GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids daycare had its license suspended late last week due to conditions deemed unsafe for children.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) says the childcare home on 1015 Benjamin Ave. violated the Child Care Organizations Act by allowing an individual with a criminal history stay at the home, among other conditions.
For the time being, the daycare operator, Datasha Chapman, is barred from operating any sort of childcare facility.
FOX 17 spoke to Chapman late Monday afternoon to get her take on the situation.
She says the allegations in the report of investigatory findings published by the state are not a fair characterization of what happened in her home.
Chapman called the situation "a big family feud that has gotten extremely out of control."
One of the state's main allegations is that Chapman failed to perform criminal background checks on a number of adults who were living in the home or would frequent the home.
Chapman tells FOX 17 that all of the adults in question are family members.
One individual in question is a registered sex offender and was previously arrested for operating a drug house, according to the state. That same person was reportedly known to get in fights with another person at the home and would "snort cocaine," per state documents.
The state alleges that several other adults who had run-ins with the law had been staying at the house.
Additionally, an inspection in late May uncovered "piles of clutter, unsanitary flooring, dirty infrastructure, and a hole in the ceiling resulting from water damage," according to LARA.
Cannabis was also found in a room, allegedly accessible to the children.
Chapman says that she took over the home on Benjamin Ave. in 2019 from her grandmother, who had lived there for decades prior.
"The house was in a state of disrepair. There were rodents, there were roaches, bedbugs," she recalled Monday.
When she took the property over, she says she worked to get it back in a livable condition.
"Gutted the people, gutted the house physically. I had all new plumbing put in, all new electricity, a new roof, etc. So now that the house is in good condition, there are people in my family who come over here, and think that they can just live here," she said Monday.
"In the process of me trying to get help from the Grand Rapids Police Department and getting them out, I'm being told I can't put them out. So instead, I have to get eviction notices. So, 30 Day notices for everybody. And as I give them one, these people in my family, unfortunately are calling Child Protective Services on me...Now my license is being suspended based on some of these things that they're saying. So I've appealed the decision to go in front of an administrative law judge."
LARA says an investigation concluded on Friday, finding the home was in violation of the following:
- Failing to maintain a home that is safe for children.
- Failing to keep the home safe and clean.
- Failing to keep dangerous objects out of children’s reach.
As a result, the home’s license was suspended at 6 p.m. on June 23, according to LARA. We’re told the licensee may no longer care for children and must now inform all parents that her license was revoked.
Chapman says she will be appealing the decision.
Visit LARA’s website for more on the state’s childcare licensing.
