State officials have taken action by shutting down Forsyth Methodist Church’s Caring for Kids daycare due to troubling allegations of child mistreatment. The emergency closure comes after an employee was arrested for administering Benadryl to toddlers without parental consent.
Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) issued an emergency closure order on Monday, stating that there is an “imminent danger” to children’s welfare.
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- The center employee, Kendasja Hughley, was arrested last week for allegedly giving Benadryl to toddlers — a medication not recommended for children under six.
- DECAL’s order reveals new accusations of staff “wrestling” with two-year-olds and forcefully throwing them onto mats.
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Reading Between the Lines: The daycare’s management reportedly had prior knowledge of the Benadryl incident several days before addressing it.
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- According to DECAL, center directors viewed surveillance footage of the incident on March 5 but took no disciplinary action until law enforcement became involved on March 10.
- The order states parents reported their children were “sluggish” and “not normal” when picked up, but were never informed about medication being administered.
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Key Point: Investigators are using the 21-day emergency closure to investigate whether this incident is an isolated case or part of a larger pattern of abuse. DECAL officials are uncertain about the frequency and duration of Benadryl administration to children under the center’s supervision.
If you need immediate childcare options, you can visit DECAL’s website or call 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS for help. Remember, the daycare center can appeal the closure order with an administrative judge.