Northeast Youth Center

Unprofessional and Unorganized. My son has been going here for three years. Ive continuously had issues the entire time. We are not the only family that has experienced this either. The first year, seemed a little odd, as they had many young teachers. I watched as they attempted to correct their system and hire older and better teachers for school year/summer care. Things seemed to have gotten better so we kept his enrollment. My son younger at the time, had behavioral development delays, as NEYC is aware of this, i expected them to be patient and kind with my son and guide him should he have any issues. At one point, my son had a situation where he was embarrassed and scolded publicly by one of the teachers on one of their buses, due to the teacher not investigating a situation, but blaming my son right away in a very minor situation. Because of this, and my sons behavioral concerns at the time, the situation escalated to him shutting down, and (fight or flight) attempting to run away, in a fenced area. The teacher at the time physically picked my son up, and pulled him into the front office and shut the doors. My son was alone in her office with two adults, and no cameras. I was called, and i heard one of the teachers yelling at my son, and they told me i needed to come down and get him. My son was supposedly placed in this room because the room they have children go in when they have melt downs was under construction. This happened, despite their protocol not allowing them to be hands on with children. I made a complaint, and was apologized to, and welcomed in once my son was ready to return for care at the front door, with my son also getting an apology. Mainly because there is not very many "affordable" care centers that can drive children to school in Spokane.... but also trying to be forgiving, and willing to allow everyones relationships to grow, and learn from this situation, my son continued care here. I ended up going through a bit of a financial rough patch not much after our situation... and they seemed patient with me for a few months.. then all of a sudden without notice they started serving me with "pay before *date*" or my son would be removed from their care. Struggling and frustrated that no one ever had a conversation with me prior to these notices just being left in my file to get at the end of the day. I thankfully got myself back up to par on payment (being a private pay family) Set up monthly divided payments to ensure I avoid late payment fees, and they have continued to add $15 late charges, even though I have been making my payments on time now for a few months. I went into the office, to speak with them regarding the faulty late payments- to then see my quickboooks account with my own eyes and the fact that they hadn't properly allocated my payments to the dues owed- causing late payments to be applied to my account. OPERATOR ERROR. I had to educate their accountant on how to use Quickbooks in this meeting. Now, as if i needed more issues from this care center, they notified me 14 days prior to summer camp starting that I did not turn in my summer camp packet, and their program is full. Fully aware that i turned in the packet the same day that i received it (in fact filled it out in their office).. My son now has no care for the summer due to them loosing a packet i IN FACT DID TURN IN, and they are claiming they never received. In fact, tried telling me that i had said he wouldn't be coming to summer camp this year. WHY WOULD A SINGLE MOTHER, WHOS CHILD HAS BEEN GOING TO THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS; SAY HE ISN'T GOING TO BE GOING THIS YEAR????? untrue. i understand some parents will lie or manipulate the situation, if i had just simply not turned in my packet, that would be one thing. The fact that i was notified that they didn't receive my sons enrollment packet was literally because their office admin noticed billing seemed "off" then looked to see that he was not enrolled. not because i enquired. Because i was under the impression he was going. SEE NEXT POST FOR MORE.

Historically, if parents don't turn in paper work; they hound you (thankfully so) to get things turned in. this year, i was never asked not even once. Historically, they have never notified you that your enrollment was confirmed. they just expect you to know it was fine. (what i did in this situation) When I brought up these two concerns as to why I never was concerned; they said "well we changed it this year" how was i supposed to know that?? There has been many other situations. Their male janitor was caught outside of my work with their white bus smoking (not a cig) mid-day about a year ago. (i never brought this to anyones attention) Their female janitor about 6 months ago heard a child cussing, many many times.. and without knowing i was in the waiting room for my son, she responded "the adult side of me should say don't say that" "the funny side of me says hahah good job, so funny" I had to check her and tell her how unprofessional that was, and she apologized to me using the excuse that she wasn't a teacher for her actions to be not taken so seriously. My advise, is to not send your child here. Not to donate and to completely avoid this care center. I’ve also notified the attorney general, and will be notifying who ever necessary. I’m sure with all of these red flags there is more issues I’m unaware of. Needless to say, I submitted my “30 day notice” today.

I love the NEYC! The Director, Kate, has the biggest heart of gold! She genuinely cares for the safety and well-being of all the children as if they are her own. Similarly, the staff under her leadership is also amazing! They provide positive support to all of the kids. I am thankful for Kate's kind soul that positively impacts so many families in our community on a daily basis. I highly recommend the NEYC for anyone's childcare needs! 🤩

NEYC has been an amazing place for our kids to go. They’ve been going there for over 3 years and they love all the activities, leaders, and the friends they have made while being there. Ray is there to always greet you with a smile and hug and Kate, the Director, whose heart is 100% for the kids. Both have become our friends and always take the time to visit with us when we come in. It’s become more of a family than just another childcare facility.

The director Kate and staff are amazing they go the extra mile to make sure the kids are safe happy healthy and over all its The best place I've ever had my grandson at. He loves going there hes made lots of new friends, they keep them busy and are geared up to help with the school process like they did in the spring. I can't say enough wonderful things about the place. Thank you all for everything you do.