Broken Trust and Broken Arms: The Alarming Case of Daycare Negligence at “Little People at Work”
- Karen Brittingham-Edmond
- 9h
- 5 min read
June 7, 2026
Social Justice Report by Karen Brittingham-Edmond, Echo News TV LLC
Neptune, NJ - On June 4th, Asianai Foster shared a harrowing account on the Echo News TV LLC Facebook page. Her post, amplified by community advocate Nurse Nancy Nance, has sent shockwaves and sparked outrage among Black families in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Foster’s story, unfortunately, echoes broader systemic issues in the American childcare landscape—particularly for Black families who have historically relied on culturally-rooted, community-based resources like Head Start.
A Legacy Undermined: From Head Start to Private Daycare
The Head Start Program, born out of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, once represented a beacon of hope: a free, high-quality preschool experience for children from disenfranchised Black communities. Head Start was more than a government initiative—it was a cultural anchor, run in partnership with Black churches and community leaders, ensuring safety, dignity, and cultural competence for its children.
As a testament to its impact, I, Karen Brittingham-Edmond, and my twin sister Karla, were among the first children to attend Head Start in Long Branch at Salem Baptist Church. For decades, Head Start flourished, funded by taxpayers, and shielded from the whims of opportunistic politicians. But by the 1980s, a troubling trend emerged: white-owned, for-profit preschools—dubbed “pseudo–Head Start” programs—began siphoning off public funds. These centers, including “Little People at Work,” charged exorbitant weekly fees, diverting resources away from the free, culturally sensitive programs that had been so vital to Black communities.
A Mother’s Trauma, A Community’s Outrage
The events at “Little People at Work,” located at 500 Neptune Blvd, Neptune, NJ 07753, bring these broader issues into painful focus. On June 4th, Asianai Foster shared an image of her son in the emergency room and recounted a mother’s nightmare:
“I’m sorry I’m breaking my silence… My son is no longer enrolled because he suffered a serious arm injury while in the daycare’s care that resulted in a dislocation and emergency medical treatment. NO ONE CALLED ME, NO INCIDENT REPORT WAS MADE! I walked in to get my son and he was in distress, crying hysterically, with no mobility in his arm! All they told me was, ‘I don’t know, he said his arm is hurting.’ No emotion. No concern. Just a wet paper towel wrapped around his arm. Be for real!”
After a doctor had to “pop his arm back TWICE,” Foster filed a police report and reported the incident to authorities. The aftermath has been just as traumatic: her young son is now fearful of returning to any daycare and acts out his pain by pretending his toys need to “go to the baby doctor.”
Foster’s post resonated deeply. Over 200 parents—many Black mothers—responded with empathy and their own stories of neglect and abuse at local daycares. Some, like Ciara Ardenia Clayton, urged Foster to “speak out” and contact the media. Others, like former employee Stephon Fauntleroy, recounted witnessing similar abuses at the same facility—children dropped on their heads, staff ignoring serious injuries, and a culture of silence and complicity. https://www.echonewstv.com/post/afternoon-tea-with-kbritt-discussion-topics-black-nj-mother-shares-disturbing-story-on-abc-news-abo
The High Cost of Daycare and the Price of Inequity
The economic context cannot be ignored. In Monmouth County, NJ:
* Center-based infant care averages $1,276/month.
* Preschool care costs $1,228/month.
* Family-based daycare, while cheaper, still costs $812/month for infants.
With a median household income of $118,527, center-based infant care consumes nearly 14% of a family’s income—double the federal affordability threshold. Public funds, once dedicated to Head Start, now subsidize private centers like “Little People At Work,” often owned and operated by people with little connection to—or understanding of—the Black families they serve.
Daycare Abuse: A Hidden Crisis
Recent research and systematic reviews paint a grim picture:
* Over 60% of daycare abuse occurs in centers with staff-to-child ratios above state limits.
* 40% of incidents happen where there are no operational security cameras.
* Female staff are responsible for the majority of physical abuse cases; male staff/owners for most sexual abuse.
* Only 1 in 3 allegations is substantiated; criminal charges are rare.
Staff shortages, poor oversight, and gaps in background checks exacerbate risks, particularly for vulnerable children—infants, those with disabilities, and children of color.
A Call for Accountability and Reform
“Little People At Work” is not an isolated case. It is emblematic of a system that has failed to protect Black children by diverting resources away from culturally competent, community-based programs. The trauma endured by Asianai Foster’s son—and countless others—demands more than sympathy. It requires systemic change:
* Restore and expand funding for Head Start and similar programs.
* Enforce strict accountability and transparency for all daycare facilities.
* Mandate universal background checks and operational security cameras.
* Center the voices and experiences of Black families in childcare policy discussions.
Conclusion: We Must Speak Up
Black Americans have long been admonished for “complaining” or speaking out about injustice. Yet silence only perpetuates harm. Asianai Foster’s courage in sharing her story is a call to action for all advocates, journalists, and parents. The time has come to demand safety, respect, and accountability for every child—especially those whose voices have been marginalized for too long.
The shame lies not with parents who demand justice, but with those who profit from systems of neglect and exclusion. Let this moment be a turning point for our community, and for all children who deserve better.
References:
Puma, M., Bell, S., Cook, R., & Heid, C. (2010). Head Start Impact Study: Final Report (OPRE Report #2010-9). Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/head-start-impact-study-final-report
This large-scale, federally commissioned study found that children who participated in Head Start showed significant improvements in language, literacy, and some aspects of social-emotional development compared to control groups.
Ludwig, J., & Phillips, D. A. (2008). Long-term effects of Head Start on low-income children. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1136(1), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1425.005
This article synthesizes research showing that Head Start participation is linked to improved educational attainment, reduced grade retention, and positive long-term social outcomes for low-income children.
Talmon, A., Ginzburg, K., & Tsur, N. (2023). Daycare maltreatment: A systematic review of prevalence, perpetrators, and risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 142, 106183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106183
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. (2020). Child maltreatment 2019 (DHHS Publication No. 2020-25). https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/child-maltreatment
Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Shattuck, A., & Hamby, S. (2015). Prevalence of childhood exposure to violence, crime, and abuse: Results from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. JAMA Pediatrics, 169(8), 746–754. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0676
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