I know people ask about daycare centers all the time and this one has been mentioned before, but I can't find much by doing a search... Does anyone have a child that goes to Open Arms? My daughter just started there recently and I would just like to find someone to talk to about it. Thanks!
http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/general/home.asp Please I urge anyone looking into daycare to please check out this website provided by The Division of Child Development, as well as make a visit to their office it is right off of Chapanoke Road - they have a Raleigh address but I consider this part of Garner. I worked there as an Abuse Intake Consultant for many years, until I could stand no more. Please check out all past history of the daycare if you have any questions the staff are very helpful and kind. FYI – their last visit from DCD – several violations documented – red flag to me is when operator made an effort to falsity information – to the State – what is being told to parents??? Violations not corrected during visit are pending verification by consultant. Once verification is confirmed by the consultant, it will be noted in the individual violation summary. To get more information about the visit, contact the child care facility. OPEN ARMS CHRISTIAN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER - Ph: (919) 553-7227 Visit Details Date of Visit 1/17/2007 Type of Visit Temporary Time Period Violations Found Rule Violated: The operator made an effort to falsify information. One staff medical report was copied from another employee's file. The top employee information box for staff member S.B. was offline with the rest of the page. All handwriting and language for this medical report exactly matched the medical report found in another staff's file, staff T.B. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/8/2007 Rule Violated: An application for employment was not on file for all staff. One staff member did not have an application on file. Staff member's birth date, date of employment, education and child care work experience could not be verified. Violation corrected during visit Rule Violated: Documentation of staff's education, training, and experience was not on file. One staff member did not have an application on file. Staff member's birth date, date of employment, education and child care work experience could not be verified. Violation corrected during visit Rule Violated: All staff did not have a medical statement on file within 60 days of employment that was signed by a licensed physician or authorized health professional. Medical statement was older than 12 months. Two staff members did not have a medical statement on file. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/8/2007 Rule Violated: Prior to employment, all staff did not provide test results showing that they were free of active TB. TB test was older than 12 months. Proof of a negative TB test was missing for one staff member. Two staff members had documented proof of a negative TB test that was received more than 9 days after employment date. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/8/2007 Rule Violated: Criminal Records Check Forms were not submitted within required timeframe or maintained in the employee's personnel file. Two staff members did not have a criminal records qualifying letter. No proof of criminal records submission was available for either staff member. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/8/2007 Rule Violated: The center director and any caregivers scheduled to work in the infant room, including volunteers counted in the staff/child ratios, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within four months of assuming duties in the infant room or every three years thereafter. Two caregivers in the infant room had not received ITS-SIDS training in the last three years. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/8/2007 Rule Violated: Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in recognition of the signs and symptoms of child abuse/neglect and in the employee's duty to report suspected abuse/neglect, review of center's operational policies (safe sleep for infants) and adequate supervision. One staff member only completed 4.5 clock hours of the required six hours of training in the first two weeks of employment. Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/24/2007 The information on this website is updated daily.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. The whole child care issue is one I struggle with every day. I would still like to find someone out there who has personal experience with Open Arms. I am going to try and talk to some other parents while I am there but if there is anyone on this board that can help me I would really appreciate it.
What about the local pre-schools in churches (Smithfield, Clayton, etc). I've heard great things about them all (Horne, Hocutt, 1st Presby in Smithfield, and Mr. Pleasant Wee Care), however I don't find them on the web link given. Is there a difference between these type of pre-schools and the Open Arms or Little Stepping Stones type? Is there a different type of regulatory system?
The biggest difference between Open Arms and many of the ones you listed is that Open Arms offers full day care. Most church pre-schools only offer half days, a few days out of the week. I work full-time, therefore, need full-time care. I was pleased to learn Open Arms offered full-time care. It is in a Lutheran church on 42.
One question I'd have to ask, is the daycare affiliated with the church or just renting space provided by the church? My children went to a pre-school in Garner that was renting space from the church but was not run/operated by the church.
First Baptist Church in Clayton has a excellent CDC. The Director, Melissa Long, is great. Capacity is about 50 children. They may not have any openings. www.fbcclaytonnc.org/Ministries/CDC.htm
Be a bit leery of the 1/2 day centers. I was the director of one for years. The reason we stayed 1/2 day was because anything more that that would require certification, and we knew we wouldn't pass. As a mom, I worry a bit about a place that wont pass. There are acceptable reasons, but most of the criteria set for certification is for safety, so if they would fail, are they safe??? I am in no way saying anything about any church or 1/2 day center, just sharing my experience.
Blessed2adopt Only centers licensed by the division of child development would be listed on that site. Since religous sponsored centers are not required to be licensed many are not.
Open Arms I too have a child at open arms. While my child loves it I do not feel the same. It is not the center or church itself it is more of the staff and how it is being run. There have been several instances that I have brought up and nothing has been done about them. But what do you do if your child is use to something....Am I suppose to take my child out?
Child comes first. Period. This is not directed at anyone, but if ANY daycare is not the ideal place for your child, take them out. They will get used to another place. Children are very resilient.
Open Arms Concerns... Hi! My child attends Open Arms. I have some of the same concerns that have been mentioned in this discussion. My daughter LOVES her teachers and her classmates. I am so worried though because I do not see consistency throughout the center. I fear that when her birthday comes in a few months and she is transitioned into the next class, it will be a disaster. The next class up has gone through more teachers than some people go through underwear and that is not good for the kids. The director is never there, and when she is she is about as phony as they come. There are some excellent teachers there, and we have been fortunate enough that one of them teaches our daughter--for the time being. It worries me that the majority of actual teachers are gone long before the center closes and the kids are left with assistants that pay no attention. I have begun to explore other options because I am at my wit's end. I don't know though that it would be any better anywhere else. We searched and investigated for 6 months before putting her at Open Arms and I don't know where else I would send her. If we go to a private caregiver, she won't have the interaction that someone of her age needs, if we go to a different center, will we have the same concerns? or will they be even worse? Anyone else feel that way???
