304270386-12-3-2024-06-CC-MMAE-DC5V2F-20241220150303

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304270386
Report Date: 12/03/2024
Date Signed: 12/03/2024 10:32:57 AM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/02/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Sarah Garcia

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20241002125101

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	304270386
ADMINISTRATOR:	GONZALEZ, VERONICA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	9945 SLATER AVENUE		TELEPHONE:	(714) 968-4451
CITY:	FOUNTAIN VALLEY	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92708
CAPACITY:	90	CENSUS: 47	DATE:	12/03/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:20 AM
MET WITH:	Director, Veronica Gonzalez		TIME COMPLETED:	11:00 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff left child in soiled diapers
Staff handled child roughly

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 12/03/2024 at 9:20am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Sarah Garcia conducted an unannounced complaint inspection to deliver the findings for the above allegations. This is a continuation of the investigation initiated on 10/08/2024. Upon arrival, LPA met with Director Veronica Gonzalez. Director guided LPA on a walkthrough of the facility and took a census. Total census was 47 preschool children and 5 staff. A review of staff records on this date indicated that all facility staff or other individuals who required caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.

The Department received a complaint on 10/02/2024 alleging (1) Staff left child in soiled diapers and (2) Staff handled child roughly.

On 10/04/2024, LPA interviewed Reporting Party (RP) for further information.

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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion: 61

SUPERVISORS NAME: Patricia Magana
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sarah Garcia
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/03/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2024

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20241002125101

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270386
	VISIT DATE: 12/03/2024

NARRATIVE

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During the investigation, LPA Garcia interviewed 11 staff, 3 children, 10 parents, and obtained diaper logs, sign in/out sheets, children’s roster, personnel report, incident reports, copy of weekly behavior tracking sheet, parent email correspondence, and family handbook.

During staff interviews conducted on 10/08/2024, Staff 1 (S1) stated, “Diaper changing is every two hours….” Staff 2 (S2) stated, “We change the kids every two hours…” Staff 3 (S3) stated, “I am with the older children so most of them are in pull ups.”
Staff #4 (S4) stated, “It is every two hours or as needed…” Staff #5 (S5) stated, “1 hour after they arrive, within the 1 hour. Then every two hours they need to be checked and changed.” Staff #6 (S6), “Within the first hour they should receive first diaper[change], and they should receive it every 2 hours or if we see that their diaper is full or there’s poop, we change them before the 2 hours. Unless a parent requests to change every 1 hour because of diaper rash.”

Staff #7 (S7) stated, “We do a max of two hours. We check between those two hours if we notice that they are drinking a lot of water.” Staff 8 (S8) stated, “It usually is every two hours or as needed...For those children that still in diapers teacher do a double check right before they fall asleep just to make sure.”

On 11/26/24, LPA contacted additional staff to interview. LPA made multiple attempts but was unable to reach Staff 9 (S9). During staff interviews on 11/26/24, Staff 10 (S10) stated, “We change them every two hours. If they have bowel movement, we change them right away we put it on the app.” During staff interviews on 11/27/24, Staff 11 (S11) stated, “We change diaper every two hours.”

LPA asked staff how about the facility’s discipline policy and how staff handle children with behavior issues. Staff 1 (S1) stated, “We redirect if they are hyper, hurting, jumping we gave them a book. We will sit with them and read a book. It is mostly redirection.” Staff 2 (S2) stated, “We redirect. If a child does something, we talk about it and redirect them to another area.” S2 stated, “Right now, we talk about that in circle time that we are nice with their friends.” Staff 3 (S3) stated, “Redirection. Most of our children we redirect them.”

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Patricia Magana
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sarah Garcia
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/03/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 4

Control Number 06-CC-20241002125101

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270386
	VISIT DATE: 12/03/2024

NARRATIVE

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(Page 3)

Staff #4 (S4) stated, “Redirecting… A lot of them are on behavior logs so we are logging how often the behaviors, depending on the behavior we will use different tools for them. Some of them have sensory toys, teething toys.” Staff 5 (S5) stated, “I follow up with parents about how behavior is at home.” Staff 6 (S6) stated, “If they need redirection to certain things, I will find an activity that they will do.”

Staff 7(S7) stated, “We do redirection here so we will redirect to another activity. If it is something that they need a walk, we will walk with them down the hall with us or if they need a rest. If it is not working, we will let the parents know about the next steps.” Staff 8 (S8) stated, “Teachers will usually redirect children.”

During staff interviews on 11/26/24, Staff 10 (S10) stated, “Redirecting or giving them something that they enjoy. They can sit down and do a quiet activity.” During staff interview on 11/27/24, Staff 11 (S11) stated, “We don’t discipline. We redirect them. You have to know the children and you have to know what to do.”

LPA asked staff if they observed, experienced, or heard about staff handling children roughly. 10 out of 10 staff interviewed stated they have not observed children handled roughly.

During children interviews conducted on 10/08/2024, Child 1 (C1) was unqualified to interview. Child 2 (C2) and Child 3 (C3) made no disclosures regarding the allegation(s).

LPA obtained facility’s family handbook; diaper policy states until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as needed basis. Diaper changing procedures are posted in each center, and the specific times of each diaper change will be listed on your child’s daily sheet.

LPA obtained monthly diaper log reports for September and October. Based on record review and observations, children in preschool A class were changed within 1-2 hours. After nap time, diapers were changed at approximately 3pm-3:30pm.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Patricia Magana
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sarah Garcia
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/03/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 3 of 4

Control Number 06-CC-20241002125101

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270386
	VISIT DATE: 12/03/2024

NARRATIVE

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(Page 4)

LPA obtained a copy of the facility’s family handbook; the behavior policy states staff take a proactive and preventative approach that reinforces appropriate behaviors, staff are trained on redirection, praise, and distraction, staff guide children to alternate activity before permitting the children to return to the same environment, staff utilize redirection as a strategy, and encourages families to partner with school to teach children about appropriate behaviors.

LPA obtained copy of weekly behavior tracking sheet. LPA reviewed the sheet and observed that staff record the week, child’s name, type of behavior exhibited Monday through Friday from 6:30am-10:00pm with 30-minute time slots. Staff record the time of day and the type of behavior exhibited by the child.

LPA Garcia contacted 10 parents. LPA interviewed 7 out of 10 parents. 7 out of 10 parents made no disclosures regarding the allegation(s). LPA made multiple attempts, left voicemails, and was unable to interview 3 parents.

Based on interviews and record review, the allegation(s) that (1) Staff left child in soiled diapers and (2) staff handled child roughly are unsubstantiated. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are Unsubstantiated.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Director Veronica Gonzalez. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

Appeal Rights were explained. The Director was provided a copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 01/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. All appeals must be in writing and received by the Regional Office within 15 business days. First level appeals should be sent to the regional manager to the address listed above.

End of Report.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Patricia Magana
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sarah Garcia
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/03/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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