The allegation of child abuse at the Chattanooga shelter housing unaccompanied migrant children involved a former staff member allegedly kissing a child who was then staying at the facility, according to an inspection report obtained by the Times Free Press.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services performed an unannounced inspection of the Chattanooga shelter on June 3, the same day DCS Commissioner Jennifer Nichols sent a letter, along with three other state commissioners, to Tennessee House Government Operations Committee Chairman John Ragan saying the state did not have information or the authority to otherwise investigate the Chattanooga shelter.
During the June 3 inspection, employees of the state reviewed seven personnel files and interviewed six of the 62 children staying at the facility. According to the report, all six children said staff treated them well and said they felt safe around other children and staff. One child told inspectors medicine was not provided when he reported a sore throat.
One child told the state inspectors he saw a staff member kiss another child staying at the facility. The child has since left the shelter. According to DCS officials, the allegation was reported to the state child abuse hotline on June 3, in the afternoon, after the inspection.
According to the report, the director of the shelter told the state on June 5 the accused employee had been fired.