So– after I wrote the letter, I called Anita to set up a time to meet and discuss (Thursday). Monday mid-morning came without a call, so I emailed her. The email was short and well, I suppose a little threatening– not the withdrawal of The Boy part, but the DHS part.
I left you a message on Thursday, April 30th requesting a meeting to discuss some issues we are having with the PJW Childcare facility. I have not received a call back, and in light of my growing concern about the care at the facility, I am sending the letter I have drafted related to the issues I have experienced. While I understand you are busy, the lack of a returned call indicates to me that the management is not serious about addressing issues, which is consistent with the experience I have had with Hayley. As such, additional delay will result in the immediate withdrawal of my son, [The Boy], from your program, as well as sending the letter to the Department of Human Services.
A couple of hours passed and I had a call with her discussing everything in the letter and my concerns. At the end of the conversation, I felt a bit better and ready to proceed with caution. Communication is important, and I expressed that in the conversation, but apparently the messages of the conversation did not make it down to Hayley.
On Tuesday I arrived at the YWCA around three to celebrate The Boy’s “regular” (now irregular) teacher’s birthday. A couple of other mom’s and I got together to get her some flowers, a gift, and cake. It was supposed to be a great time. Only I arrived and my son was in another classroom– his fourth move of the day. I was unable to catch Anita in the hall, so I went to talk to Hayley.
When I left the YWCA, I sent this email to the CEO and Childcare Coordinator–
As Ms. Carwile is aware, I have been having issues with the PJW ELC. Unfortunately, today the situation increased in intensity and magnitude. I went to Hayley’s office to discuss and issue I had– specifically that once again my son was shuffled multiple times among multiple rooms and was not with his regular teacher. I have stressed in conversation and writing that consistency is important in his development, and the development of all young children. Rather than addressing the issue, Hayley repeated the information I had already received from Ms. Carwile about staffing issues. She also stated that the oldest two children should have been moved to the next room, which is also two year old class. When I asked why the additions to my son’s normal classroom did not go to the next room, I was told due to their age. When I reminded her that both classes are two year old classes, Hayley did not have an answer. My son is not one of the oldest two in his regular classroom.
I told Hayley that I had already spoken to Ms. Carwile about some of these issues. Ms. Carwile assured me that the best interest of the children and minimizing impact was important, yet this situation demonstrates to me that this is not the case.
I told Hayley that we are considering pulling [The Boy] out of your program. Her reply was that we must do what we must do. I told her I would discuss it with my husband and let her know in the next couple of days. Her response– She doesn’t care. You all have a waiting list. (paraphrasing)
Quite honestly, it is apparent that you do not have the staff available to deal with the children you do have, nor is staff being retained. Parents needs and concerns are not being addressed in a timely and acceptable manner.
After speaking with Ms. Carwile Monday, I felt as though we had a path forward. However, today’s event significantly degrades my confidence that the YWCA is serious about providing a facility that keeps the best interest of the children as its first priority.
Is the flippant response of Hayley not caring if families stay or go the position of the entire YWCA or is that her own opinion? If it is her opinion, I want a formal apology immediately. If it is the position of the YWCA, then inded, the YWCA is NOT the place for my family. I want to know that the management and leadership at the YWCA is serious and not providing lip service in response to the issues being brought to your attention. To date, I feel like I have gotten nothing but lip service.
Please provide a timely response so I can make a more informed and appropriate decision regarding my son’s placement at your facility.
Well– a timely response was no response, so Wednesday was The Boy’s last day at the YWCA. Here is his withdrawal letter.
06 May 2009
SUBJECT: [The Boy] Johnson’s immediate withdrawal due to an unsafe and un-nurturing environment at PJW YWCA ELC.
Ms. Hayley Hogan
Site Manager, Patty J. Wilson Early Learning Center
YWCA of Tulsa
1910 South Lewis Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74104
Ms. Hogan,
As a result of a continued unsafe and un-nurturing environment at the Patty J. Wilson (PJW) Early Learning Center (ELC), I am pulling my son, [The Boy], from your program effective immediately. I have attached my initial written complaint, which went to Ms. Carwile. A follow-up conversation took place on Monday, May 4th after which I felt as though Ms. Carwile and I were on the same page. However, since that time, conditions have continued to deteriorate.
Specific concerns, which have not been addressed adequately include continued staffing issues, shuffling of children between rooms and teachers multiple times per day, lack of consistency in placing children, a hostile childcare situation, lack of professionalism by yourself and others under your direction, disrespectful communication, poor food quality/nutrition practices, and lack of family integration in to the center. Most of these topics are addressed in the April 30 letter to Ms. Carwile. At this time, I will address food service, shuffling of children between rooms and teachers multiple times per day, and the hostile childcare situation.
The current food service situation, while a continuation of the less than optimal nutrition provided previously, is not acceptable, nor healthy. Items such as chips, corn dogs, tator tots, hotdogs, donuts and bologna are full of additives. These items are considered “junk food” by most nutritionists. The additives include things such as nitrates, which are carcinogens, excess sodium and excess refined sugars, just to name a few issues. We tolerated the food program, with a few exceptions, previously due to the otherwise high quality of care provided.
Unfortunately, the quality of care has deteriorated significantly with the continued shuffling of children from room to room, teacher to teacher, throughout the day and from day to day. Most days, when I arrive “on time,” [The Boy] goes first to Ms. Peggy, then Ms. Pat, then Ms. Jennifer, sometimes back to Ms. Pat, and then if Ms. Jennifer was the first to leave, to whomever is finishing for Ms. Pat (formerly Ms. Barbara). He does not have the same teacher on consecutive days, and the shuffling has lead to problems for [The Boy]. He no longer knows who or what he will see in the morning or throughout the day. As you are aware, this is troublesome and hard for a child of his age. He, like most children, strive on a routine. A routine that includes the same teacher and room for the bulk of his day. Unfortunately, PJW ELC is no longer able to offer the stability and care for [The Boy] that the ELC once did. Furthermore, the lack of priority on stability for the children has left children floundering, providing a less than optimal and unsafe (psychologically, emotionally) environment for the children.
The ELC has grown increasingly hostile—between yourself and parents and yourself and teachers without regard to audience. Inappropriate actions and communications are creating an environment that stresses all involved. Rather than dealing with issues professionally, blaming, defensive, childish reactions have occurred, including telling my family that you do not care if we leave, because you have a waiting list. It is unfortunate that you feel this way. The waiting list is there, because in the past, the ELC has provided top not care in a top notch environment. My family has invested a lot of time, energy and money in to ensuring a positive experience for [The Boy] and the children he is with daily, including purchasing extra toys and books for his classroom when there were not enough to go around, as well as higher quality tissues and other products.
As a result of the unsafe environment, we are withdrawing [The Boy] immediately, absent the two week notice generally provided under normal conditions. The extenuating circumstances, mental anguish, and overall conditions in the facility do not warrant further delay in action or further harm to [The Boy].
Sincerely,
Maria Wegner-Johnson
Cc: Anita Carwile, Director of Child and Youth Development
Felicia Collins Corriea, Chief Executive Officer
Tonja Lorenzo, DHS
Enclosures: 30 April 2009 Letter to Ms. Carwile
I have a lot of emotions and thoughts floating around, and I hope to blog them soon. I did send all of the correspondence to DHS and had a nice discussion with the representative of that agency about what is going on. Some of it is a DHS issue, some of it is not. However I know ALL of the kids left behind deserve much better than they have gotten in the past three weeks or so.
Exhausting.
