Incident investigation·May 12, 2021

On May 12, 2021, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Kari McWilliams and Jessika Thompson conducted an unannounced case management inspection. LPAs toured the facility and a census was taken. LPAs met with facility director, Brandy Wilkinson. The purpose today's inspection was to discuss an incident that occurred on April 30, 2021. A complete file review was conducted prior to today's inspection. An Unusual Incident Report was submitted to the Fresno Community Care Licensing Office regarding an incident that occurred on April 30, 2021 where Child #1 was left unsupervised in the outdoor play yard. Today, LPAs spoke with an attending staff member who stated that on the date of the incident, while transitioning from outdoor to indoor play, Child #1 slipped behind staff unnoticed and remained in the outdoor play area while the rest of the classroom went indoors. It was reported that shortly thereafter, a parent who arrived at the facility to pick up their child informed staff that they observed Child #1 alone in the outdoor play yard. The child was then retrieved by facility staff. Staff estimated that the child may have been outside for 5-10 minutes alone. Additionally, LPA McWilliams conducted a telephone interview with the aforementioned parent who stated that when she arrived to the facility and exited her car from the parking lot, she was alerted by a nearby witnesses that a child was crying and alone in the outdoor play area of the facility. The parent stated that when she approached the facility she saw Child #1 crying and clutching the fence. Director Wilkinson acknowledged that as a result of lack of supervision Child #1 was left in the outdoor play area unsupervised. This poses an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. Director Wilkinson was advised that upon receipt of any A violation, licensee shall post and provide copies of this licensing report and LIC 9224 to parents/guardians of children in care at the facility and to parents/guardians of children upon enrollment at the facility during the next 12 months, LIC 9224 to be filed in children's files. Per Chapter 1, Division 12, Title 22 of the California Regulations, the following deficiency is found (see LIC809-D). An Exit interview was conducted with Director Wilkinson, parent notification and appeal rights were provided and discussed.