GREAT BEND – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Friday issued an Emergency Order of Suspension against Schloemer Day Care Home, a licensed day care home operated by Annette Schloemer located at 314 N. Washington, Great Bend.

Apparently, Barton County child care surveyors came to the day care and report that a 15-year-old had been hired to handle taking care of the children 3-months to school age in the day care while Schloemer was out of town on vacation. A person at least 18-years of age should be the one running the daycare.

In addition, some of the kids were lying on the floor and there was dog food and fecis on the floor, electrical outlets were uncovered, and a curling iron was plugged in and accessible in the bathroom, the bathtub was full of trash and debris with a strong mildew smell, dirty dishes were piled in the sink. Dangerous chemicals were in the garage, and there was standing water in the wading pool which was accesible to children in the outdoor play area.

No files for the children or adults were provided to the surveyors to review. Plus, the 15-year-old substitute didn’t know the location of emergency medical release forms, records that contained contact information for parents, and documentation of persons authorized to pick up children.

Later Schloemer contacted the surveryor by phone and informed them that the 7-children had been picked up by their parents. And, they also learned that the kids were moved to the family foster care home at 314 North Washington, which is not licensed to be a daycare. Plus, the 15-year-old was still providing care.

Three of the children were 3-months, 2-years, and 6-years of age and were foster children in placement with the licensee under her foster home license.

State law allows the Secretary of KDHE to issue such an order when, in the opinion of the Secretary, the order is necessary to protect children in the home from any potential threat to health or safety.

The order is subject to appeal by Schloemer to the Secretary of KDHE.