Suffolk day care cited for 33 state violations in 6-month period
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) cited the day care on Dec. 4 for violating three state regulations.
More violations have been lodged against a Suffolk County day care. Team 12 Investigates first exposed complaints against Ally’s Alley Day Care in Holtsville back in August. Now, another state investigation is pending.
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) cited the day care on Dec. 4 for violating three state regulations. The agency reported the day care left children without competent supervision, noted a teacher was using their phone for personal use while watching the children and found staff did not submit a required medical statement before working with children.
“OCFS’ top priority is the health, safety and well-being of all children in child care programs,” an OCFS spokesperson said. “As the State oversight authority, we investigate any complaint registered with the agency. OCFS cannot comment on active investigations.”
Each of the violations have since been corrected and this is not the first time the program has been under investigation.
Team 12 Investigates found Ally’s Alley Day Care has received 33 state violations within the last six months. They include failing to notify parents about serious incidents and not having enough qualified teachers on duty.
A previous state investigation stemmed from a complaint about how a staff member treated children in her care.
In August, Stacia Lorenzo pulled her 4-year-old son AJ from the day care. She said she saw video of a now-former employee mistreating him. Suffolk County child protective services (CPS) confirmed in a letter that they found evidence that AJ was abused or maltreated at the day care.
“To see your child being abused in that way, I would never touch my child like that. I would never touch anybody else's children like that,” Lorenzo said. “Nobody said anything to us. The way we found out was CPS. CPS knocking at our door.”
Team 12 Investigates reached out to the day care owner, Allison Kendall, to share her side of the story. She deferred us to her attorney, and we have not been provided with a response at the time of this report.
