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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 073407208
Report Date: 12/11/2025
Date Signed: 12/11/2025 12:13:17 PM

Document Has Been Signed on 12/11/2025 12:13 PM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
OAKLAND CC RO, 1515 CLAY STREET, SUITE 1102
OAKLAND, CA 94612
FACILITY NAME:CERTEZA, ATHENAFACILITY NUMBER:
073407208
ADMINISTRATOR/
DIRECTOR:		CERTEZA, ATHENAFACILITY TYPE:
810
ADDRESS:TELEPHONE:
(925) 305-7377
CITY:BRENTWOODSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
94513
CAPACITY: 14TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN: 13CENSUS: 5DATE:
12/11/2025
TYPE OF VISIT:Case Management - DeficienciesUNANNOUNCEDTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION BEGAN:
09:30 AM
MET WITH:Athena CertezaTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION COMPLETED:
12:30 PM
NARRATIVE
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Cherie Acosta conducted an unannounced Case Management visit. LPA met with licensee Athena Certeza. Licensee's fingerprint cleared husband was also present during the visit. There were 2 infants and 3 preschool aged children in care.
During the visit licensee's assistant, Monica Lowery, arrived at the home. Assistant does not have criminal background clearance. Monica Lowery left the home during the visit.

On 11/19/25, the Brentwood Police Department seized a loaded, unlocked rifle from the home. The rifle was stored in an unlocked bedroom.

The attached type A violations are cited today and must be corrected by the due date. Upon receipt, licensee shall post and provide copies of this licensing report to parents/guardians of children in care at the facility and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. All parents/guardians must sign an acknowledgement form of proof of receiving this report (LIC9224). The LIC 9224 must be placed in the child's file to be reviewed by licensing.

An immediate $500 civil penalty is assessed today.


NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Sherelle Johnson
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Cherie Acosta
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE: DATE: 12/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE: DATE: 12/11/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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California Health & Human Services Agency
California Department of Social Services

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT California law requires a public report of each licensing visit/inspection. This report is a record for the facility and the licensing agency. This report is available for public review; therefore, care is taken not to disclose personal or confidential information. Inquiries concerning the location, maintenance, and contents of these reports may be directed to the Licensing Program Analyst or Regional Office whose address and telephone number are listed on the front of this form.

DEFICIENCIES A deficiency is an instance of noncompliance with licensing requirements, including applicable statutes, regulations, interim licensing standards, operating standards, and written directives. Applicants/ licensees must be notified in writing of all licensing deficiencies. Deficiencies are listed on the left side of this form, and the applicable licensing requirement upon which the deficiency is identified. There are two types of deficiencies:
  • Type A deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, if not corrected, have a direct and immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care.
  • Type B deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, without correction, could become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care, a recordkeeping violation that could impact the care of said persons and/or protection of their resources, or a violation that could impact those services required to meet the needs of persons in care.

PLANS OF CORRECTION (POCs) The licensing agency is required to establish a reasonable length of time to correct a deficiency. In order to set the time, the licensing agency must take into consideration the seriousness of the violation, the number of persons in care involved, and the availability of equipment and personnel necessary to correct the violation. Applicants/licensees are requested to provide a specific plan for each violation on the right side of the form across from each deficiency. The more specific the plan, the less chance exists for any misunderstanding in setting time limits and reviewing corrections. The applicant/licensee who encounters problems beyond their control in completing the corrections within the specified time frame may request and may be granted an extension of the correction due date by the licensing agency.

CORRECTION NOTIFICATION The applicant/licensee is responsible for completing all corrections and promptly notifying the licensing agency of corrections. Applicants/licensees are advised to keep a dated copy of any correspondence sent to the licensing agency concerning corrections, or if corrections are telephoned to the licensing agency, the date, person contacted, and information given.

CIVIL PENALTIES The licensing agency is required by law to issue a Penalty Notice, when applicable, to all facilities holding a license issued by the licensing agency, or subject to licensure, except Certified Family Homes, Resource Families, and Foster Family Homes, or any governmental entity.

PENALTY NOTICE GIVEN The statement concerning civil penalties serves as a penalty notice on this Licensing Report and failure to correct cited licensing deficiencies will result in civil penalties. Applicants/ licensees are required to pay civil penalties when administrative appeals have been exhausted and in accordance with any payment arrangements made with the licensing agency.

