Following an investigation into a Washington County daycare center that began last month, local authorities arrested an employee on suspicion of child abuse and are also demanding charges be brought against the daycare center’s owner.
Kewaskum police arrested a 20-year-old Forever Friends Learning Center employee on Friday, according to a press release posted on Facebook Friday by Kewaskum Police Chief Thomas Bishop.
Police charged the employee with two counts of physical abuse of a child/negligent conduct and two counts of failure to report abuse/neglect.
Police also requested that charges be filed against the owner for failing to report abuse/neglect as required.
On July 23, Kewaskum police received reports of possible physical abuse of a child at the center at 1623 Fond du Lac Avenue, the news release said.
An initial investigation by Kewaskum Police with assistance from Washington County Child Protective Services and the Department of Children and Families resulted in the owner agreeing to voluntarily close the facility while the full investigation took place, according to police.
Authorities continued to investigate and question children and adults at the facility before making arrests and filing charges on August 9.
YoungStar is the state Department of Children and Families’ child care quality assessment and improvement system.
The system’s database shows that Forever Friends Learning Center is licensed and has been rated three out of five stars, meaning it “meets sufficient quality standards,” the system’s website states.
The center’s profile on YoungStar also lists five different violations over the past two years involving issues related to staff-to-child ratios, hygiene and supervision of children by uncertified staff.
“This incident impacts many families in the Village of Kewaskum and surrounding areas, and I am grateful to the community for their patience throughout this process,” Bishop said in the press release.
“Due to the nature of the investigation, confidentiality was important in this case and I ask that you continue to show respect to the families involved and grant them the privacy they deserve in this case.”
Contact Claudia Levens at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @levensc13.
