Child sexual assault being investigated at SCC Parent Child Center

Shoreline Community College helping on assault report

“Our first concern is the safety and well-being of the children,” said college spokesman Jim Hills. “We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement and state agencies.”

Shoreline Community College officials are working with local law enforcement and state regulatory agencies in response to a reported child sexual assault that may have occurred at the Parent Child Center on campus.

At this point, it is not clear when the alleged assault may have taken place and no suspects have been identified.

Late Thursday, November 10, 2011, parents of a child enrolled at the Parent Child Center reported to college employees at the center that their pre-school–aged child had described inappropriate touching while at the center. The child didn’t say when the touching occurred and only that it was done by a man.

A college employee immediately contacted both the state Department of Early Learning, which licenses the center, and state Child Protective Services, which has enforcement duties.

On Friday, November 11, 2011, college officials met with the parents and then assisted them contacting the Shoreline Police Department to file a report. Shoreline Police, a contract agency with the King County Sheriff’s Office, immediately referred the case to Sheriff’s Office detectives.

According to the Parent Child Center website, the Parent-Child Center is a childcare facility and instructional lab with five classrooms and a large outdoor play area, located on campus. Their primary purpose is to provide high quality care for the children of students, state employees, and community members. 

They are licensed by the State of Washington to serve 76 children. Parents are required to enroll in a 1 credit online Parent Education course once per year while their child is enrolled. The Center also serves as an instructional laboratory where community college students can do observations and internships.