RCMP examine toddler death
CALGARY — The RCMP is investigating after a toddler died Monday afternoon at an unregistered day home in Brooks.
Officers were dispatched just after 3:30 p.m. to a west-end residence operating an unregistered day home, which cares for young children.
RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Patricia Neely said the woman who owns the home and runs the day home called 911 “as soon as she discovered the child.”
When police and paramedics arrived, they found an unresponsive and not breathing 18-month-old girl in a basement bedroom, said Sgt. Raimo Loo with the Brooks RCMP.
Resuscitation efforts were made but the child could not be revived.
The parents “are obviously distraught,” Loo said.
Loo declined to comment on whether the child was supervised at the time or what might have led to her death. He told reporters in Brooks that there is no indication that foul play was involved.
He said there were several young children at the home at the time, including some of the day home operator’s own children, but wouldn’t say exactly how many or their ages.
The day home operator is cooperating with authorities, he added.
Loo would not comment on how long this day home had been in operation or whether it had been investigated by police in the past.
The province’s Human Services ministry is investigating the Brooks day home, officials say.
“We’re looking into the circumstances,” said Lisa Shankaruk, spokeswoman for Human Services.
As of May 2013, there are 2,031 approved registered family day home providers in Alberta, according to Alberta Human Services.
Unlike day cares, day homes are private residences allowed to care for up to six children.
The government contracts for day homes with agencies, which then recruit and train people.
The agencies are responsible for ensuring their day home workers meet provincial standards, which include passing a background check, maintaining a safe environment and undergoing some training.
The agencies run most inspections of the day homes.
Parents can find information about licensed child care programs and contracted family day home agencies on the province’s Human Services website.
An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.