The Minnesota Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the center for financial misconduct.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Another Minnesota daycare is under investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for possible financial misconduct.
On Feb. 2, 2017, the BCA and DHS executed a search warrant at Kingdom Kare Learning Center, LLC, located on Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. KSTP reported:
“DHS confirmed the investigation is specifically focused on financial misconduct with the daycare’s child care assistance program. The state-run program helps low-income families pay for child care so parents can pursue employment or education opportunities.
‘I grew up in this community and understand how important it is for families to have child care they can count on,’ DHS commissioner Emily Piper said in a statement. ‘That makes these allegations particularly troubling. Our Office of Inspector General will continue to partner with law enforcement in this investigation. Our goal remains to make sure families receive the services they need and taxpayer funds are used responsibly’.”
According to DHS licensing information, Kingdom Kare Learning Center was established in 2013 with Ali Mohamed Yusef listed as the license holder. Since that time, the center has been investigated several times by the DHS for health and safety concerns and is currently operating under a “conditional license.” The daycare center was also required to pay a $2400 fine in 2015 for failing to complete worker background checks.
The DHS imposed a conditional license on the daycare in August of 2015 after numerous repeat violations were found during inspections of the daycare. The violations included:
Failure to comply with background study requirements. In a separate order dated May 21, 2015, Kingdom Kare Learning Center was fined $2,400 for background study violations. The fine remains unpaid.
Failure to comply with mandated reporting requirements
Failure to comply with staff-to-child ratio and staff distribution requirements
Failure to keep children away from hazards
Failure to maintain cleanliness throughout the center and outdoor activity area
Failure to maintain equipment and the facility in good repair
Failure to meet USDA nutritional guidelines
Failure to comply with diaper changing requirements
Failure to maintain minimum amounts of equipment, supplies, and materials
Failure to comply with staff training requirements including reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma, orientation to the risk reduction plan, annual in-service training, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the treatment of obstructed airways that includes CPR techniques for infants and children, and child growth and development
Failure to document that fire and tornado drills were conducted
In August of 2016, the DHS issued another corrective order to address the daycare’s failure to come into compliance with Minnesota statutes for the above-noted offenses. The conditional license was continued through August of 2017.
One of the issues listed by the DHS in the 2016 document was “Vehicles were not driven by persons holding a current Minnesota driver’s licenses appropriate to the vehicle driven. A review of the personnel file for the staff person identified as a driver did not contain a copy of a valid driver’s license.”
Kingdom Kare Learning Center is not the first Minnesota daycare center to be investigated for financial misconduct. As Alpha News reported in 2015 several daycare centers were cited for committing fraud against the state, with one center bilking taxpayers out of $3.7 million. The daycare owner, Yasmin Ali, fled before her September 2016 trial.
Two other centers were searched in 2016 due to suspicion of misuse of public funds.
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Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
