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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376701248
Report Date: 10/15/2025
Date Signed: 10/15/2025 11:40:20 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
07/30/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Hayley McCarthy
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20250730104708
FACILITY NAME:HAPPY TIMES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
376701248
ADMINISTRATOR:BELEN ESTEBANFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:755 CIVIC CENTER DRIVETELEPHONE:
(760) 295-9475
CITY:VISTASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92084
CAPACITY:39CENSUS: 25DATE:
10/15/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:29 AM
MET WITH:Belen Esteban, DirectorTIME COMPLETED:
11:39 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff inappropriately handled children in care
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On October 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Hayley McCarthy arrived at Happy Times Child Development Center to deliver the investigative findings of the allegation listed above. LPA met with Director, Belen Esteban.

On July 30, 2025, a complaint was received alleging staff inappropriately handled children in care. Specifically, it was disclosed that child 1 (C1) was attempting to run out of the classroom when Staff 2 (S2) picked the child up from behind, carried them to the tables where the staff sat down with the child on their lap and their arms wrapped around the child to the restrict child’s movement.

Staff 2 (S2) was interviewed and admitted to holding C1 down on their lap and wrapping their arms around C1 to restrict the child’s movement and prevent them from harming other children. S2 stated C1 has had repeated behavioral episodes where they hit the teachers and other children.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Deborah Mullen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Hayley McCarthy
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
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 10-CC-20250730104708
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: HAPPY TIMES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 376701248
VISIT DATE: 10/15/2025
NARRATIVE
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Based on interviews conducted, the allegation that staff inappropriately handle children in care is SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, (Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1) are being cited on the attached LIC9099D.

Appeal rights were issued and discussed with licensee and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights.

Exit interview was conducted and report was reviewed by Director, Belen Esteban. A notice of site visit was given to director and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to the interior side of the main door for 30 days. The report must be made available to the public for three years. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Deborah Mullen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Hayley McCarthy
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 10-CC-20250730104708
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: HAPPY TIMES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 376701248
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/15/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
10/21/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(1)
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Personal Rights
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:
(1) To be accorded dignity in his/her personal relationships with staff and other persons.
This requirement is not met as evidenced
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The director will provide an all staff training on personal rights and strategies to deal with children with behaviors that do not involve restraint.
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 by: Based on interviews conducted, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that staff wrapped their arms around a child to restrict the childs movement which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons 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: Deborah Mullen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Hayley McCarthy
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/15/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3