Steamboat Springs child advocacy center encourages mental health support for parents after daycare shutdown

Following the arrest of a Young Tracks Preschool and Day Care Center teacher and subsequent shutdown due to alleged child abuse, the parents of 78 young children are left to deal with the aftermath, facing fear and broken trust.

Julia Luciano-Burns, the Program Director for Brighter World Child Advocacy Center, urges affected parents to seek support for their children and themselves through the turbulent situation.

“I’m devastated for families in our community because we should be able to trust that where we leave our kids is safe,” said Luciano-Burns. “We should be able to trust that the people watching our children are safe people… It’s really important that we set the expectation that child abuse is not tolerated (in Routt County) and that we will take action.”

Parents were asked to pick up their children from the Steamboat Springs daycare facility early on Tuesday after the state’s Department of Early Childhood ordered it closed.

The order came following the arrest of one of the teachers, Alma Amparan Montes, 26, after Steamboat Springs police investigated reports of abuse from the Routt County Department of Human Services. According to the arrest affidavit, Montes is criminally charged with three counts of child abuse.

Brighter World, a Better Tomorrow organization, uses a forensic interviewing process to provide investigative support to law enforcement and the Department of Human Services in cases of potential child abuse and neglect.

According to Luciano-Burns, the organization is closely working with Steamboat Springs police on the Young Tracks investigation.

Both Luciano-Burns and Brighter World Client Support Coordinator Cassandra Baca are trained forensic interviewers. This process focuses on gathering information from a child in a non-leading manner and is conducted while law enforcement and the Department of Human Services observe in another room.

The content of the interviews is then collected as evidence and none of the information “stays on site,” according to Luciano-Burns.

Children as young as 3 years old can be interviewed, according to Luciano-Burns. For children younger than 3, Brighter World has partnered with UCHealth to conduct forensic medical exams on any child who may need one.

Luciano-Burns added that although parents can’t be in the room for the forensic interview, the organization ensures that parents are well-informed on what will happen during the interview and Baca will stay with them throughout the process for additional support.

When it comes to medical exams, parents stay with a child during the exam and must give consent to the entire process. 

Luciano-Burns noted that having a child go through these processes can be extremely stressful for parents, and she encourages all parents to prioritize their mental well-being in addition to their child’s.

“This is an incredibly stressful thing for a parent to be dealing with, and a lot of emotions come up,” said Luciano-Burns. “We’ve talked to a lot of parents who are feeling really guilty about not seeing signs or not being aware of certain behaviors … I understand the feeling of guilt, but I don’t want them to sit in that.”

When seeking mental health support, Luciano-Burns stated that Brighter World refers parents to local providers and is currently working to set up support groups for families who have been affected by the Young Tracks allegations and shutdown.

Luciano-Burns noted that the organization is “actively trying to get (the support groups) up and running as soon as possible,” but there is not yet a start date. More details about the support groups will be provided as they become available.

As parents navigate understanding their child’s experience at Young Tracks, Brighter World encourages them to keep communication with their child open and receptive. 

“I think the biggest thing for parents, whether their child has experienced abuse or not, is reassuring them consistently that they are safe when they’re at home or with their parents actively listening,” said Luciano-Burns.

Luciano-Burns added that it’s important to make sure children know that physical violence is not okay no matter who it comes from, especially adults. 

To learn more about how to talk about difficult situations with a child, Luciano-Burns encourages parents to visit ChildMind.org for free information and resources.

If any parent suspects their child is a victim of child abuse, Luciano-Burns emphasized the importance of reporting their concerns to law enforcement, the Department of Human Services or the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-844-CO-4-KIDS.

“It’s our responsibility to keep children safe because young kids don’t have the ability to advocate for themselves,” said Luciano-Burns. “And the people you’re reporting to, they want what’s best for children. They want to keep children safe as well.”

Luciano-Burns stated that she is “so impressed” with local law enforcement and caseworkers with the Department of Human Services since the Young Tracks shutdown, and wants the community to know that Brighter World is working hard to provide support for affected families.

As the Young Tracks investigation continues, Luciano-Burns encourages parents to contact Brighter World if they are curious about interviews and medical exams, or are simply seeking peace of mind.

To contact Brighter World, call 970-875-6984, or visit BrighterWorldCAC.org.

Anyone looking for information on resources for daycare can visit FirstImpressionsRouttCounty.org or contact Pamela Nebel, the First Impressions of Routt County Program Specialist, at 970-875-4227.

• To find local childcare center openings, visit Bit.Ly/42RvOOE. 
• To find a list of local babysitters and nannies in the area, visit Bit.Ly/3QkBc5e. 
• To make a confidential report of suspected child abuse or neglect, call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437).