Officials order emergency closure of child care home

Kansas regulators issued an emergency order suspending operation of a Lansing day care home that repeatedly exceeded licensed capacity of the facility, officials said Friday.

The edict signed by the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment instructed Rachael Sue Hensley, operator of Live Love Learn Childcare, to cease operations indefinitely.

KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier, who also serves as the state's health officer, possesses authority to take the action when necessary to protect children from potential physical or mental abuse, abandonment or any other "substantial threat to health or safety."

The emergency order is subject to appeal, but Live Love Learn Childcare can't reopen without the state's approval.

In the order, KDHE said an annual survey of the home in August revealed capacity was being exceeded with 19 children under supervision. Three follow-up inspections from Sept. 8 to Thursday confirmed the infraction was repeated with 19 to 21 children being cared for at the home.

Credit: By Tim Carpentertimothy.carpenter@cjonline.com