, as long as the circumstances that led to the child slipping out are addressed and corrected.

More than one child and two blocks? Completely unacceptable and heads need to roll.

This is frightening !
I took my children out of a Bethesda Daycare to place them here to save money as one of my friends recommened so- Feels horrible that I did so , its not worth at all -I cannot compare them to my daycare . These people are very irresponsible and the staff working here are not dedicated at all.Even the Director - Does she care- she will move on- Its us poor parents who go through the trauma.
I wish I had not moved.
Well I can always go back, which is what I hope to do.
After something happens its not worth regretting.

This is horrifying, OP! I'm really sorry this happened but happy that the gentlemen walking his dog was a concerned citizen and was walking them back to their school.

Do they participate in any accreditation program, like NAEYC? If yes, report them. And report them to whoever has the oversight function for MD.

Time to put these idoits in jail. I'm over it

Maryland Child Protective Services Procedures (SSA95-13) define an "unattended child" as:
A child under eight left alone or in the care of a person who is not reliable or who is under 13.
A child aged eight through 12 left alone for longer than brief periods without support systems which should include phone numbers of parents, other family members or neighbors, information about personal safety, and what to do in an emergency. Children in this age group may not be left to care for children under the age of eight.
A child 12 or over who is left alone for long hours or overnight or with responsibilities beyond capabilities or where there is some special risk factor such as mental retardation or physical handicap that would indicate that the child may be in jeopardy.
A child who has been abandoned.
A child of any age who is handicapped and left alone, if the handicapping condition constitutes a special risk factor which indicates that the child is in jeopardy.
Maryland Family Law, 5-701(p) states that NEGLECT is "the leaving of a child unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child by any parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision under circumstances that indicate: that the child's health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm."
The Montgomery County Child Protective Services defines neglect as "the chronic failure of a parent, caretaker, household or family member to provide a child under 18 basic needs of life, such as: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, attention to hygiene, educational opportunity, protection and supervision. Cultural standards which differ from those of most of the community are not necessarily neglect." To make a report call 240-777-4417.

Call the police. This was neglect.

Holy cow, OP, that's horrifying! I'm so glad your child is safe and I'm so grateful you shared this info. I considered this center last year for my son who was then 2yo. We wound up staying at our long-time daycare, but it was still on my list as a possibility should we want to move him later on. Not any longer. I'm so sorry for what you must have gone through when you realized it was your small child wandering the streets unsupervised (except by a luckily kindly stranger.)

sorry - I didn't intend for that to be anonymous. My name is Wendy Rhein, wrhein@yahoo.com.

I want to make sure that what happened today to my child doesn't happen to anyone else's.

Today I arrived at the Bethesda Lynbrook Child Care Center to pick up my son and saw him and 3 of his classmates (all 2-3 year olds) DOWN THE STREET. They had somehow left the fenced in playground and walked almost 2 blocks into the neighborhood surrounding the center in Bethesda. A man walking his dog found them and was bringing them back. The teacher never knew they were missing. She literally had misplaced, LOST, half the class.

The center director wasn't there, the program manager didn't know what the procedure was when "things like this" happen, but I was assured that "there would be consequences."

However, several hours later, no formal notice has been made to the class or the list serve and they let the teacher stay in the classroom for the rest of the evening.

I am literally sick to my stomach over the possibilities of what could have happened to these 4 2-year olds who were walking amid parked cars, as a storm was rolling in, and were only identified as Lynbrook kids because they had their pennies on. How anyone could lose track of 4 little kids for such a long enough period of time that it would take those little legs to walk that far away, AND BACK, is unfathomably irresponsible to me.

If you are a Lynbrook parent, please, be aware that this has happened and that the school hardly seems to be concerned. If you are considering this placement for your child, don't. I don't believe they can keep the littlest among them safe.