First Step II Inc - Childcare

"Long read ahead so I apologize in advance. My daughter (3years old, Autistic) attended this facility from August 23rd-October 29th. So over two months. Every single morning she went to daycare, she would completely fall apart refusing to go and then would be okay after drop off and playing with friends. Staff were informed of her ASD prior to enrollment. This was our first experience with a daycare ever. And I will never place her in daycare again. One morning I had to rush out the door to work so my husband got our 3yo ready. I reminded him to give her her vitamin and allergy medicine (over the counter, her primary pediatrician approved). My husband just became her father about 2 years ago metaphorically and a few months ago legally (adoption). He has had no younger siblings or prior childcare experience. So, he made a common mistake and accidentally gave her, her benadryl that we give her on nights her allergies are bad instead of the kids Zyrtec. So, when our daughter arrives to daycare, she is reasonably tired and loopy seeing as she had refused to go to bed on time the night prior and we had to wake her up at 7am and she had just been given benadryl which makes her a little sleepy even when well rested (autism is weird with meds). I get a phone call from her daycare expressing concern because my daughter had fallen asleep on the swing and fell off but was not injured however was still out of it. I called my husband and deducted that he had simply given her the wrong medication. I informed the daycare admin, and she insisted we simply leave her there. My husband had parent guilt and left work to pick her up and take her home for a snack and a long nap. She was as good as new. A week later, DCS is in our living room. We were under investigation for over a month not knowing what steps were being made or what was being said. Because a worker from this daycare called and informed them that our 3yo appeared to be under the influence. No, DCS did not specifically say the daycare called, however they stated the abuse claim made against us and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it was this facility. They showed up. Asked questions. Inspected our home. Ran background checks on us, my mother in law, and grandfather in law and then disappeared. Our entire family was shaken and terrified of losing our girl for over a month, while 3yo continuously showed signs of fighting attending daycare. This facility put our family through hell, for no reason. I even informed all workers that day that she had simply had benadryl and not enough sleep. This was our first time trusting a daycare with our special little girl, and they completely destroyed any hope to trust a facility in the future. It wasn't until I called our caseworker yesterday to ask about our status on the investigation, that I was informed it was being closed. My daughter attended this daycare 5days a week every week for two months and she still consistently had meltdowns about attending every morning of and every night prior whereas normally when an adjustment is made in her schedule it only takes her approximately a week to adjust to it. One of the workers/teachers is also excessively passive aggressive and condescending, and does not hesitate to lie when questioned if it's covering her own tracks. When this was brought to the director's attention, the director claimed she would handle the situation but I was informed by another teacher nothing had been done to correct the teacher whom had lie. Every occasion we were informed our daughter had been there for over an hour and was still inconsolable and we reasonably went to take her home for the day to console her, we were met with frustration and condescending criticism from both the director and a couple (not all) of the teachers. The only positive I have to say about this facility, is they are flexible with pay dates, and they have two teachers who will love your child like their own. Otherwise, PLEASE reconsider enrolling your child(ren) here."

"My kids have gone here for over a year, and we absolutely love it. The staff is wonderful, they are so patient with the kids, and they actually teach them! I love that the staff is consistent and how they involve the kids and parents in all the activities. They also do a great job following daycare licensing regulations and are a 3 star facility. I would not want my kids to go anywhere else."