complaint·March 19, 2021

On 3/19/2021 at 10:015am, 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 staff handled a child roughly, specifically that Staff #1 pinched and grabbed Child #1. It was also alleged that staff failed to report abuse of a child, specifically that staff failed to report Child #1 having been pinched and grabbed. Area Manager, whom was interviewed on 9/9/2020 at 3:30pm denied the allegations and stated that incidents of a staff handling a child roughly have not been received. Area Manager stated that any reportable abuse of a child is reported as required. Area Manager said internal investigations are done on these types of incidents as well as reporting them to Licensing. LPA conducted additional interviews with three staff on 2/17/2021 and four children on 2/22/2021. Staff denied witnessing or learning of any child being handled roughly or of staff failing to report abuse of a child. The four children interviewed denied seeing any child being 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.