APPEAL RIGHTS The applicant/licensee has a right without prejudice to discuss any disagreement in this report with the licensing agency concerning the proper application of licensing requirements. The applicant/ licensee may request a formal review by the licensing agency to amend or dismiss the notice of deficiency and/ or civil penalty. Requests for review shall be made in writing within 15 business days of receipt of a deficiency notification or civil penalty assessment. Licensing deficiencies may be appealed pursuant to the procedures in the LIC 9058 Applicant/Licensee Rights.

AGENCY REVIEW The licensing agency review of an appeal may be conducted based upon information provided in writing by the applicant/licensee. The applicant/licensee may request an office meeting to provide additional information. The applicant/licensee will be notified in writing of the results of the agency review within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the licensing agency.

EMAIL REQUIREMENT Adult Community Care Facilities, Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill, and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are required to provide and maintain an active email address of record with the licensing agency.

LIC809 (FAS) - (09/23)
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Document Has Been Signed on 12/11/2025 12:13 PM - It Cannot Be Edited


Created By: Cherie Acosta On 12/11/2025 at 11:06 AM
Link to Parent Document Below:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
, 1515 CLAY STREET, SUITE 1102
OAKLAND, CA 94612

FACILITY NAME: CERTEZA, ATHENA
FACILITY NUMBER: 073407208

DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 12/11/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
12/12/2025
Section Cited
CCR
102417(g)(4)(A)

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Operation of a Family Child Care Home.The home shall be free from defects or conditions which might endanger a child. Safety precautions shall include but not be limited to:Poisons, detergents, cleaning compounds, medicines, firearms and other items which could pose a danger if readily
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Licensee and LPA reviewed the regulations. Licensee understands and agrees to remain in compliance with proper storage of firearms for children's safety. Licensee provided a signed statement during the visit.
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available to children shall be stored where they are inaccessible to children.Storage areas for poisons, firearms and other dangerous weapons shall be locked. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: licensee had a loaded rifle in the home that was not locked which is an immideiate risk to the health and safety of children in care.
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There are no firearms or ammunition in the home today as stated by licensee.

Citation is cleared during the visit.
Type A
12/12/2025
Section Cited
CCR102417(g)(4)(C)

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Operation of a Family Child Care Home.The home shall be free from defects or conditions which might endanger a child. Safety precautions shall include but not be limited to:Poisons, detergents, cleaning compounds, medicines, firearms and other items which could pose a danger if readily
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Licensee and LPA reviewed the regulations. Licensee understands and agrees to remain in compliance with proper storage of firearms and ammunition for children's safety. Licensee provided a signed statement during the visit.
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available to children shall be stored where they are inaccessible to children. Ammunition shall be stored and locked separately from firearms.This requirement was not met as evidenced by: licensee had a loaded rifle in the home that was not locked which is an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.
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There are no firearms or ammunition in the home today as stated by licensee.

Citation is cleared during the visit.
Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
Sherelle Johnson
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER:
Cherie Acosta
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST:
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/11/2025


LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Document Has Been Signed on 12/11/2025 12:13 PM - It Cannot Be Edited


Created By: Cherie Acosta On 12/11/2025 at 11:17 AM
Link to Parent Document Below:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
, 1515 CLAY STREET, SUITE 1102
OAKLAND, CA 94612

FACILITY NAME: CERTEZA, ATHENA
FACILITY NUMBER: 073407208

DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 12/11/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
12/12/2025
Section Cited
CCR
102370(d)(1)

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Criminal Record Clearance.All individuals subject to a criminal record review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871 shall prior to working, residing, or volunteering in a licensed facility:
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Monica Lowery left during the visit and will be fingerprinted today. Licensee shall submit proof to CCL that Ms. has been fingerprinted.
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Obtain a California clearance or a criminal record exemption as required by the Department. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Assistant Monica Lowery does not have criminal record clearance which is an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.
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Licensee agrees that Ms. lowery will not return to the facility until she had criminal record clearance.

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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
Sherelle Johnson
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER:
Cherie Acosta
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST:
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/11/2025


LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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