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Moore Center addressing five DHHS violations found
ELLSWORTH The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has issued a directed plan of action for five violations found during a March 3-24 inspection conducted at the Down East Family YMCA Moore Child Care Center. In the April 8 report, the violations included incomplete employee files and background checks, staff-to-child ratios, distance between infant cots and sleeping mats and fire drills.
In the report released to The American April 22, the plan of action calls for the center to address the care violations immediately and the employee records and file violations within two weeks to 30 days. In response, DEFY Executive Director Peter Farragher and Center Director Shauna Esposito-Caldwell have taken action and are addressing or have addressed the violations, Farragher said Tuesday.
DHHS investigating alleged violations at Moore Center
ELLSWORTH The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating alleged violations at the Down East Family YMCA’s Moore Early Learning Center. The complaint was filed last month by a former teacher and her husband.
Allissia West of Dedham worked as a child-care teacher in the infant room while her 2½-year-old son Ezra attended the toddler program from June 1, 2020, to Jan. 29, 2021. On Jan. 29, she resigned and pulled Ezra out of the program. In mid-February, West reported alleged COVID-19 protocol violations through the state’s online reporting portal. Her husband, Shane West, filed a DHHS complaint, alleging 16 additional violations unrelated to COVID-19 protocol on Feb. 23.
After 29 years of smiles, Debra Hangge retires from DEFYÂ
ELLSWORTH â Several months after the Down East Family YMCA opened in Ellsworth, Debra Hangge was on site, first to use the fitness equipment and then as a fitness staff member, after the Y asked her to join as an employee.
That was 29 years ago, and Hangge moved on to other departments before settling in at the front desk for the next 25 years or so. Her last day was Friday, Jan. 29, when Hangge retired from the organization that had become so much a part of her.
âThat was my identity,â she said. âI knew who I kind of was. Now I have to sort that out.â