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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197750172
Report Date: 11/25/2024
Date Signed: 11/26/2024 08:22:50 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/30/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Pittman
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 12-CC-20240830120707
FACILITY NAME:LITTLE TOTS PREPARATORY ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
197750172
ADMINISTRATOR:CAROLYN ARMSTRONGFACILITY TYPE:
840
ADDRESS:44839 TREVOR AVENUETELEPHONE:
(661) 206-8677
CITY:LANCASTERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
93534
CAPACITY:10CENSUS: 0DATE:
11/25/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:35 AM
MET WITH:Director Carolyn ArmstrongTIME COMPLETED:
10:15 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Allegation 1: Staff transported day care children to an unknown location
Allegation 2: Staff did not notify day care children's authorized representative of incident
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 11/25/2024, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Andrea Pittman conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver the findings at the facility and was met by the Facility Representative who permitted entry to the facility. LPA toured the facility with the Director according to the facility sketch. Upon arrival, LPA observed 0 children with 2 staff members ready to provide care and supervision.

During this investigation, LPA received pertinent documents related to this investigation, which included the facility’s staff and children’s rosters, personnel records, and other relevant investigation documents. The investigation revealed the following information:

Continue to next page
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
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 5
Control Number 12-CC-20240830120707
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
FACILITY NAME: LITTLE TOTS PREPARATORY ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750172
VISIT DATE: 11/25/2024
NARRATIVE
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Allegations 1: The first allegation states that staff transported day care children to an unknown location. During the investigation, it was revealed that Staff 1 transports the child care children from school to the child care center. Staff 1 admitted to transporting the children to an associated family child care home to the child care center; however, the facility does not have any written agreements on transporting children to their associated facility. This is a Type B citation, see the LIC 9099D for the details.

Allegations 2: The second allegation states that staff did not notify day care children's authorized representative of incident. During the investigation, it was revealed that Staff 1 transports the child care children and during one time of transporting the children, Staff 1 admitted to transporting the child care children to the associated family child care home. While Child 1 and Child 2 were in the facility, a minor disagreement occurred between Staff 3 and Staff 4 and their voices were raised. Child 2 stated they did not understand why they were transported to this location and cried but did not notify the staff of their confusion. Staff 1 stated that there was a verbal agreement between some parents to transport the child care children to the associated family child care facility; however, there is nothing in writing. Staff 1 returned Child 1 and Child 2 and additional child care children to the child care facility; however, the parents were not notified about the incident that occurred at the associated family child care home. This is a Type B citation, see the LIC 9099D for the details.

Based on information obtained, observations, and interviews with relevant complaint parties, the Allegation is deemed substantiated for allegation 1 and 2; as a result, two Type B citations will be issued for the allegations. A finding of substantiated means that allegations were valid because the preponderance of the evidence standard has been met. As a result of the investigation, the facility was found to be in noncompliance with Title 22 Regulations and has been cited deficiencies, see the LIC 9099D for the details.

An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided to the Facility Representative along with the Notice of Site Visit and Appeal Rights.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 12-CC-20240830120707
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551

FACILITY NAME: LITTLE TOTS PREPARATORY ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750172
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 11/25/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
12/09/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101218(a)(6)
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101218 Admission Policies (a) Every child care center shall have all admission policies in writing and available to the public...(6) Transportation arrangements, if any.

This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
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Director will e-mail the updated transportation agreement with parent signatures included via e-mail no later than 12/9/2024.
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Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews, the Licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not providing parents a written agreement for transporting arrangments including to transport to sister location which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
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Type B
12/09/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101212(f)
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101212 Reporting Requirements
(f) The items specified in (d)(1)(A) through (H) above shall also be reported to the child's authorized representative.

This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
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Director will send email of the completed training on the reporting requirements no later than 12/9/2024.
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Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews, the Licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not notifying parents of an unusual incident that occurred at an associated facility which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
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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: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/30/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Pittman
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 12-CC-20240830120707

FACILITY NAME:LITTLE TOTS PREPARATORY ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
197750172
ADMINISTRATOR:CAROLYN ARMSTRONGFACILITY TYPE:
840
ADDRESS:44839 TREVOR AVENUETELEPHONE:
(661) 206-8677
CITY:LANCASTERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
93534
CAPACITY:10CENSUS: 0DATE:
11/25/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:35 AM
MET WITH:Director Carolyn ArmstrongTIME COMPLETED:
10:15 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Allegation 3: Staff did not ensure day care chidlren's authorized representative was given copies on contract
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
On 11/25/2024, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Andrea Pittman conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver the findings at the facility and was met by the Facility Representative who permitted entry to the facility. LPA toured the facility with the Director according to the facility sketch. Upon arrival, LPA observed 0 children with 2 staff members ready to provide care and supervision.

During this investigation, LPA received pertinent documents related to this investigation, which included the facility’s staff and children’s rosters, personnel records, and other relevant investigation documents. The investigation revealed the following information:

Continue to next page
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 12-CC-20240830120707
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
FACILITY NAME: LITTLE TOTS PREPARATORY ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750172
VISIT DATE: 11/25/2024
NARRATIVE
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Allegation 3: the third allegation stated that Staff did not ensure day care children's authorized representative was given copies on contract. During the investigation, it was revealed that the authorized representative did not complete the parent packet provided for the children attending the facility and the copies were not provided as the children were removed from the facility prior to the due date of the documentation needing to be submitted to the authorized representatives. After reviewing the relevant information obtained, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to support the allegation.

After observations, record reviews, and interviews, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence that the following occurred: staff did not ensure day care children's authorized representative was given copies on contract. The allegations could not be corroborated with the evidence found during the investigation. Therefore, the allegations have been found unsubstantiated. Although, the allegations may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the facility operated in violation of policy in this circumstance.

An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided to Director Carolyn Armstrong along with the Notice of Site Visit and Appeal Rights.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/25/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5