Brewer, Maine’s Elevate Child Care Will Appeal Its License Denial

A public hearing will be held in Brewer to determine the future of a child care center that has been the subject of a DHHS investigation.

Brewer, Maine Child Care Center's Future to Be Determined by City Council

Elevate Child Care has been under investigation since an incident that involved the alleged rough handling of a child by a staff member. Video of the incident provided by the child's family showed the legs of a young boy as he was picked up by a child care worker and then brought roughly to the ground, landing on his back.

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An employee of another agency, who happened to be in the building working with another child, allegedly witnessed the incident and filed a report with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

The boy's parents didn't learn of the incident until a month after it happened.

Brewer, Maine Child Care Worker Faces Charges for Alleged Assault

WABI-TV reports the former employee of Elevate child care, Blake Sullivan of Carmel, has been charged with felony assault on a child under the age of 6, reckless conduct, and endangering the welfare of a child for the incident that happened on April 2, 2025.

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Last week, DHHS Child and Family Services rendered its decision to approve a conditional license for the center, which would need to be posted in the facility. In addition, a plan of action was created, including a requirement to report any future issues in a timely manner.

Now, the City of Brewer has denied the renewal of the center's daycare license.

Brewer, Maine Public Hearing to Determine Child Care Center's Future

We reached out to city officials, who said a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd at 2pm, in the Brewer City Hall Council Chambers.

Assistant City Manager Jason Moffitt says more details will be revealed at the hearing.

The rationale for the denial will be discussed at the hearing, where the Council will consider testimony from both City staff and the appellant.

He says the Council will then render a decision on whether Elevate Child Care will be issued a daycare license.

The public is welcome to attend.