Fallout hits care center in death of 2-year-old

Director charged with misdemeanor

Ruby L. Bailey

Detroit Free Press

Oct. 31--Jacqueline Hadwin saw bruises and scratches on 2-year-old Allison Newman at least once, but she didn't call Child Protective Services, prosecutors say.

Hadwin, director of the Childtime Learning Center in Plymouth, now faces up to 93 days in jail or a $500 fine, or both, if she is convicted of failing to report suspected child abuse.

The 36-year-old Westland resident was arraigned Monday in 35th District Court in Plymouth on the misdemeanor charge.

She was released on a $1,000 personal bond and is to appear at a pretrial hearing Nov. 20.

Allison, who attended the center five days a week, died Sept. 22 of head injuries.

Her foster mother, Carol Ann Poole, 40, of Canton has been charged with murder and child abuse in her death.

"It was serious enough that it was pointed out to the director," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said of the injuries Childtime workers told authorities they brought to Hadwin's attention.

Neither Hadwin nor her attorney, Gerald Evelyn, could be reached for comment.

In a statement, Childtime said Hadwin denies wrongdoing and the center has "never hesitated to notify the appropriate authorities when we suspected that a child might have been in danger." The state shut down the center Oct. 16.

Allison died the same month two workers told police they had reported their concerns to Hadwin.

The workers had done the same in July, Worthy said.

"It's tragic in this case that later she died," Worthy said.

Child-care workers are required by law to immediately report suspected abuse by phone and then in writing within 72 hours, Worthy said.

The Childtime workers did not face charges because they said they were trained to report only to the director, Worthy said.

Amy Popp, a spokeswoman for Childtime, said the center's training manual requires workers to report abuse to the state and the center director.

She said a copy of the manual is at the center and available for all employees.

Poole, who told police that Allison accidentally hit her head, is scheduled for a Nov. 13 preliminary examination on felony murder, first-degree child abuse and involuntary manslaughter charges.

"If that director would have listened to her employees, Allison possibly could have been saved," said Allison's paternal grandfather, Ken Newman of Westland.

Allison was taken from her biological mother in November 2004 and was a temporary ward of the Wayne County Family Court.

Poole, who was licensed for foster care last year, received Allison this summer through Lutheran Social Services.

The state suspended the center's provisional license, which was set to expire Nov. 7, and is continuing its investigation, Maureen Sorbet, spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, said Monday.

Childtime is working with the state to have its license reinstated, Popp said.

A Department of Human Services licensing study review in April found several violations at the center.

Fewer staffers than the required number were on hand and one child was seen hitting another "several times in the head without intervention," the review said.

During lunch, children "were observed to go from plate to plate, sticking their fingers in the food and then in their mouths." Three children under 12 months, who are required to sleep in cribs or beds with side rails, were found sleeping in infant swings and a car seat.

An undisclosed number of caregivers were seen changing diapers, cleaning children's noses and assisting children in the restroom without washing their hands in between.

After using the toilet but failing to wash their hands, some children proceeded "to the lunch table where they were observed to stick their fingers in plates of food and then into their mouths," the review said.

The center submitted corrective action plans that the state accepted.

"We addressed all the issues," Popp said.

In November 2005, the center also was cited twice for violations.

A worker injured a 3-year-old girl by picking her up by an arm, "due to being angry over the child not cleaning up as directed," according to the state investigation.

The girl's parents took her to a doctor, who "snapped her elbow back in place." The same month, the center was cited for not having enough employees to supervise children during nap time.

In one room, one worker supervised 13 children ages 2 1/2 to 3 years.

The state requires one worker for every eight children.

Contact RUBY L. BAILEY at 313-222-6651 or rbailey@freepress.com.

Staff writer Jack Kresnak contributed to this report.