304371504-10-20-2025-06-CC-THOO-DMYVNH-20251031163509

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371504
Report Date: 10/20/2025
Date Signed: 10/20/2025 12:15:03 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
08/20/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Susan Deschampe

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20250820112549

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: 32	DATE:	10/20/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:06 AM
MET WITH:	Facility Representative/Director, Patricia Ramirez		TIME COMPLETED:	12:00 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff did not include daycare child in group activities.
Staff deprived daycare child of water.
Staff forced daycare child to nap.
Staff handled daycare child in a rough manner.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 10/20/2025, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Deschampe conducted an onsite investigation for the purpose of delivering the findings for the above allegations. LPA arrived at the facility at 9:05 AM and was met by the Assistant Director, Natalie Orozco. The Facility Representative/Director, Patricia Ramirez and assistant director guided the LPA on a tour of the facility with the following census: 2s Room had 7 children with 3 staff, 3s Room had 13 children with 3 staff, and 4s Room had 12 children 2 staff.

A review of staff criminal clearance record on this date 10/20/2025 indicated that all facility staff or other individuals who required caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Susan Deschampe
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/20/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/20/2025

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-20250820112549

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: 10/20/2025

NARRATIVE

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On 08/21/2025, the Regional Office received a complaint stating (1) Staff did not include daycare child in group activities (2) Staff deprived daycare child of water (3) Staff forced daycare child to nap (4) Staff handled daycare child in a rough manner. Reporting Party (RP) states Child 1 (C1) was excluded from indoor and outdoor activities, C1 was not given water to drink, C1 was not allowed to get up from a cot during nap time, and a staff member (unknown name) aggressively swung C1 in the air during naptime.

During the course of the investigation, LPA interviewed 7 staff members and 2 parents. No children interviews were conducted due to children not qualifying using the Ten Step Investigative Interview questions. LPA also obtained and reviewed facility documents.

Regarding allegation: (1) Staff did not include daycare child in group activities.

During the staff interview, 7 out of 7 staff stated children are encouraged to join the group activities but are never forced to join the group.

LPA observed children walking away from group activities and followed by staff who encouraged children to return to the group. Children were observed to return to group activities after staff encouragement and children were observed to remain separate from the group after staff encouragement.

LPA reviewed the Kiddie Academy Parent Handbook. Noted on page 29 is the following: Positive Guidance and Re-Direction “Positive Guidance focuses on acknowledging children’s feelings and emotions,…allows teachers to guide children through difficult social situations, rather than separating the children from a group or disregarding their feelings…providing children with…choices and activities geared toward their interests,…”

Regarding allegation: (2) Staff deprived daycare child of water.

During the staff interview, 7 out of 7 staff confirmed water is given to a child if they are vocal and ask for water. If they are not vocal or cognitively aware then staff monitor for symptoms of thirst or feeling hot such as sweating, redness of the face, or even high activity levels and staff will either ask children if they are thirsty, take them to the water cart, or offer them their water bottle/facility provided disposable cup with water. 2 out of 7 staff interviewed stated Child 1 (C1) did not have a preferred water bottle with them on one day and refused to drink water upon staff encouragement.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Susan Deschampe
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/20/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/20/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20250820112549

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: 10/20/2025

NARRATIVE

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LPA observed staff guide children to the water cart when outside and encourage the children to drink water during outdoor play. LPA observed the water cart in the classroom by the playground access door. LPA observed the water fountain in an area accessible to children in the outdoor playground area and in the classroom.

Regarding allegation: (3) Staff force daycare child to nap.

During the staff interview, 7 out of 7 staff confirmed children are encouraged to nap or have quiet rest time and stay on their cots. If a child cannot nap or refuses to stay on the cot, staff will provide quiet activities. Staff 3 (S3) stated on Tuesday (08/19/2025), C1 got up from the cot and went to the snack table and sat down. S3 stated S3 told C1 it was not snack time and C1 was picked up from the facility by an authorized representative shortly after that. 7 out of 7 staff denied forcing daycare children to nap or witnessing any staff member forcing day care children to nap.

LPA reviewed the Kiddie Academy Parent Handbook. Noted on page 28 is the following: Rest Time “Each day, children are given a period to rest quietly on their cots…We will never force children to sleep, but we do encourage respect for those children who are sleeping. Each class schedule reflects the amount of sleep time appropriate for that particular age group.” Noted on page 29 is the following: Positive Guidance and Re-Direction “All Kiddie Academy locations operate under the following policies:…No child will be denied…rest privileges as punishments…Positive Guidance focuses on acknowledging children’s feelings and emotions,…allows teachers to guide children through difficult social situations, rather than separating the children from a group or disregarding their feelings…providing children with…self-calming activities, and choices and activities geared toward their interests,…”

LPA observed children napping on their own cots and bedding. If children were not napping, they were observed to demonstrate quiet time by laying down on their cots. LPA observed a teacher demonstrating soft/gentle voices and patting a child on the back to help the child go to sleep.

Regarding allegation: (4) Staff handled daycare child in a rough manner.

During the staff interview, 7 out of 7 staff confirmed staff will help children by patting their back, rubbing their face, and soothing voices. 1 out 7 staff confirmed holding a child and rocking them as a way to help a child

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Susan Deschampe
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/20/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/20/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20250820112549

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: 10/20/2025

NARRATIVE

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nap. Staff 7 (S7) stated “…rocking is a last resort this was done with C1 I did it myself I picked C1 up at first I rocked C1 on my lap, so I put C1 down then when I stood up C1 started flailing and that's when I put C1 down and called mom.” 7 out of 7 staff denied witnessing any staff swinging a child in the air during naptime.

LPA called 11 parents for an interview and out of 11 parents, only 2 parents responded to LPA. 2 interviewed parents did not make any disclosure regarding the above allegations.

Based on LPA’s interviews, observations, and record review, the preponderance of evidence has not been met. Although the allegations of (1) Staff did not include daycare child in group activities (2) Staff deprived daycare child of water (3) Staff force daycare child to nap and (4) Staff handled daycare child in a rough manner may have happened or are valid, there was not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED.

The exit interview was conducted with the facility representative/director, Patricia Ramirez. The Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. The facility representative was reminded that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Appeal Rights were discussed and provided to the facility representative and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. Facility Representative must file an appeal, in writing, to the Regional Manager within 15 business days from the date of receiving the penalty assessment or notice of deficiency. First level appeals should be sent to the Regional Manager at the address listed above.

End of report

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Susan Deschampe
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/20/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/20/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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