Incident investigation·June 22, 2023

On 6/22/2023, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Ocegueda conducted an unannounced case management inspection for the purpose of addressing an Unusual Incident that was reported to the Department on 6/12/2023. Today, LPA toured the facility and took a census. Today, LPA Ocegueda interviewed multiple staff, collected and requested records. The incident reviewed today occurred during music time in classroom pre-k 1 where there were three staff supervising 12 children. After interviewing staff, it was determined that camera footage captured Staff #1 slap child #1 on his/her back area. Site Supervisor confirmed that he saw the footage and confirmed the incident. According to interviews, the slap was enough to produce a sound. Staff #2 observed the incident and reported the incident to Site Supervisor on the same day. Child #1 is nonverbal and could not be interviewed today. Multiple staff that were privately interviewed today reported that staff #1 has a \342\200\234rough\342\200\235 tone when verbally reacting to the children in general. Staff #1 indicated that others have brought up the concerns of staff #1 \342\200\234yelling at children\342\200\235 and he/she reported to LPA that he/she is trying to improve on how he/she addresses children. In addition, multiple staff reported that staff #1 reacted with firmly tapping or nearly tapping child #2 on the fingers with a pencil staff #1 was holding to get child #2 to stop touching food during lunch time. Staff #2 and #3 were interviewed at different times in private and shared the same account of what they observed sometime during the first week of June 2023 (exact date unknown). Staff #2 and Staff #3 demonstrated the incident while holding a pen today. Staff #2 and staff #3 did not report the incident to anyone at the time but was disclosed today. Site Supervisor did not report this incident as he was not made aware of it until today. Report continued to 809-C Today, LPA Ocegueda discussed Personal Rights Regulations with Site Supervisor Gilbert Garcia and reviewed possible training on staff reporting any concerning staff behavior to him or other superiors. Per Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 3, of the California Code of Regulations, the following deficiency is being cited: (see next page, 809 D) Site Supervisor was provided a copy of appeal rights. Upon receipt of a Type A violation, licensee/site supervisor shall post and provide copies of this licensing report to parents/guardians of children in care at the facility and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. A copy of LIC 9224 was given to Site Supervisor. This report shall be made available to the public upon request. LIC 9213 Notice of Site Visit is provided and required to be posted for 30 days.