complaint·March 19, 2021

On 3/19/2021 at 10:20am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Laura Chavez met with Area Manager Cesilee Godinez to deliver complaint findings, the meeting was conducted via tele-inspection due to the current State of Emergency caused by COVID-19. It was alleged that a child was handled in a rough manner, specifically that Staff #1 and Staff #2 were observed holding Child #1 tightly by the shoulders leaving red marks. Division Director Donyale Miller, whom was interviewed on 10/15/2020 at 2:20pm denied the allegation and stated that no reported incidents of any child being handled in a rough manner have been received. LPA conducted additional interviews with nine staff on 10/15/2020, 2/17/2021 and 2/22/2021 and three children on 2/22/2021. Staff #1 and #2 denied handling Child #1 in a rough manner and stated that soft hands are used on any child in need of redirection. Staff #3 - #9 denied witnessing or learning of any child being handled in a rough manner. Children #2, #3 and #4 denied seeing Child #1 having been handled in a rough manner. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violation occurred, and the findings are unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted. Appeal rights were provided and exit interview conducted.