MIDLOTHIAN, Va - It has been seven months since one-year old Joseph Allen was killed in a house fire at the unlicensed, in-home daycare his parents took him to during the day. At the ceremonial signing of legislation aimed at strengthening child care laws Tuesday, Matthew and Jaci Allen briefly spoke about their loss and the new law.
"Words can't express how appreciative we are of everyone's support," Jaci Allen said. "It's been a rough road."
"Thank you to everyone who has helped facilitate this today," Matthew Allen added.
Jaci and Matthew Allen
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliff praised families like the Allens for fighting to bolster regulations on Virginia's in-home daycare facilities. Under the new regulations, in-home providers who care for five or more children will be required to apply for a state license. Prior, providers could care for up to five children without a license.
The legislation also mandated licensed in-home daycares have employees go through fingerprint background checks in order to work at a facility, unless the organization has a religious exemption.
Unlicensed in-home providers must now notify parents that they do not have a license and must provide information on the Department of Social Services' website so parents can do deeper research into daycare options.
"No parent wants to leave a child in potentially unsafe hands," Governor McAuliffe said at the ceremonial signing.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe signing childcare legislation
Elly Lafkin, from Shenandoah, lost her three-month old daughter Camden in 2012. Camden died when an unlicensed provider left her alone for more than an hour.
"It's sad that this is such an epidemic, but it's so wonderful that people are taking note and taking action," Lafkin said.
Officials with the Governor's Office said they planned to introduce more legislation during the 2016 General Assembly session to continue to strengthen Virginia's daycare system.
