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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304370713
Report Date: 03/26/2024
Date Signed: 03/26/2024 10:31:55 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 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
01/09/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Dianna ValdezSantana
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20240109091032
FACILITY NAME:GIANT STEP LEARNING CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
304370713
ADMINISTRATOR:TORRES, MARIAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:758 ST. CLAIR STREETTELEPHONE:
(714) 540-1775
CITY:COSTA MESASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92626
CAPACITY:42CENSUS: 22DATE:
03/26/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:45 AM
MET WITH:Director, Maria "Chelo" TorresTIME COMPLETED:
10:30 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Personal Rights
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 03/26/2024 Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) D. Valdez Santana and A. Castro made an unannounced visit to Giant Steps Learning Center for the purpose to deliver findings of a complaint received. Upon arrival, LPAs were met by Director, Maria “Chelo” Torres. Director was explained the reason for today’s visit. LPAs were provided a tour of the facility and observed 3 Staff and 22 preschool children present.

A review of the Facility Personnel Report Summary conducted on today’s date indicates all facility staff or other individuals who require caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.

On 01/09/2024 a complaint was filed with the Licensing office stating, “Child sustained unexplained injury while in care”. Reporting Party (RP) stated that when arriving to the daycare center to pick up a child, RP observed the child to be crying for an unknown reason. Page 1 of 4
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dianna ValdezSantana
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
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 06-CC-20240109091032
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868
FACILITY NAME: GIANT STEP LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304370713
VISIT DATE: 03/26/2024
NARRATIVE
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Later on, that same day, RP observed the inside of the child's private area to be red. RP spoke with staff who didn't know why the child's private area was red but stated that maybe the redness came from the child having a rash. However, RP stated that the child didn't have a rash. RP took the child to Kaiser for an assessment and the Doctor stated that the child's private area looked slightly torn and that the redness can be due to someone wiping really rough, the child fell, or sexual abuse. RP stated that the doctor did not state that the child had been penetrated in the private area and that RP doesn't believe that the child was penetrated with any object. RP stated that RP doesn't suspect sexual abuse however, RP doesn't know where the redness came from and staff could not fully explain what happened. RP called and made a police report. RP stated that the Director called and told the RP that child told staff that they had pooped. When staff checked the child, it looked like the child had poop on their body for a while and the staff that changed the child kept wiping them.

During the course of investigation, LPA interviewed 4 staff members, and 6 parents were interviewed.

During the staff interviews, Staff (S1), stated, S1 has one student attend the “Kidokinetics” soccer program. S1 makes sure to check Child 1’s (C1) diaper before C1 goes out to participate. When ask what the procedure during the “Kidokinetics” program when it comes to children needing to utilize the bathroom, S1 said S1 does not know but thinks they would send them back to Giant Steps staff if they needed to go to the bathroom. S1 was out when the incident happened, S1 feels uneasy when Staff 3 (S3) watches S1’s class because S3 doesn’t use gloves when changing the children’s diapers and S3 doesn’t seem to be attentive, S3 is too fast and rushes when changing diapers. S3 cannot really handle a classroom very well alone. S1 stated S1 checks them often to see if they are wet or dry, by pulling the back of their diaper to see if they are wet/soiled. S1 checks the children more than the 4 allotted times on the chart, about 7 times total. Staff 2 (S2) has two students that attend the soccer program. S2 stated yes, S2 always make sure the children go to the restroom before they go out to the soccer program. S2 is worried that the children do not listen to S3 and that S3 should not be in the classroom. S2 thinks S3 rubbed Child 1 (C1) too hard when S3 changed C1.

Staff 3 (S3) stated when covering a teacher that was out, the class had 1-2 children attending the soccer program. When asked if S3 checked diapers before the children head out, S3 disclosed that, yes, S3 changed C1 and C1 was dry. If a child needs to go to the restroom or get their diaper changed during the class during the soccer program the coach will walk the child to the teacher so they can go to the bathroom or get their diaper changed. Page 2 of 4

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dianna ValdezSantana
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 06-CC-20240109091032
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868
FACILITY NAME: GIANT STEP LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304370713
VISIT DATE: 03/26/2024
NARRATIVE
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S3 said the procedure for ensuring children are maintained clean and dry is S3 wipes them, wears gloves and puts a new diaper on them. If they are using the toilet, S3 checks the toilet to see if they peed or pooped. The children are checked constantly. When asked what happened with C1, S3 disclosed that S3 does not know, the first change C1 was dry at 9am, at 10am-1045, is Kidokinetic class and at 1015-1020am and S3 noticed C1 was wet and had dry poopoo. S3 had C1 sit on the toilet and that is when S3 noticed C1 had dried poop and a wet diaper. S3 pulled the soiled diaper up and had C1 walk up the stool onto the diaper changing table. S3 changed C1’s diaper and S3 put on gloves and wiped C1 the best S3 could. While changing C1, C1 was just saying “ouch”. S3 said S3 wiped C1 with wipes and perhaps when S3 pulled up C1’s diaper and had C1 walk up to the diaper changing table, that maybe gave C1 a rash and admitted that perhaps that it was S3 did wrong that caused the child to obtain a rash. Staff 4 (S4) stated there are 12 children enrolled in the soccer program. Staff are encouraged to have children go to the bathroom/diaper changed prior to heading out. S4 said the procedure for ensuring children are maintained clean and dry is staff are supposed to check every hour but also check if we notice they are soiled. S4 believes S3 wiped C1 too hard because C1 had dried poopoo and kept wiping the same area and it got irritated.

LPA obtained a children’s roster, personnel report (LIC500), a copy of the diaper changing log for 1/8/2024. The diaper log demonstrates that C1 was “dry” when checked sometime from 11am-12pm but was not checked again until from 3pm-4pm when C1 was noted to have a “BM” (bowel movement). C1 went too long before being changed which caused her BM to dry making it difficult for C1’s diaper to be changed and S3 seemed to have wiped C1 too roughly causing skin tears and irritation. LPA also obtained and reviewed a doctor’s note and police report. Police Department did not file a case.

6 of 7 parents were interviewed, 2 out 6 parents interviewed expressed concerns about S3.



Based on interviews conducted, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1 Section 101223(a)(2) Personal Rights Type A is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D. Please refer to attached 9099D for documentation of deficiencies.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dianna ValdezSantana
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 06-CC-20240109091032
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868
FACILITY NAME: GIANT STEP LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304370713
VISIT DATE: 03/26/2024
NARRATIVE
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LPA Valdez Santana informed Director, Maria “Chelo” Torres and owner, Miriam Vakil, that this report dated 03/26/24 documents one Type A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there are immediate risks to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPAs informed the Director to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 03/26/24 that documents any Type A citations 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.

Exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. Appeal Rights was explained. A copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 1/16) was provided and their signatures on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. First level appeal is to Regional Manager, address is above on the report.

Page 4 of 4. End of Report.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dianna ValdezSantana
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 06-CC-20240109091032
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: GIANT STEP LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304370713
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 03/26/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
03/27/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(2)
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101223(a)(2)Personal Rights: The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights. To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations... to meet his/her needs. This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
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Director stated they implemented a new diaper changing log and she will email LPA Dianna Valdez Santana at dianna.valdezsantana@dss.ca.gov by POC due date.
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Based on LPA’s interviews, 2 out of 4 staff disclosed concerns about S3’s ability to care for the children. S3 disclosed that the manner in which S3 changed Child 1 might have caused C1 to get a rash. S4 stated S3 wiped C1 too roughly causing C1 to get skin irritation.

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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: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dianna ValdezSantana
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/26/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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