Incident investigation·July 9, 2024

On July 9, 2024, at 1:20 p.m., Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Cindy Meier conducted an unannounced Case Management visit for the purpose of follow-up on an Unusual Incident Report that was submitted to the San Diego Regional Office. LPA met with Facility Representative, Site Director, Jessica Fregoso and discussed the purpose of the inspection and was led on a tour of the facility. There were fifty-two (52) children present with twelve (12) staff members at the time of the inspection. On 06/13/2024 around 9:15 a.m. Staff 1 (S1) and Staff 2 (S2) were transitioning thirteen (13) children from the playground to classroom, and while conducting a head count, S1 observed child (C1) was missing. S1 informed Site Director. S2 went down the road and found C1 standing with a bystander, approximately 200 feet from the facility. A bystander had called Brawley Police Department when they observed a young child alone on the street. LPA reviewed the police report and determined the Brawley Police Department was called at 9:09 a.m. Sie Director, S2 and C1 returned to the facility. According to the police report the child was found approximately 200 feet from the facility and it is estimated that the child was unsupervised and absent from the facility for approximately 8 – 10 minutes. C1 was found to be calm and unharmed. Facility Representative, Site Director stated an Unusual Incident Report was emailed to Licensing on 6/13/24. Facility Representative, Site Director stated they viewed the fencing and assumed C1 possibly left through a side gate where there was a gap in the fence. No other gaps in the fence were found. The fence was repaired. During this investigation, LPA obtained facility records, documentation, Brawley police report and interviewed Facility Representative, Site Director, and C1’s authorized representative. C1 was not interviewed due to age. Based on the evidence obtained in reports and interviews, it is determined that an Absence of Supervision violation occurred as the child was unsupervised and absent from the facility for between 8-10 minutes. Per Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1, of the California Code of Regulations, a deficiency was cited; see LIC809D, along with an Immediate Civil Penalty of $500.00. LPA Cindy Meier informed Facility Representative, Site Director, Jessica Fregoso, that this report dated 7/9/24 document(s) (1) Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is an immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. Also, LPA Cindy Meier informed the Facility Representative, Site Director, Jessica Fregoso to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 7/9/24 that documents the Type A citation to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Facility Representative, Site Director, Jessica Fregoso.