A 19-year-old man has admitted to molesting 11 children at his mother's day care center. Mason Morrell of Springfield was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison after he identified hi victims during a lie detector session.

Unfortunately, Morrell was only able to give first names of many of the victims, making it difficult for authorities to track them down so that they may receive counseling. The victims were boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6 years old.

When choosing a daycare, it is important to pay strict attention to what is going on. Be involved! These criteria will help you determine which daycare center is right for you.

1. STAFF--How do they treat the children? Are there enough staff members on duty to support the needs of the children? Do they discuss your child with you? Do they have experience?

2. FACILITY--Is the equipment safe (both indoor and outdoor)? Does Does it have sanitary bathrooms and diaper-changing areas?

Daycare abuse isn't just a physical phenomenon. Sometimes the worst forms of abuse are not physical at all. Emotional abuse is a big problem in daycares and can have serious detrimental effects on children. Here's what to look for if you suspect emotional daycare abuse:

Physical Indicators:

* Eating disorders, including obesity or anorexia.
* Speech disorders (stuttering, stammering).
* Developmental delays in the acquisition of speech or motor skills.
* Weight or height level substantially below norm.
* Flat or bald spots on head (infants).

Most of us can’t imagine what would make an daycare worker abuse a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginable it seems. But the incidence of daycare abuse against the very children they’re supposed to be caring for is a sad fact of human society. Whether the day care abuse is rooted in the perpetrator’s mental illness, substance abuse, or inability to cope, the psychological result for each abused child is often the same: deep emotional scars and a feeling of worthlessness.

Signs of Sexual Abuse at Daycare

Physical Indicators:

* Torn, stained or bloody underclothes.
* Frequent, unexplained sore throats, yeast or urinary infections.
* Somatic complaints, including pain and irritation of the genitals.
* Sexually transmitted diseases.
* Bruises or bleeding from external genitalia, vagina or anal region.
* Pregnancy.

Behavioral Indicators:

* The victim's disclosure of sexual abuse.
* Regressive behaviors (thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark).
* Promiscuity or seductive behaviors.

Dallas Daycare Abuse Attorney Jeff Rasansky, founder of the Rasansky Law Firm, is featured in D Magazine’s recently released list of “The Best Lawyers in Dallas.” Mr. Rasansky is one of only 15 attorneys in the city to earn recognition based on their work in personal injury litigation.

While every parent would love to send his or her child to the upscale day care down the street with the latest and greatest toys, playground equipment and educational programming, the truth is that day care is expensive.

Choosing a daycare can be a daunting task for anyone. How can a parent know which is the right provider and which is a potential threat to your child's safety? With the number of daycare abuse cases going up every year, it is absolutely critical that parents choose the right daycare provider.

Many day care centers perform background checks on employees to see if they have criminal records. Screening can also turn up a history of substance abuse or emotional instability. It is important that you ask the daycare center director about his or her methods in screening providers.

Three daycare workers in Ashburn, Washington were charged with not reporting to authorities when a teacher shook an infant at the center. A witness reported the teacher at the Kinder Care Day Care Center and after an investigation, three managers were found at fault for having witnessed the occurrence without reporting it.

There are many studies that prove there are negative psychological impacts which can develop in an adult that was abused as a child. Some of these include:

• drug abuse,
• promiscuity
• depression
• becoming an abuser themselves
• poor self-esteem
• anxiety