Head Start director charged with failing to report abuse by vol

NIXA, Mo. -- The director of a local Head Start program was charged with failing to tell authorities that a 3-year-old girl had allegedly been molested by a teenage volunteer.

Cynthia L. Helm, 50, was charged Friday with one misdemeanor count of failure to report child abuse. Prosecutors said she admitted to Christian County authorities that she did not tell the Division of Family Services that the girl had accused a 15-year-old male volunteer of molesting her.

A relative of the girl told Helm on March 26 that the boy touched the girl improperly during a nap time in her class, according to a court document filed by police. The report also said that the teen admitted he touched the girl inappropriately.

If convicted, Helm could be sentenced to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. She is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Helm's charge came two months after Greene County prosecutors charged Cox South Hospital nurse Leslie Ann Brown with two misdemeanor counts of failure to report child abuse. Brown, who is scheduled to go to trial on June 24, is accused of not reporting bruises on 2-year-old Dominic James in August.

Officials said Dominic died from what prosecutors allege was shaken-baby syndrome while in foster care.

The Christian County charge was not inspired by Brown's prosecution, Prosecutor Ron Cleek said.

"I am simply taking on the facts reported to this office that a crime was committed," he said.

The local Head Start, a preschool educational program for children from low-income families, is operated by Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation within 10 southwest Missouri counties. The regional program accommodates more than 1,400 youths.

OACAC executive director Carl Rosenkranz said Friday that he had not seen and could not comment on the charge. Helm will continue to serve as a director while the charge is pending.

Head Start's roster of volunteers consists mostly of parents who have children in the program. The organization also invites high school and college students and senior citizens to assist teachers.

Full-time volunteers must undergo a background screening, Rosenkranz said. But the check is not required for part-time volunteers, who Rosenkranz said are "constantly supervised."