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	Sexual Abuse Alleged at Day Care By Shari Sanger Evening Sun September 29, 2007 http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_7036365 A female classroom assistant at The Shepherd's Fold Day Care Center in Hanover was placed on administrative leave this week amid sexual abuse allegations brought against her by two 4-year-old boys, church officials said Friday. "We are taking these allegations very seriously," said Senior Pastor Mike Osladil, of Calvary Bible Church which operates the day care - one of its ministries. Friday afternoon inside his office, Osladil discussed the allegations made against the staff member and what the church has done in response. Osladil said the woman accused of the abuse has 15 years experience, was an active member of Calvary Bible Church and worked part-time at the center, two days a week. He said the sexual misconduct is alleged to have occurred inside the day care facility during the childrens' nap time. Osladil said as far as he knows, the two boys who made the accusations are no longer enrolled at the day care. No charges have been filed, but Hanover Police Chief Randy Whitson said his department and the York County District Attorney's Office are investigating the accusations. The day care center and church received a call from York County Children and Youth Services Wednesday informing them of the allegations, Osladil said. After receiving the call, the accused staff member was immediately placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said. Since then, letters have been sent to parents of day care students and parents who have children involved in the church's children's ministry, informing them of the allegations and that the staff person was placed on leave. In the letters, the church provided parents with some guidelines on how to talk to children about appropriate and inappropriate touching and signs to looks for if a parent suspects a child has been molested. Those signs include if a child is using sexual language that is inappropriate for the child's age and development, a sudden change in mood, noticeable increase in nightmares, dependency, and using adult words about sex or genitals. A third letter, sent Friday, reassures parents the day care center and church are doing everything possible, and addresses rumors that have reportedly been circulating regarding the allegations. Church officials said they do not know the source or content of all the rumors and that the church has received very limited information from authorities regarding the allegations. The letter says The Shepherd's Fold has an open-door policy and that parents are free to come into the center at any time. Osladil said another reported incident earlier in the week involving a 4-year-old boy talking in a sexually explicit manner inside a day-care restroom may or may not be related to the sexual abuse allegations. Osladil said the allegations, a first of their kind for the church, are a shock to officials there. "The day care has had a stellar reputation since it was started 20 years ago," he said. A reputation so good that there are long waiting lists of parents waiting to get their children enrolled there, he said. Administrative Pastor Garry Wilt said the day care undergoes stringent screening policies and upholds all state mandated procedures. To work in the day care, Wilt said, one must meet spiritual and state requirements. Staff must be an active member of Calvary Bible Church and undergo an interview by the church's board of elders. And for state requirements, they must have 2,500 hours of experience working with children and must go through Pennsylvania State Police screenings for a state child abuse history clearance and criminal background check. Shepherd's Fold currently has about 130 students ranging in age from 2 years old to kindergarten, Wilt said. In light of the allegations, there have been a few parents who have since withdrawn their children from the facility, but most are being supportive as the investigation unfolds, Osladil said. He cautioned while church officials are taking the allegations seriously, people should remember they are only allegations and this point. For now, they wait to hear back from authorities about progress on the investigation, Osladil said. He said church officials are cooperating fully with authorities. York County District Attorney Stanley Rebert issued a press release Friday, asking anyone with information about the allegations to call Sgt. Doug Riley at the Hanover Borough Police Department at (717) 637-5575. Contact Shari Sanger at ssanger@eveningsun.com.
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