In my experience, a high turnover of the teachers is a CLEAR indication of a problem. Most of the teachers at my son's daycare here in Clayton had been there for years. I didn't exactly get the "warm fuzzies" from the director/owner, but that is just her personality, the kids received wonderful care and I was very happy with all his teachers and he was well prepared for kindergarten. I had a NIGHTMARE daycare back in TN that was church run. Just because they are in a church is no guarantee of quality care. I went OFF on a teacher one day because my son was very dirty, nose not wiped, etc when I picked him up one day. I told them in no uncertain terms that if they wouldn't let their own kids run around with a dirty diaper and snotty nose they sure as @#$% better not let mine. Then I pulled up one day to pick him up and the kids were outside in a fenced area, gate open, near a busy highway and no teacher in sight That was his last day after I had a "discussion" with the director. :shock:
tralynwar02--I hear ya! It seems like there just couldn't be a place out there that would be good enough and what if it ended up being worse??!! We were in a home daycare situation before with a person I trusted 110%. Schedules changed and I had to move my daughter to something else. I think now that she is older though, the interaction and structure in a 'classroom' setting could be good for her. We have only been at Open Arms for one week so I am trying not to overreact to everything. It is hard for me b/c I want everything to be perfect right away.
I have. I moved my child there a little over a month ago. We had been going to another center for over 1.5 years. Things started going downhill in that center so we decided we were going to make a change. We looked all around and decided with Cleveland Child Development Center. We really like the center and the employees. They are very professional and truly love the children. I feel that my child is taken care of very well by the staff.
Working in the field, I agree with ginger- Your child will bounce back. Just think if they are happy in a center where you the parent are uneasy how much happier will they be in a center where mom and dad are happy!? No center will be perfect or care for your child exactly as you would, but you should feel comfortable and feel the door for discussion of concerns is open. You may not always like the response (some things can't be done differently due to licensing regs) but you should always be provided with reasonable explanation or solution. No one can guarantee that staff turnover wont happen but they can work to minimize it. Extreme staff turnover can indicate internal problems and does affect your child's care. If you do decide to look elsewhere, let the director of the center you are touring know some of your concerns at your current center (you don't have to tell them the name of the center). I always find this helpful when speaking with parents wanting to make a change. It allows me to let them know if I can meet there needs or not up front. If I can't I explain why but I try to make sure they leave with all they need to know about my center. Just go with your gut and good luck!
two sides I have always believed there are two sides to every story... Like the employee who is no longer at Open Arms... My child attends Open Arms and is in the room with the child whos mother is very unhappy with some of the situations at the center -ie - the person in charge-... Well yes I have noticed a lot of turn over in the next class and yes I had some concern but after talking to the teacher who has returned from maternity leave I am very confident that my child will resive what he needs to go to school in a year. To my knowledge the director of the center hasn't taken a day off and seems to be there more than any other director of any center that any of my children have attended. You know they are not the only center around and if you are so unhappy and need to talk bad about the center in ANY way then nothing is stopping you from finding another center. Like someone else wrote go somewhere else that you are happy about leaveing your child at. It is one thing to not care for a teacher in another classroom but the director is another. I wish you luck with your child and hope that you can come to an understanding and either tell the director to her face how you feel or find another location. You are your childs parent and you should do what you feel is right for your child.
I agree that there are two sides to every story, which is why I joined in on this discussion. My unhappiness is not just from the person in charge, although, yes I do have what I feel are legitimate concerns in that regard. I have spoken with her, more than once about my concerns which leaves me with my unhappiness. My concerns, as well as those addressed by other parents, have seemingly gone in one ear and out the other. I have no issue saying this to anyone's face--that has been done already. As for the director not taking time off: if that is the case, then maybe she shouldn't have given a repeated answer of "I wasn't here yesterday" or "I've been out for the past few days". Maybe she has been there and is just not there when I am, and that is fine. I am not trying to attack her personally by any means. She is a very nice person, she just doesn't seem to address the issues that one would think would be top of her job duties. I am very well aware that there are other centers out there, and have, and continue to, look at other options. The discussion groups on here are meant to do just that: discuss. I am sorry if I offended you by sharing my thoughts, but I wanted to know how others felt as well. I am not the one who started this discussion, but I am glad someone did because it is helping to validate some concerns, while eliminating others. Yes, the teacher who just returned from maternity leave is great, and I think my child will adjust well to her. As I've stated before, it is the inexperienced assistants who don't pay attention that worry me. I believe I stated before that we were fortunate to have 2 great teachers in my child's room, and I will continue to feel that way. I just happen to get worried when I come to pick up my child and there are 20 kids outside ranging from 3years old-after school kids and only one assistant teacher. I again apologize for apparently offending you. My child has never been in a daycare before, so the concerns I have are valid to me and I am only after reassurance that everything is okay. I don't want to uproot her from the center because she has bonded and made great friends and if I can eliminate my main concerns (understaffing, inadequate staffing) then I would love for her to stay. I know that I am the parent and it is ultimately my decision, I just want to make sure I make an informed one, and the right one.
