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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198018356
Report Date: 04/15/2024
Date Signed: 04/19/2024 02:01:20 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/29/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20240229145020
FACILITY NAME:L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
198018356
ADMINISTRATOR:CHOE, ESTHER INJAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:213 S. HOBART BLVD.TELEPHONE:
(949) 233-4215
CITY:LOS ANGELESSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90004
CAPACITY:40CENSUS: 24DATE:
04/15/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:34 AM
MET WITH:Esther Choe TIME COMPLETED:
01:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Lack of supervision resulting in a patch of hair missing from child's head
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licesning Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Esther Choe.

During the course of this investigation LPA Lee conducted interviews, reviewed documents, and made observations in regards to the above allegation.

The complaint alleges that Child#1 was picked up from the facility on 02/05/2024 with a chunk of their missing. The reporting party stated that the facility informed the parent's of Child#1 that cut of their own hair. The reporting party also stated that the parent's of Child#1 was not able to view the recorded footage of the facility on 02/05/2024. The Director denied these allegations and made no disclosure. The facility stated that the recorded footage was not available due to a power outage that occurred on 02/05/2024. During the investigation, the facility allowed LPA Lee to examine a computer in the Director's office which had the camera recording software. Despite attempts, LPA Lee was not able to view any footage on 02/05/2024.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
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 4
Control Number 33-CC-20240229145020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198018356
VISIT DATE: 04/15/2024
NARRATIVE
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LPA Lee observed a picture of Child#1's head with the missing area of the hair. The reporting party stated that the hair missing looked like it had been shaved off. LPA Lee observed that the picture did match the description provided by the reporting party. During interviews the Director and facility staff stated that the missing hair for Child#1 did not look like it had been cut by scissors. The Director stated that she believes the missing hair was not removed at the facility since the facility did not have any equipment that could have removed the hair in this manner. Based on interviews conducted LPA Lee was able to conclude the following. Child#1 was in a classroom on 02/05/2023 from about 8AM until 10AM with Staff#3. This classroom was observed to have child appropriate scissors accessible to children in care. Staff#1 initially observed the missing hair on Child#1's head a little bit after 10AM on 02/05/2024. Staff#1 asked the other staff members including Staff#3 if they knew what had happened with Child#1's hair. None of the staff members asked were able to explain to Child#1 how the part of Child#1's hair was removed.

It is possible that Child#1's hair was removed before they arrived to the facility on 02/05/2024. However, since the facility staff did not initially notice the hair missing when Child#1 arrived in the morning this cannot be verified. The missing hair was something Staff#1 noticed when they arrived to the facility a little after 10AM on 02/05/2024. If Staff#3 or any other facility staff had noticed the hair missing when Child#1 arrived in the morning on 02/05/2024, that would have provided evidence that the hair was not removed at the facility. Based on the picture of Child#1's head and the scissors observed in the facility classroom, it does not seem likely that the hair was cut by Child#1 themselves or another child in the classroom. The missing hair does seem to be evenly removed for it to be pulled by hand or cut with scissors.

Since the facility did not notice the hair was missing until after Child#1 had been at the facility for a few hours, the facility cannot verify if the child arrived with the hair already missing on the morning of 02/05/2024. No one at the facility including the Director knows exactly what happened with Child#1 that caused a portion of their hair to go missing. While the facility does have cameras that do store recordings of past dates, the footage was not recorded or available to view due to a power outage. This facility has allowed LPA Lee to review footage of facility in the past. Before Staff#1 noticed Child#1's hair, the child was in a classroom with child appropriate scissors for a few hours. The Staff member that was in this classroom does not know what exactly happened with Child#1. Since the facility does not know if Child#1's hair was removed at the facility or how the hair was removed, this does show a lack of supervision from the facility which is a potential risk to children in care.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 33-CC-20240229145020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198018356
VISIT DATE: 04/15/2024
NARRATIVE
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Based on the evidence collected during this investigation, the preponderance of evidence has been met. Therefore, the allegation stating lack of supervision resulted in a patch of hair missing from a child's head is being substantiated. The deficiency listed on the attached LIC 9099D are being cited in accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 22.

The notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 days during hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.

Exit interview conducted with Director Esther Choe. Appeal rights discussed and explained.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Control Number 33-CC-20240229145020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198018356
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 04/15/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
04/29/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
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No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by the fact that child in care was observed to have a portion of their
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The Director stated that she will conduct a meeting with all staff members on checking children for anything of note during sign in and the importance of supervision in the classroom. Director will provide evidence of this meeting taking place by the POC date.
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hair missing and the facility does not know when or how this occurred. This is a potential risk to children 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: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/15/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4