Is this defamation?

My daycare provider has recently terminated care for another child, due to the childs very poor behavior, with constant conversations with the childs mother on this issue. There was never a bad problem with one another, but the child became to stressful to care for and the provider told the mom that she was unable to care for him anymore, and gave a 2 week notice as well as a list of other providers who could care for him. The mom turned around and filled an abuse charge with DSS, I know for 100% fact that this provider has never and would never abuse a child. Does this provider have an recourse. Now that DSS is involved she has to live with constant scrunitity from DSS and whatever comes of it, with some parents choosing to pull their children out of her care, and such. She is self employed and could potentially lose her job over a bogus allegation. Once they find her innocent, which they will, can she file any defamation law suit? If she so chose?