Michigan Mom Reprimanded for Helping Neighbors

2009-09-30 15:02:31 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Law, News)

Wired PR News reports a Michigan mother was reprimanded for baby sitting her neighbors children each day.

A Michigan mother is ordered not to baby sit her neighbors’ children due to a state day care center law.

Press Release Service – Wired PR News – A Michigan mother was reprimanded by the state Department of Human Services for babysitting her neighbors’ children while they waited for the school bus each day. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Lisa Snyder was mailed a letter by the agency, who warned she may be in violation of a law pertaining to unlicensed day care centers.

Snyder is quoted by in the report as stating of her reaction to the letter, “I was freaked out. I was blown away.” The incident has reportedly led to a number of people debating a current Michigan law that prohibits individuals from caring for children in their home who are of no relation to them for over four weeks per year, if they are not licensed day care providers. Among those unhappy with the law are parents who rely on babysitting help from neighbors to balance their jobs and family.

Agency Director Ismael Ahmed is quoted by the AP as writing in a statement on the issue, “Being a good neighbor means helping your neighbors who are in need… This could be as simple as providing a cup of sugar, monitoring their house while they’re on vacation or making sure their children are safe while they wait for the school bus.”

Legislators are reportedly now working on changes in the law that would allow exemptions in regulations on day care in cases like Snyder’s. A spokesperson for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Liz Boyd, is quoted as stating, “We want to protect kids, but the law needs to be reasonable… When the governor learned of this, she acted quickly and called the director personally to ask him to intervene.”

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