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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493009441
Report Date: 12/03/2025
Date Signed: 12/03/2025 10:41:14 AM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/09/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Amy Strother
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20250909154257
FACILITY NAME:HEAD START - COOKFACILITY NUMBER:
493009441
ADMINISTRATOR:RUIZ, ROSAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:2480 SEBASTOPOL ROADTELEPHONE:
(707) 535-3314
CITY:SANTA ROSASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95407
CAPACITY:28CENSUS: 23DATE:
12/03/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:30 AM
MET WITH:Maria EncizoTIME COMPLETED:
10:55 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff touched child inappropriately in care

Staff injured child in care
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Amy Strother made a subsequent complaint investigation inspection, for the purpose of delivering complaint findings, and met with Center Director, Maria Encizo, (D1). It has been alleged that staff (S1) touched child (C1) inappropriately in care, specifically between the school years of 2023 and 2025. It has also been alleged that staff (S1) injured child (C1) in care, specifically between the school years of 2023 and 2025.

The facility was toured, and documents were obtained during investigation visits on 09/23/25 and 09/25/25. During the investigation LPA Strother interviewed 7 staff (S1-S6 & D1) who work or previously worked at the facility, 1 child (C2), and 4 adults (A3-A6) between 09/25/25 and 11/26/25. LPA Castro interviewed 1 adult (A2) on 09/29/25. Consent to interview child (C1) was denied. Records related to the investigation were reviewed and copies obtained on 10/02/25.

Continue on LIC9099-C
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Amy Strother
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
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 01-CC-20250909154257
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405
FACILITY NAME: HEAD START - COOK
FACILITY NUMBER: 493009441
VISIT DATE: 12/03/2025
NARRATIVE
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PAGE 2

Staff interviewed corroborated that they have never had concerns about staff’s behavior and if they ever have concerns about the well-being of a child, they will and would have reported them. No staff had ever witnessed a staff person harming a child. Two staff gave examples of a time that they needed to report concerns about the well-being of a child in care. LPA’s review of records confirmed the examples given were consistent with the information reported to Licensing.

More than one staff member spontaneously shared memories of C1, recalling interactions with staff and C1’s parent, during drop-off or pick-up time. One staff recalled a time that C1 said, “I don’t like this school”, pointing at teachers saying, “I don’t like them.” The staff recalled observing C1 after transition, playing, smiling and seeming happy and asking C1, “Do you like school now?” C1 replied by pointing to teacher S1, saying “Yes, I like her.”

Another staff person recalled C1’s parent coming in for pick up, pulling C1 toward the teachers saying, "Tell the teacher what you said." C1 said, "You hit me. Teacher (naming S4) you hit me yesterday." The staff person recalled that it could not have been true because S4 had not been at work for one week prior. Based on interviews with staff, C1 would tell the teachers that her mom hit them. Staff spoke to C1’s mom about it, and C1’s mom responded by saying that C1 lies. No staff reported ever seeing any marks or bruises on C1, so no reports were ever made.

Based on interviews with staff, C1’s mom asked C1 in front of staff, “Do teachers hit you to get you to do things?” C1 replied, “No, they don’t hit me.” C1’s parents wanted to know how staff got C1 to do things, saying that C1 does not listen at home. Staff explained that they just ask C1 to clean up like they do with all the children, and they all clean up together.

During the interview, a staff member recalled a time that staff told C1 that they were there to help C1. C1 replied, saying “No, you hit me and yell at me.” Another child in the room responded, “No, that’s not true, teachers don’t hit us.” During a brief interview with C2 on 09/25/25, C2 stated that she liked her teachers.

Continue on LIC9099-C
SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Amy Strother
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 01-CC-20250909154257
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405
FACILITY NAME: HEAD START - COOK
FACILITY NUMBER: 493009441
VISIT DATE: 12/03/2025
NARRATIVE
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PAGE 3

Based on an interview with A3, A2 had reported concerns about facility staff and alleged mistreatment of C1. During the 09/29/25 interview, A2 denied the allegations, saying that everything is well and had no information about C1 being injured while in care at Head Start - Cook. According to A3, C1 has asked more than one teacher at their new school, “Are you going to hit me?”

Interviews conducted with former or current parents (A4 – A6) all stated that they have been very happy with the care provided by Head Start – Cook and did not have any concerns about any of the staff. More than one adult interviewed spoke about how much their child loved their teachers and speak about missing them.

Based on available information, although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove that the alleged violations occurred, therefore the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED.

A notice of Site Visit was given to facility representative and must remain posted for 30 days.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with facility representative, Center Director, Maria Encizo.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Amy Strother
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/03/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3