The Administration for Children’s Services and a longtime city contractor will be investigated by the city’s independent watchdog after a city-funded babysitter was allegedly caught on camera beating a pair of young children nearly 60 times with a belt, The Post has learned.
ACS and contractor Selfhelp will be probed by the Department of Investigation just days after The Post reported on how the agency twice failed a single mom and domestic violence survivor.
The story “raises serious concerns about the vetting practices of this ACS-contracted vendor, among other issues,” a DOI spokesperson said, adding that they plan to undertake an investigation.
Nearly $400 million in city contracts have been awarded to the vendor, Selfhelp, since 2008 according to records.
Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo says her ACS-funded babysitter, 24-year-old La’keysha Jackson, was allegedly caught on video beating two of her young children, 4 and 6, nearly 60 times inside the family’s Morrisania building on May 6, according to the family and a filed legal notice.
City officials appear to still have no clue where Jackson is — nearly a month after Jaramillo shared graphic footage with police of the alleged abuse.
Jackson was the second sitter sent to the family after the first Selfhelp employee was discovered boozing and smoking at a playground while watching the kids, according to the legal filing.
DOI spokesperson Dian Struzzi told The Post that “while DOI intends to conduct an investigation,” their access to caregiver records and involvement with children “may be precluded by State law,” an issue thoroughly laid out by Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber in an opinion essay published last week.
“These access limitations can thwart our investigations,” Struzzi said.
“The safety and well-being of New York City’s children is our top priority,” said ACS spokesperson Marisa Kaufman, “and we are investigating these despicable actions.”
The state Office of Children and Family Services, the office that regulates ACS, and city hall officials did not respond to questions prior to publication.
Questions remain as to why Jackson wasn’t apprehended immediately, with police only commenting that she remains at large, despite having the graphic five-minute-long video for nearly a month.
A neighbor near Jackson’s listed address told The Post this week that they hadn’t seen her in about a week, but her family had been living there for years.
“I’m just telling you from the bottom of my heart — very surprising video,” the neighbor told a reporter from The Post. “The girl is very sweet. All she does is religion, school, work, and that’s it — it’s a very surprising video.”
The longtime neighbor also doubts that Jackson donned the horrifying demonic Santa outfit, claiming “that’s not how her body is built,” and “they don’t celebrate Christmas.”
Jackson was fired after Selfhelp learned of the video, according to the nonprofit, who said they are cooperating with investigations by ACS and the NYPD.
Since 2008, Selfhelp has been awarded $393.2 million in city contracts, with $83 million in active contracts, the comptroller’s office said.
Their relationship with ACS stretches back to 2009, with a total of $92.2 million in contracts for Homemaker services — the same service utilized by Jarmillo — records show, with an active contract for $19.3 million that runs until Dec. 2026.
Selfhelp was founded in 1936 to aid refugees from Nazi Germany, their website states. Around 5,000 Holocaust survivors are still receiving services from them in 2024.
The non-profit has $250 million in assets, a 2024 audited financial statement states, and serves over 26,000 seniors.
CEO Stuart Kaplan earned $1.1 million in annual compensation in 2022, according to their most recent tax filing.
