Office review·May 14, 2024

On May 14, 2024, an Informal office meeting was conducted to discuss concerns the Department has regarding the above facility. Present at the meeting were facility representatives, Julie Martin and April Stover, Ana Chico, Licensing Program Manager, and Carolyn Tuba, Licensing Program Analyst. The following items were discussed: Child Wandering Away On 1/24/2024 the facility reported to the Department that a 16 year old student wandered away from the facility on 1/23/2024. Director, Supervisor and staff could only speculate where the student ended up going. Staff interviews found that there were three staff present with 11 students at the time the incident occurred. According to staff, the child was unaccounted for while transitioning indoors from the playground. Video footage captured the student exiting a back gate located off the playground. According to the Director the student left the facility at approximately 5:00 pm and returned to the facility at 10:45 pm where Claremont Police was waiting and observed the student return unharmed. The exact whereabouts or stops the student made are unclear. However, according to the parent, the student stated that their child ended up at a railroad station and had fallen asleep on a bench. During further research LPA found that the Claremont Metrolink Station is about .07 miles away from the facility, which is approximately 13 minutes by foot where student, may have ended up going. During a review of the student\342\200\231s file, LPA observed notes indicating that the student had a prior tendency of running away. The facility was cited a Type-A under the child Care Regulation of 101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision and was assessed civil penalties. It is also being noted that on 07/17/19 a 15 year old student wandered away from the group during a field trip to Griffith Observatory. In this case, there was a transition that took place while attempting to catch a shuttle to the parking lot. The student was unharmed but missing for approximately 1\302\275 hours until park staff found the student a mile away. The Department cannot ascertain if the 15 year old had a history of eloping or not. Page 1 of 3 The Director understands that it is their responsibility to ensure that the health and safety of children are always protected, and that children are always supervised. The Director provided LPA, Tuba signatures of staff who attended an In-service Training that was held 2/15/2024 at 6:00 pm. The topic discussion was on Supervision and Step by Step protocols of missing persons. Documentation of the training was also provided to LPA, Tuba. During a previous visit on 2/13/2024 conducted by LPA, Tuba it was observed that an alarm was installed on the back door where student had existed. Program Supervisor tested the alarm and LPA, Tuba confirmed that the alarm is loud enough to hear throughout the entire facility. During today\342\200\231s meeting the internal process of registering students was discussed to address possible flagging of student with a history of eloping so that the communication that needs to take place between the administration staff and staff providing direct care and supervision. According to facility representatives they have a written plan requested to ensure such communication takes place. Since the incident they have stated that they are including additional questions regarding on eloping. According to the facility representatives the staff is required to review the individual needs of each students. Director stated that the alarm on the back door will be tested weekly. The Director is also required to view the following video on the Department website and share with the staff who work at the facility: https://ccld.childcarevideos.org/child-care-center-operators/ - Supervising Children in Child Care Centers The Director shall submit a written statement to the Department indicating how she and her staff will apply what they have learned from the video to the daily operation of the childcare center no later than June 14, 2024. Licensee has also been informed that for the next two years more frequent inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance with Title 22 regulations. The Director is required to provide copies of this Informal meeting to parents. The licensee will provide a copy of this report to the parent/guardian of children currently enrolled by the next business day or immediately upon return. A copy of this report shall also be provided to the parent/guardian of any newly enrolled children for the next 12 months (1 year). Director will obtain a signature and date from the child's parent/guardian on the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Reports (LIC 9224). The Director will keep a record immediately upon receipt of the completed and signed LIC 9224 acknowledging receipt of this report in the child's file. The Director was provided a copy of the LIC9224. Page 2 of 3 The Director was advised that a copy of this report will be forwarded to the local Resource & Referral Agency. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided to Director, Julie Martin. Page 3 of 3