Potential Threat to Children in Local Family Childcare Homes

Licensed Family Childcare Homes have been targeted by an imposter claiming to be from the Department of Education and Care in order to secure access to the premises.

Family Childcare Homes in Massachusetts follow strict guidelines and follow the exact same rules and regulations that their Group Childcare counterparts are governed by. Family Childcare Homes are subject to regular unannounced visits from DEEC. Not allowing the representative into their home could cost a Licensed Family Childcare Provider her or his license, and ability to continue earning a living by education and caring for the health and safety of their students.

The DEEC alerted some providers via email at 4:22PM Thursday afternoon that a man posing as a DEEC licensor or investigator has attempted to enter several Family Childcare Homes. Providers were told that DEEC licensors and investigators would possess official state photo IDs. The providers were instructed to ask to see the ID before allowing admittance to the program. If the person can not provide ID, the next step the providers are advised to take is to call the Department of Early Education and Care and tell the operator there is a suspicious person on the premises.

Providers are nervous and have questions such as: how can they tell if the ID is a forgery? What is the Best Practice for maintaining their classroom of six children if this situation arises? If the teacher is outside with the little students when the imposter comes, should they perform a lock-down drill or an emergency transportation drill?

As of 8PM Thursday night, DEEC had not responded to telephone calls or emails from this reporter.