304371504-4-8-2025-06-CC-NKTN-DFYPBQ-20250422111042

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371504
Report Date: 04/08/2025
Date Signed: 04/08/2025 02:29:19 PM

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
03/03/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Cindy Nguyen

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20250303165603

FACILITY NAME:	KIDDIE ACADEMY OF COSTA MESA		FACILITY NUMBER:	304371504
ADMINISTRATOR:	PATRICIA RAMIREZ		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1815 ANAHEIM AVENUE		TELEPHONE:	(949) 287-6261
CITY:	COSTA MESA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92627
CAPACITY:	94	CENSUS: 74	DATE:	04/08/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:30 PM
MET WITH:	Director, Patricia Ramirez		TIME COMPLETED:	02:45 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Staff handled a child in a rough manner

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Cindy Nguyen conducted an unannounced complaint investigation. This is a continuation of the investigation initiated on 03/06/2025. Upon arrival, LPA met with the Director, Patricia Ramirez, who accompanied LPA on a tour of the facility. Census was taken as follow: 74 napping preschool children with 6 staff members. A review of staff criminal records indicates all facility staff or individuals who require caregiver background checks have received a criminal record clearance or exemption and a child abuse index clearance.

On 03/03/2025 a complaint was filed with the Department alleging staff handled a child in a rough manner. It was reported that on 11/21/24 Staff #3 (S3) was observed handling Child #2 (C2) in a rough manner, and on 10/11/24, S3 was observed picking C2 up, shaking C2 and tossing C2 into bed. During a confidential interview, Reporting Party stated the observed incidents did not occur with C2, the incidents happened with Child #1 (C1) instead of C2. Continued on 9099C

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Nguyen K Tran
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cindy Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/08/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/08/2025

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 2

Control Number 06-CC-20250303165603

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: KIDDIE ACADEMY OF COSTA MESA	FACILITY NUMBER: 304371504
	VISIT DATE: 04/08/2025

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Page 9099C

During the course of the investigation, LPA Nguyen conducted two (2) physical plant inspections, interviewed six (6) staff members, four (4) parents, the complainant, attempted to interviewed children, obtained facility children's roster, reviewed two (2) children's files, parent handbook, Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR) and Police Report (PR).

During the staff interview, all the staff interviewed stated that the facility is always within compliance with children's personal rights regulation. All interviewed staff give consistent responses when dealing with challenging behavior including different strategies to redirect the children. Staff #1 (S1) stated that the incident happened with C1 not C2. Staff #6 (S6) stated the video footage showed C1 fell on the cot. S3 was helping C1 leading C1 back to the cot with both S3’s hands on C1’s shoulders, guiding/placing C1 on the cot, C1 didn’t take the step up from the cot, so it seems like C1 tripped and bounced into the cot.

On 03/20/2025, LPA contacted ten (10) parents requesting an interview. Four (4) parents were reached. The interviewed parents did not express any concerns related to the allegation and did not provide any information that could corroborate the allegation. The rest of the parents did not respond to the Department’s request for an interview.

LPA attempted to interview eight (8) children, however; the children were not qualified for the interview due to being too young.

During record review, the SCAR states case was referred out to Law Enforcement and PR states case was closed on 03/05/2025.

Based on LPA’s observations, document reviews and interviews, the preponderance evidence to prove allegation staff handled a child in a rough manner was not met. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged staff handled a child in a rough manner did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is found to be UNSUBSTANTIATED.

Exit interview was conducted with Director, Patricia Ramirez. Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. Director was informed that the notice of site visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Nguyen K Tran
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cindy Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/08/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/08/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 2