An Auburn day care provider was arrested by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office after she was accused of shaking a 10-month-old infant, causing severe head injuries, deputies said.
Gloria J. Odrzywolski, 61, of 7 Anna St., Auburn, was charged on Sunday with reckless assault of a child, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
A joint investigation conducted by deputies and the Onondaga County Child Protective Services began after the infant was admitted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she was diagnosed with internal bleeding in the brain and eyes, deputies said.
Both injuries are often caused when an infant is violently shaken or receives blunt force trauma to the head.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered the injuries occurred when the child was at Odrzywolski's unlicensed day care facility at her home on Aug. 29, deputies said.
A resident at Odrzywolski's home declined to comment on the incident or reveal how many children the day care serves.
Susan Steele, the director of communications for the state's Office of Children and Family Services, said that Odrzywolski was issued a cease and desist order in 2006 when she was found to be in violation of state guidelines for the number of children an unlicensed provider may care for. Any provider who takes care of more than two children a day for more than three hours must be licensed.
Licensed providers are required to receive training, mental and physical examinations, undergo background checks and maintain the facility in accordance with state guidelines.
Whenever parents want to find a day care provider or get any information, Steele said they can call (518) 474-9454 or visit www.ocfs.state.ny.us. Either source would help parents check for violations, complaints or other problems that have been documented at a facility.
Although Odrzywolski is accused of shaking the child within city limits, the Auburn Police Department deferred the case to the sheriff's office to avoid a conflict of interest because one of the parents of the child was a city employee.
Odrzywolski was arraigned in Auburn City Court Sunday, and was released later the same day from the Cayuga County Jail on bail, which was set at $5,000 cash.
The child was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, and her condition was improving, deputies said.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
A joint investigation conducted by deputies and the Onondaga County Child Protective Services began after the infant was admitted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she was diagnosed with internal bleeding in the brain and eyes, deputies said.
Both injuries are often caused when an infant is violently shaken or receives blunt force trauma to the head.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered the injuries occurred when the child was at Odrzywolski's unlicensed day care facility at her home on Aug. 29, deputies said.
A resident at Odrzywolski's home declined to comment on the incident or reveal how many children the day care serves.
Susan Steele, the director of communications for the state's Office of Children and Family Services, said that Odrzywolski was issued a cease and desist order in 2006 when she was found to be in violation of state guidelines for the number of children an unlicensed provider may care for. Any provider who takes care of more than two children a day for more than three hours must be licensed.
Licensed providers are required to receive training, mental and physical examinations, undergo background checks and maintain the facility in accordance with state guidelines.
Whenever parents want to find a day care provider or get any information, Steele said they can call (518) 474-9454 or visit www.ocfs.state.ny.us. Either source would help parents check for violations, complaints or other problems that have been documented at a facility.
Although Odrzywolski is accused of shaking the child within city limits, the Auburn Police Department deferred the case to the sheriff's office to avoid a conflict of interest because one of the parents of the child was a city employee.
Odrzywolski was arraigned in Auburn City Court Sunday, and was released later the same day from the Cayuga County Jail on bail, which was set at $5,000 cash.
The child was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, and her condition was improving, deputies said.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
