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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 372005685
Report Date: 10/09/2025
Date Signed: 11/05/2025 10:45:04 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/12/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Gerald Poindexter
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 51-CC-20250812123547
FACILITY NAME:KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - WORLD TRADEFACILITY NUMBER:
372005685
ADMINISTRATOR:MADELINE HOWERTONFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:12135 WORLD TRADE DRIVETELEPHONE:
(858) 487-6444
CITY:SAN DIEGOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92128
CAPACITY:72CENSUS: 36DATE:
10/09/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:15 AM
MET WITH:Madeline HowertonTIME COMPLETED:
12:30 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REPORT DATED 10/09/25.

Child sustained unexplained injury while in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REPORT DATED 10/09/25.
On 10/09/25 at 11:15 AM Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Gerald Poindexter conducted an unannounced visit for the complaint received on 8/12/25 for the purpose of delivering findings on the above reference allegation. LPA met with Madeline Howerton, center director. There were 36 children present in 2 classrooms (2 combined classes) with 3 staff. Facility is with ratio and capacity.

During the course of the investigation, LPA Poindexter toured classrooms, reviewed facility documents, and interviewed the Reporting Paty (RP), center director, assistant director, and staff members. Based on the information obtained, LPA determined that a staff member (S1) tripped and stepped on a child (C1) during naptime, causing an injury. There is no evidence to show that S1 willfully caused the injury, however, after comforting C1, S1 did not provide any initial first aid, did not alert any other staff to the injury, nor did S1 observe C1 after the fact to ensure no medical attention was required. Ultimately, C1’s injury was


Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2025
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 3
Control Number 51-CC-20250812123547
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - WORLD TRADE
FACILITY NUMBER: 372005685
VISIT DATE: 10/09/2025
NARRATIVE
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THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REPORT DATED 10/09/25.

discovered by the parent at pick up and C1 was taken for assessment and medical treatment of the injury.



The allegation is valid because the preponderance of the evidence has been met, therefore, the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

See 809D for deficiency cited.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Madeline Howerton, center director. Notice of Site Visit was given, and it must remain posted for 30 days. Appeal rights provided.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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Control Number 51-CC-20250812123547
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - WORLD TRADE
FACILITY NUMBER: 372005685
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/09/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
11/09/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101226.3(b)
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101226.3 Observation of the Child
(b) Any unusual behavior, any injury or signs of illness requiring assessment and/or administration of first aid by staff shall be reported to the child's authorized representative and recorded in the child's record.
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Ms. Howerton stated that staff training will be conducted on children's observation, personal rights, and supervision. A copy of the staff training agenda and signed staff attendance sheet will be emailed to LPA at Gerald.Poindexter @dss.ca.gov no later than 11/9/25.
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Based on LPA interviews and facility documentation, the injury to child C1 was neither observed, monitored, nor reported by staff, which posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children 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: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/09/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/09/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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