HOUSTON – Dr. Candice Matthews and Morrielle Allen, owner of A Place For Children Daycare, discuss allegations that Texas Health and Human Services inspectors targeted Allen’s Houston child care center and contributed to its closure.
Allen says she had operated the daycare on Bissonnet Road since about 2020 and previously had what she described as a reputable inspector before Texas Health and Human Services inspector Desiree Johnson was assigned to the facility. Allen says the daycare was a three-star provider in the Texas Rising Star program before Johnson’s assignment.
According to Allen, the daycare served about 83 children before Johnson was assigned. Allen says the facility received more than 25 citations within five months after the assignment, with 18 later overturned through the administrative review process.
Allen alleges the citations caused the daycare to lose access to NCI Workforce Solutions government-funded aid for families needing financial assistance with child care. She says declining enrollment and lost funding left her unable to retain children, pay employees or cover operating expenses, ultimately forcing the business to close.
During the interview, Dr. Matthews and Allen review documents and security camera footage they say support allegations involving Johnson and her supervisor, Amy Johnson. At one point in the footage, an inspector can be heard saying, “It’s all right, we’ll catch her slipping.”
Allen also alleges an inspector was caught on camera discussing confidential information about the daycare outside the regulatory process.
The full exclusive interview will be released next week.
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