3 Colorado childcare centers shutdown for abuse reports this year, more than all of 2024

DENVER (KDVR) — Following recent reports of child abuse at daycare centers, the Problem Solvers dug deeper into closed facilities and reports of abuse in Colorado childcare facilities.

This year, three Colorado daycare centers have been shut down by the state because of abuse allegations. That’s more than the number shut down all of last year.

Those three Colorado daycares that have closed so far in 2025 have been shut down through emergency orders from the state, or an Active Order of Summary Suspension. It’s something the state does when they believe there is danger to children. Once this type of order is served, the facility must immediately close.

According to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Dashboard, three centers are listed under 2025 recently closed facilities with the OSS order. The first, coming last month in Steamboat Springs, Young Tracks, where a 24-year-old woman was arrested on child abuse charges.

The other two are Tiny Tikes locations in Firestone and Frederick, where one of the owners of the facilities is accused of having a history of sexual abuse of an at-risk youth. That owner then entered into a safety plan with the department, in which he agreed that he would not be on the premises of either facility. He failed to comply, reportedly being seen on premises numerous times.

There were no reports of OSS listed in 2024. Four centers were denied renewals on their license in 2024 — and two of them showed they had reports of abuse.

All of these reports can be easily accessed by any parent, right on the state website — and experts like Dr. Jane Flournoy, the Clinical Director with the Department of Human Resources at MSU, say it’s important to do so.

“Parents should also check the childcare licensing database through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood for any history or any notable events that they might be able to uncover there and they are going to want to ask a provider about any previous closures or involvement in adverse actions,” Flournoy said.

But not all centers that have reports of abuse get shut down. Just within the last year, FOX31 reported on two cases of children allegedly falling victim to some form of abuse, one in Aurora, the other in Douglas County, but the daycare centers weren’t necessarily shut down. Alongside the most recent reports of abuse with the Centennial worker arrested on 51 counts of child abuse and harassment, prompting the Problem Solvers’ investigation.

While our investigation reveals a troubling trend — experts say parents are the ultimate investigators, and it’s crucial for them to do their own research.

“They are going to want to interview the provider themselves, talk with other parents whose children are currently being cared for by that provider, they might want to ask to observe the provider taking care of the other children,” Flournoy said.

Another warning sign could be a lack of transparency from the daycare provider. Experts say look for signs in your children, like if they become more withdrawn, any changes in sleep or eating patterns, or signs of abuse or neglect like unexplained marks.

For a full list of the childcare facilities that have recently closed you can visit the CDEC’s list here.