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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198400896
Report Date: 09/30/2025
Date Signed: 10/22/2025 05:21:34 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/01/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Carter
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 54-CC-20250801112500
FACILITY NAME:ACADEMIA MONTESSORIFACILITY NUMBER:
198400896
ADMINISTRATOR:BALGEMINO, JANICEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:15110 STUDEBAKER ROADTELEPHONE:
(562) 474-1848
CITY:NORWALKSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90650
CAPACITY:26CENSUS: 23DATE:
09/30/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
02:30 PM
MET WITH:Janice BalgeminoTIME COMPLETED:
03:35 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff are not providing adequate supervision resulting in children in care being injured.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On September 30, 2025, at 2:30 PM Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) A. Carter conducted an Unannounced Complaint Inspection for the purpose of delivering findings for the above allegation. LPA announced purpose of inspection and was allowed entry into facility by Janice Balgemino. LPA observed 23 children with 3 staff receiving proper care and supervision.

During the investigation LPA made observations, conducted interviews, and obtained records. Information gathered from the reporting party provided consistent and specific accounts of multiple injuries, corroborated by incident reports, and staff admitted to being "short staffed" and unable to intervene in time during a transition period. This directly supports the finding that supervision was inadequate at times, resulting in injuries.

Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Denise Gibbs
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Carter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
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 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/01/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Carter
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 54-CC-20250801112500

FACILITY NAME:ACADEMIA MONTESSORIFACILITY NUMBER:
198400896
ADMINISTRATOR:BALGEMINO, JANICEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:15110 STUDEBAKER ROADTELEPHONE:
(562) 474-1848
CITY:NORWALKSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90650
CAPACITY:26CENSUS: 23DATE:
09/30/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
02:30 PM
MET WITH:Janice BalgeminoTIME COMPLETED:
03:35 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff yelled at child in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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 ***AMENDED REPORT TO CHANGE LANGUAGE***
On September 30, 2025, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) A. Carter conducted an Unannounced Complaint Inspection for the purpose of delivering findings for the above allegations. LPA announced purpose of inspection and was allowed entry into the facility by Janice Balgemino. LPA observed 23 children with 3 staff receiving proper care and supervision.During the investigation, LPA made observations, conducted interviews with staff, and reviewed facility records. The allegation that a staff member yelled at a child was found to be unsubstantiated. The staff member involved denied the accusation, which no other witnesses could corroborate. The Director explained, what the RP perceived as yelling was misinterpreted and was likely an immediate safety warning intended to prevent a child from being injured, not a reprimand. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is Unsubstantiated.No deficiencies will be cited today 09/30/25. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Exit interview was conducted with Director Janice Balgemino.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Denise Gibbs
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Carter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 54-CC-20250801112500
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: ACADEMIA MONTESSORI
FACILITY NUMBER: 198400896
VISIT DATE: 09/30/2025
NARRATIVE
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PAGE 2 OF 2

Although the allegation may have happened or is valid there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is Unsubstantiated.

No deficiencies will be cited today 09/30/25.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

Exit interview was conducted with Facility representative Janice Balgemino.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Denise Gibbs
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Carter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 54-CC-20250801112500
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: ACADEMIA MONTESSORI
FACILITY NUMBER: 198400896
VISIT DATE: 09/30/2025
NARRATIVE
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Page 2 of 2

Based on the information that was gathered through the course of the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation(s) are found to be Substantiated. The following citations are being cited today on the attached LIC 9099D.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

Exit interview was conducted with Facility representative Janice Balgemino.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Denise Gibbs
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Carter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 54-CC-20250801112500
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: ACADEMIA MONTESSORI
FACILITY NUMBER: 198400896
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/30/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Deficiency Dismissed
Type B
10/31/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)
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101229
Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision(a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs.
This requirement is not met:
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Facility director states she will have staff complete training course on proper supervision and submit proof of completion to LPA by agreed upon date.
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Based on the interview with staff, the licensee did not provide care and supervison to children in care due to multiple incident reports received by parent, which poses a potential Health, Safety, and/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: Denise Gibbs
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Carter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/30/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5