Lead safety check·January 17, 2024

On 01/17/2024, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Judy Laureano and Ranita Richmond conducted an unannounced case management visit. LPAs Richmond and Laureano were greeted by facility admin Amy Dickstein and granted entry into the facility. Admin guided LPAs Richmond and Laureano on a tour of the facility. There were 9 staff members and 33 children, 1 admin staff, and 1 music teacher present during the visit. Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018 requires all licensed Child Care Centers (CCC\342\200\231s) constructed before January 1,2010 to test their drinking water for lead contamination between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2023, and then every five years after the date of the first test. Community Care Licensing was notified that lead water testing conducted at the facility on 11/02/2023 exceeded allowable limit for lead. Samples testing over 5.5 ppb/ug L and above is considered an exceedance. The Purpose of today\342\200\231s visit is to follow up lead testing results of Action Level Exceedances (ALE) and conduct an inspection. On 11/29/2023 LPA Laureano received notification of lead exceedance via email. The facility has been identified to have 1 water faucet/outlet with an Action Level Exceedance (ALE) in the amount of lead in water being 5.5pb, or greater. LPAs Laureano and Richmond confirmed with admin the following outlet/faucet, \342\200\234B\342\200\235 in pathway between kitchen and bathroom, identified as exceedance of lead and has been repaired and retested. Outlet/faucet is indoors and children have access to drinking water inside of the classroom and via refillable water bottles. During the facility inspection LPAs received the following documents from facility, LIC 9275, LIC 9276, Facility Sketch (water faucets/outlets identified). LPA Richmond took pictures of water outlet/faucet in pathway between kitchen and bathroom. LPAs Richmond and Laureano observed all outlets identified with an Action Level Exceedance to be repaired and replaced. Children have access to water via water bottles in each classroom and while outdoors children bring their own refillable water bottles. LPAs observed water bottles in the facility as well as children\342\200\231s refillable water bottles. Based on observation, interviews and sampling records it has been determined that there was a violation of Licensing Regulation Title Division 12, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 \342\200\223 California Lead Action Level at Child Care Centers 101700.3(b)(1), \342\200\234A result with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance\342\200\235. Lead water testing samples taken on 11/2/2023 revealed that levels of lead were beyond allowable amount deemed by the State of California. This facility is being cited (1) deficiency during today\342\200\231s visit 1/17/2024. This is a type B violation which poses a potential Health, Safety or Personal Rights risk to persons in care. In Accordance with California Code of Regulations. Refer to LIC 809-D. LPAs discussed Proof of Correction (POC) with Admin. All faucets identified with an Action Lead Exceedance of 5.5 ppb or over have been repaired and retested. A notification of letter was drafted by facility and to sent out to parents with notification of cease of water outlets and remediation for planned for water outlets or alternative. Director will send LPAs a copy of the letter via email by 1/24/2024. Facility has corrected citation by installing a bottle filler station and retested the water outlet. Instructions for required lead testing are outlined in PIN 21-21. This PIN which contains Written Directives, have the same force and effects as the regulations contained in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations Care Child Centers are expected to use an Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), for lead testing. Accreditation from the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, known as an ELAP laboratory, is equipped to measure the amount of lead in a parts per billion (ppb) unit of measurement. For more information, go to the California Childhood. Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch\342\200\231s website at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/clppb or call them at (510) 620-5600. Please see Provider Information Notice (PIN) 20-01-CCP for more information about lead toxicity prevention Admin received Notice of Site Visit and copy of this report.