Edgewater YMCA losing out on funding following abuse allegations

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- The Edgewater YMCA Child Development Center is losing out on thousands in state funding following allegations of abuse at the day care.

Phones at the YMCA located on Glass Lane rang all day Thursday with parents concerned over a DCF report revealing a teacher allegedly hit children and placed them in a closet for time-out.

“I’m pretty disgusted, I mean it’s really putting us in a bad position,” said Larry St. Croyx. “Our grandson has been going here for two years and to have to look for another facility and if they are indeed true… there are no words to describe.”

The DCF report says in September 2015, a staff member saw the teacher hit a child and threaten to put children in the closet if they did not behave. The teacher involved wasn’t suspended until Friday.

“If they locked my grandson up, I’m going to be pretty upset because we love him,” St. Croyx added.

The Early Learning Coalition cut funding that paid for scholarships for the YMCA’s pre-K program as a result.

“Parents are concerned with ‘what’s going to happen, where am I going to take my child?'” said Cindi Caver, director of the Edgewater YMCA.

The facility is now working to earn parents’ trust back.

“We will meet DCF requirements to work closely with our licensing agent and get us going in the right direction so we have the trust of the people of the community again,” Caver said. “I’m saddened, I’m very sad to know that this has happened and it has put a stain on our organization.”

Caver also adds the facility will do all they can to help the families affected by the cuts in funding.