(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota Department of Human Services is currently investigating an incident where a staff member at an Austin childcare facility slapped a child across the face.

According to a DHS report, on Nov. 8, 2023, a Semcac Head Start staff member helped a child wash their hands, but the four-year-old child protested.

At one point, the child allegedly tried to bite the staff member’s hand, to which the staff member retaliated.

Investigators also learned the staff member told three different versions of the story, originally admitting they slapped the story, but later stated their actions were accidental.

In the end, the maltreatment claims were substantiated; the DHS issued the facility a correction order, for the second time that year.

In spring 2023, the DHS found that children were exposed to hazardous objects, including outlets not fitted with tamper proof shields.

Staff also left children unsupervised at times.

In addition, staff and children did not often wash their hands.

The DHS report states these issues have been corrected and the staff who slapped the child no longer works with Semcac.

On March 11, Semcac representatives issued a statement in response to the news story written above and concerning the incident which occurred on Nov. 8, 2023.

The statement said, in part, that all forms of corporal punishment (i.e. “nonaccidental infliction of physical pain on a child by a caregiver” including “rough handling, shoving, hair pulling, ear pulling, shaking, slapping, kicking, biting, pinching, hitting, and spanking”).

As Mandated Reporters under Minnesota law, all Semcac Head Start staff are trained to report any and
all such incidents that may be maltreatment. The Head Start staff person who witnessed the November
8, 2023 incident promptly and properly reported it, and Head Start supervisory staff took immediate
action. On the day of the incident, the Head Start supervisory staff notified the child’s parents and
reported the incident to both the Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensing Division and the
Administration for Children & Families Office of Head Start’s Region V Office. In addition, the staff
person suspected of the maltreatment had no further contact with any Semcac Head Start children and
was no longer a Semcac employee shortly after the incident.

Since the incident, Semcac Head Start has already completed the detailed Corrective Action Plan with
respect to this incident in accordance with the Administration for Children & Families Office of Head
Start, which included additional staff training on topics such as understanding trauma triggers, child
development and behaviors, and how beliefs affect our expectations and responses to children.

Children’s safety is the top priority within Semcac Head Start and staff work hard to provide a safe,
healthy environment for the children. Semcac Head Start is committed to building bright futures by
enriching young children, ages 0-5 years, and empowering their families by offering comprehensive
services. Semcac’s mission is to empower and advocate for people to enhance their self-sufficiency by
maximizing community resources.