Day-care Provider Charged in Death of Allison Newman

Failure to Report Abuse or Neglect Mars Reputation of Director of Childtime Learning Center

October 30, 2006

Liz Copeland

Plymouth, MI - Jacqueline Hadwin, 36, of Westland is charged with failure to report abuse or neglect in connection with the September 22nd death of Allison Newman, the foster child in Canton.

Ms. Hadwin is the director of Childtime Learning Center, which provided daycare for Allison until her death.Day-care Provider Charged in Death of Allison Newman

According to prosecutors, Ms. Hadwin didn't report scratches and bruises on Allison Newman that were called to her attention on at least two occasions, one with the child present.

By alw, child care workers are mandated reporters, and must report any suspicious marks or bruises immediately to DHS officials and then file the proper paperwork within 72 hours. The childcare workers working under Ms. Hadwin are not charged because they are trained to report directly to her. However, prosecutors say that the childcare workers were not adequately trained to report abuse.

If Ms. Hadwin is convicted of failure to report, which is a misdemeanor, she can serve up to 93 days and get up to a $500 fine. She only faces one charge, in spite of failing to report on at least 2 incidents.

Childtime learning center remains closed, though Hadwin reports that the center is cooperating with authorities.

Allison Newman's cause of death is listed as a traumatic head injury. Her foster mother, Carol Poole, 40, of Canton, is charged with abuse and with her death and faces a preliminary hearing on November 13th.

The day of Allison's death, another child was removed from the foster home, which has been classified as 'upscale' by some papers.

Allison Newman was 2 years old at the time of her death.

Prosecutors are stating that if DHS had been properly notified of the abuse that was occurring in her foster home, they may have been able to prevent her death. Critics say that it wouldn't have made a difference, since DHS doesn't screen foster homes well nor do they follow up properly on investigations as they do with natural parents. This is a problem that DHS workers have to confront on a regular basis as they try to strike a balance between protecting children and keeping foster homes. Critics say the incentive is to sweep foster care abuse and neglect under the rug and because of that, children are getting injured or killed.