State officials respond after parents ask how daycare owner slipped through cracks

Department of Human Services and Department of Early Childhood officials are responding after parents here in Colorado Springs have brought up the question: how did Carla Faith slip through the cracks?

Carla Faith was the owner of Play Mountain Place and Counterpoint preschool, both of which were shut down after 26 children were found in a crawl space allegedly without recent diaper changes or meals.

It's a similar situation to what she was caught doing in California.

Officials here in Colorado say there would have been no way for them to know that.

"It's just not something that's part of our application process nor do we really have the authority to require that information,” said Erin Mewhinney, the Division Director Of Early Childhood Care and Learning.

Officials aren’t able to check up on licensing issues in other states, but they are working toward an agreement that would allow them access to out-of-state abuse and neglect records.

“We’re working with the state board of human services to allow the department the authority to require child abuse and neglect records from other states of an applicant is coming in from another state," said Mewhinney.

Still, officials urge parents to do their own research on childcare providers.

Tuesday, KRDO crews checked out a third home, on Franklin Street, owned by Carla Faith. Neighbors say she would occasionally watch kids there, too. Neighbors on Franklin Street say no one's seen Carla Faith since her childcare facilities were shut down last week.