Pre-licensing visit·December 13, 2023

On 12-13-2023, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jillinda Chandler and Licensing Program Manager (LPM)Deborah Lowe made an announced visit to LAEP Early Head Start Childcare Center. LPA met with Nancy Villarreal (director), Rosemary Melendez (site supervisor), and Keesha Woods (consultant) who provided a tour of the facility. The applicant is requesting a preschool license with a capacity of 32, ages 2- 4 years. There are four bungalows dedicated to the L.A.E.P. program; rooms 13,14,15, and 16. The center is located on the Prairie Vista South campus of the Hawthorne School District. The center shares a gated area with the Hawthorne School District Preschool. Day care operation days and hours will be Monday \342\200\223 Friday; 7:00 A.M. \342\200\223 6:00 P.M. Parents shall enter the center through the gate west of room 14. There is an approved fire clearance on file conducted by Michael Judkins of the L.A. County Fire Prevention Bureau. The following was observed of thefacility; INDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE Fire extinguishers were 2AB10C or larger, last serviced 6/1/2023 Carbon monoxide detectors were observed in all classrooms. Pg.1 First aid kits were available with the required essentials: scissors, bandages, ointments, and thermometer. The center was advised by their program that tweezers should not be used and they were not observed in the first aid kit. Age-appropriate furniture, toys and equipment were observed in good repair. Per facility director, the facility will provide filtered water dispensers in each classroom. The classrooms have central air and heating. Windows were in good repair free of chipping paint, dirt, insects or debris. Adequate lighting was observed. The classrooms were clean in good repair. All rugs and furniture were clean and in good repair. Trash cans used for solid waste were observed with tight fitting lids. Disinfectants and cleaning solution and other toxins or poisons were made inaccessible to children, placed in the laundry room, with a locked door. The office and the staff restroom that is also located in the office will be used for isolation of ill children, a cot shall be used for resting. Pg. 2 The facility did not have a working telephone during todays visit, per the director, each classroom will have a telephone for communication. Parents and authorized adults will sign children in and out, using their original signatures. Sign in sheets shall be kept for one month and shall be available at the center for review by the Department. The required postings: Emergency Disaster Plan For Child Care Centers, Notification of Parents Rights, Personal Rights, California Child Passenger Safety Law and menu were observed. Parent boards were in each class. Measurements for the indoor activity space was 1575.29, which accommodates the center's requested capacity of 32 children. FOOD SERVICE: Meals will be provided by an out sourced vendor. Weekly menus were posted for review. The facility will provide lunch and snacks. LPA observed a full kitchen area and laundry room, located in bungalow 13, Children will have no access to this area. The kitchen was clean and free of any toxins and detergent, these items will be stored in the locked laundry room. The center has devised an Incidental Medical Service (IMS) plan to provide to parents of children with allergies (epi-pen), asthmatic (inhalers), and children needing G-tube (feeding) pending the child's needs and services. IMS was discussed with the director. Pg. 3 RESTROOMS THERE WERE: 8 toilets, toilets were age appropriate. 9 sinks, sinks were age appropriate. One sink (portable) will be used for outdoor purposes. Each classroom was equipped with a changing table within arms reach of a sink, and mats were made of vinyl, with raised sides at least 3 inches high. The restrooms were clean and sanitized with the necessary toiletries, sinks and toilets were operable and in good repair. Faucets delivered cold water. OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE Age appropriate toys and equipment were observed in good condition. The play yard was gated with a 4 inch or higher gate. The facility is requesting a waiver for shared outdoor space, to be shared with the Hawthorne Unified School District Preschool. Artificial grass was observed for cushioning under the climbing apparatus. Per the manufactures label the apparatus is age appropriate for children 2 -5 years of age. Pg. 4 Purified water fountains were available as an outdoors water source. LPA observed shade canopies for shade and benches for resting. LAEP's outdoor activity area shall only include; from the beginning of room 14 to the apparatus area and the shaded lunch bench area. Children will use the indoor restrooms when outdoors, the outdoors restroom is off limits to the LAEP program. The facility shall devise a plan of supervision to ensure that the gates are closed at all times and children have no access to the push bar exit gate. No hazardous conditions or equipment was observed during today\342\200\231s visit. Measurements for the outdoor activity area were 4987.89, which accommodates the requested capacity. Based on today\342\200\231s inspection the facility shall be recommended for a capacity of 32 children, determined by the applicant requested capacity and pending the approval of the outdoor activity space waiver. The following corrections are needed prior to licensure: The facility did not have a working telephone during todays visit, per the director, each classroom will have a telephone for communication. Facility shall provide an updated application should there be a different telephone number than what was provided on the initial application Add facility all number to advertisements and signage. Pg. 5 To improve the quality and value of the new inspection process, a survey may be sent to the email address provided. Please complete the survey and share your inspection experience. If you have any questions regarding the process or CARE tools, please send email inquiries to inspectionprocess@dss.ca.gov. For additional information regarding the inspection and its tools and methods, please visit the Program website at www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/inspection-process . Criminal Record Clearance - Child Care Centers: facility representative was reminded that all adults 18 and over, including employees and volunteers, except as specified in Health and Safety Code section 1596.871, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a Child Care Center. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day for a maximum of 5 days or, if the penalty is for a repeat violation, for a maximum of 30 days per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated. Lead Testing \342\200\223 Child Care Centers (CCC) CCC COMPLETED TESTING AND NO LEAD EXCEEDANCES: Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018, requires all licensed Child Care Centers (CCCs) constructed before January 1, 2010, to test their water (used for drinking and food preparation) for lead contamination before January 1, 2023, and then every 5-years after the date of the first test. For childcare center licenses issued after July 1, 2022, the licensee shall test their water for lead within 180 days of licensure pursuant to Written Directives section 101700 (PIN 21-21.1- CCP). LPA verified that the lead testing was completed in accordance to the Written Directives outlined in PIN 21-21.1-CCP. PIN 22-05-CCP Page Four. Pg. 6 Safe Sleep - LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with facility representative and discussed the Child Care Licensing Safe Sleep webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and resources/safe-sleep as an additional resource. LPA also informed facility representative of the importance of checking for recalled infant devices on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website at https://www.cpsc.gov/ and recommended they register all infant devices with the CPSC to be notified of any recalls on their purchased equipment. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) policy was discussed. For IMS information see PIN 22-02- CCP. When any IMS is provided, an updated Plan of Operation that includes IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA are available at: https://www.ada.gov/resources/child-care-centers/ . PIN 22-05-CCP Page Five Incidental Medical Services (IMS) MyChildCarePlan.org \342\200\223 facility representative was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org website; a consumer education website that helps families obtain childcare by connecting them to childcare providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the facility representative Nancy Villarreal. Pg. 7