South St. Paul Council Member Pam Bakken’s Daycare License Suspended By DHS
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA—The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has suspended the license of Pamela Bakken, a family child care provider in South St. Paul and a member of South St. Paul’s City Council, following serious allegations involving child endangerment. The decision follows an investigation by Dakota County Community Services, which found that a child in Bakken’s care had been exposed to methamphetamine. The case has sparked public outcry, with community members calling for Bakken’s resignation from her position on the South St. Paul City Council.
License Suspension and Investigation
According to an Order of Suspension issued by DHS on March 4, 2025, Bakken’s license was suspended due to multiple alleged violations, including failure to provide required supervision, failure to comply with the terms of a disqualification variance, and failure to ensure children did not have access to toxic substances.
The investigation was initiated after Dakota County received a report on December 7, 2024, indicating potential health and safety risks for children in Bakken’s care. In response, DHS issued an Order of Temporary Immediate Suspension on December 9, 2024, which Bakken did not appeal, according to the latest documents released by DHS. The recent Order of Suspension confirms that she remains barred from operating a daycare, even as an unlicensed provider, pending further legal actions.
Details of the Methamphetamine Exposure
The case gained significant attention after Victoria Kane, the mother of the affected child, spoke publicly about her son’s experience. Kane told FOX 9 Minneapolis that her son became seriously ill on December 6, 2024, after consuming an unidentified substance at Bakken’s daycare. The child later described eating “onion crumbs” from the floor of a bathroom at the facility—substances later believed to be methamphetamine.
Kane described her son’s behavior following the incident, stating, “He didn’t stop talking the whole time as we sat in the ER room. He just talked and talked and talked.” The boy was hospitalized but has since recovered, according to reporting by Fox 9 Minneapolis.
Legal and Administrative Actions
The suspension order lists additional violations, including:
Allowing a disqualified staff member to be alone with children
Failing to complete a background check for a household member
Not ensuring toxic substances were inaccessible to children
Dakota County determined that Bakken was responsible for maltreatment by neglect, which led to the child’s exposure to methamphetamine. The investigation remains ongoing, and while no criminal charges have been filed, the Lakeville Police Department has taken over the case due to a potential conflict of interest, as Bakken serves on the South St. Paul City Council.
Community Response and Calls for Resignation
The incident has led to growing demands for Bakken to step down from her City Council position. Given the severity of the allegations, residents have voiced concerns over her ability to serve in public office. The South St Paul City Council Meeting from February 18, 2025, can be found below. However, Bakken has not publicly commented on whether she intends to resign.
Next Steps
According to the order of suspension, Bakken has the right to appeal the suspension within 10 days of receiving the order. If appealed, a contested case hearing would be scheduled before an Administrative Law Judge, who would then recommend to the DHS Commissioner for a final ruling.
In the meantime, families previously enrolled in Bakken’s daycare program have been urged to seek alternative child care providers. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) has also advised that families receiving financial assistance may experience disruptions due to the license suspension.
Written By: Will Wight
Cover photo from South St Paul City Council Meeting from February 18, 2025.
