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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197494332
Report Date: 11/19/2025
Date Signed: 11/19/2025 02:56:19 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAYCARE-NO.WEST, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/25/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Doris Whitmore
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 30-CC-20250925102633
FACILITY NAME:CRYSTAL STAIRS HEAD START - HAWTHORNE PLAZAFACILITY NUMBER:
197494332
ADMINISTRATOR:CARDENAS, LAURAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:4300-A W. 120TH STREETTELEPHONE:
(323) 421-1100
CITY:HAWTHORNESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90250
CAPACITY:116CENSUS: 93DATE:
11/19/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:05 AM
MET WITH: Da Vida Brown- Site SupervisorTIME COMPLETED:
03:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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 Personal Rights- Staff yells at day care children
Personal Rights- Staff handles children in an in appropriate manner
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 10/01/2025 at 8:45 a.m. Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Doris Whitmore conducted an unannounced complaint investigation and met with Site Supervisor; DaVIda Brown.LPA Whitmore explained the purpose of the visit to conduct interviews with staff and children. LPA toured the facility indoors and outdoors and observed a total of 89 children and 20 staff. LPA Whitmore obtained copies of the Facility Roster and Personnel Report.
On 10/08/2025 at 10:40a.m. Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Doris Whitmore conducted an unannounced complaint investigation and met with Site Supervisor; DaVIda Brown.LPA Whitmore explained the purpose of the visit to continue with interviews.
On 10/15 /2025 at 3:07 p.m. Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Doris Whitmore conducted an unannounced complaint investigation and met with Site Supervisor; DaVIda Brown.LPA Whitmore explained the purpose of the visit to conduct a classroom observation.
The Department conducted a full investigation, which included staff interviews, interviews with relevant parties and other agencies, as well as a record review which included documentation related to the
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Karren Starks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Doris Whitmore
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 4
Control Number 30-CC-20250925102633
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAYCARE-NO.WEST, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: CRYSTAL STAIRS HEAD START - HAWTHORNE PLAZA
FACILITY NUMBER: 197494332
VISIT DATE: 11/19/2025
NARRATIVE
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allegations. Based on LPA’s interviews the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the allegations are found to be substantiated. Staff yell at day care children. It was obtained during the internal investigation witnessed and disclosed that multiple staff yells at day care children. Substantiated Staff handles children in an inappropriate manner. When interviewing staff, it was disclosed and witnessed a staff pulling on a child’s arm real aggressively.

LPA Doris Whitmore informed licensee Da Vida Brown this report dated 11/19/2025 document(s) one Type A Citation Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is/are immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Doris Whitmore informed the licensee Da Vida Brown to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 11/19/2025 that documents any Type A citation(s) to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report, appeal rights, D- page was given to Da Vida Brown.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Karren Starks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Doris Whitmore
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 30-CC-20250925102633
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAYCARE-NO.WEST, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: CRYSTAL STAIRS HEAD START - HAWTHORNE PLAZA
FACILITY NUMBER: 197494332
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 11/19/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
11/26/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(3)
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(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:
To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat,mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not .....
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 Training staff on Personal Rights and conduct scenarios and model in the classroom. on how children should be treated, Training will be conducted on a monthly basis. Staff will watch the video on Personal Rights, Sign in sheet and agenda will be provided.
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This requirement was not met as evidence by: Staff witnessed and observed a staff pulling on a child's arm real aggressively. Staff grabbed a child by the arm
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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.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Karren Starks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Doris Whitmore
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Control Number 30-CC-20250925102633
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAYCARE-NO.WEST, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: CRYSTAL STAIRS HEAD START - HAWTHORNE PLAZA
FACILITY NUMBER: 197494332
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 11/19/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
11/26/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(3)
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a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:
3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule,coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including..........
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 Training Staff on the tone of voices the distinguished of inside voices and outside voices. Training on Care & Supervision. Staff will watch videos on ECLK. Training on the six pillars of Care and Supervision. Training will be on a monthly basis. Agenda and Sign in sheet will be provided.
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This requirement was not met as evidence by:Staff observed and witnessed yelling at children.
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CCR
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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.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Karren Starks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Doris Whitmore
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/19/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4