July 11, 2022
What Happened
Complaint investigation substantiated two personal rights allegations: staff hitting children and staff covering an infant's mouth. Child and adult interviews described repeated head slaps or mouth-covering behavior when children cried or were upset.
Observations
- Children described being smacked or lightly slapped on the head by Staff #2.
- One adult reported Staff #2 covered a child's mouth to stop crying.
- A child disclosed that Staff #2 covered an infant's mouth during naptime to quiet the child.
- The complaint was substantiated for both personal rights allegations.
Citations Issued
PERSONAL RIGHTSEach child receiving services from a family child care home shall have certain rights that shall not be waived or abridged by the licensee regardless of consent...These rights include, but are not limited to, the following: To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain... -This requirement is not met as evidenced by: three of five children interviewed corroborated that children are occasionally smacked/slapped by an open palm or a water bottle by staff. *This poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.*
What does this citation mean? →Data sourced from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) public records. Updated weekly. If you believe any information is inaccurate, report it here.