Jefferson City day care leader says poverty can lead to abuse

The director of Jefferson City’s largest not-for-profit day care center says it’s an unfortunate fact: poverty can lead to child abuse.

“Poverty is a very big indicator. You know it’s very stressful, so sometimes child abuse can happen,” says Donna Schiedt with Little Explorers Discovery Center, the former Jefferson City Day Care.

Schiedt says she tries to be proactive by running parenting classes for mothers and fathers of Discovery Center children.

Abuse was the determined cause of death for a four-year-old Jefferson City boy, Darnell Gray (pictured). Caretaker Quatavia Givens is in custody.