Incident investigation·October 19, 2023

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Veronica Martinez Garza conducted an unannounced Case Management- Incident inspection at the above facility on 10/19/23 at 02:18 p.m. LPA met with teacher Julia Mojarro and Lead Teacher Lydia Martinez. LPA took a tour of the facility.This is a Head Start preschool program which is operated by Montebello Unified School District and is located on the premises of Greenwood Elementary School. Per Teacher Julia, there are (3) sessions under this license: AM, PM, and Full day. LPA also observed the PM classroom in session. The AM session staff and children were not present. Census was taken for both sessions. The purpose of this inspection is to follow up on (2) unusual incident reports that occurred on 08/30/23 and 09/15/23 and were not reported to the Department within the required 24 hours. Regarding the first unusual Incident report, the facility had 5 COVID cases that were not reported to the Department. The Department was notified by the Department of Public Health on 09/08/23 that the facility had a COVID outbreak. LPA contacted the facility to follow up on the COVID outbreak, took the initial report, and advised the facility contact that all COVID cases (3) or more must be reported to the Department within 24 hours. The written report was received on 09/13/23 and the facility was cleared by Department of Public Health. Regarding the second unusual incident report, facility staff left 2 children unattended in the facility playground. The Department received the unusual incident report on 09/25/23; however, the incident occurred on 09/15/23. Per Staff #1 (S1), 2 children were observed to be sitting on the benches located inside the facility. S1 parks in the staff parking lot and must go through 2 locked fences before arriving at the site. S1 observed from a distance 2 children sitting on the benches, however, S1 assumed that those children belonged to the elementary school. As S1 got closer to the facility playground, S1 recognized both children who belong to the AM session. S1 brought the children into the classroom when S2 returned from the cafeteria to pick up the children that were left unattended. According to S1, the exact time the children were left unattended is unknown. Page 1 of 2 S1 usually arrives 15 minutes before the PM session begins and the approximate time children were taken to the classroom was at 11:05 a.m. Per S2, children were in the playground and were told to stay in their area and to not move. It was lunch time for the AM session, S2 and S3 gathered all children in the AM session and walked over to the cafeteria. Per S2, children lined up outside of the cafeteria when suddenly S3 asked S2 how many children they had all together. S2 stated that S3 asked how many children were with S2 to which S2 replied \342\200\234none\342\200\235 since the children can\342\200\231t come into the cafeteria. S2 immediately counted all children and realized that 2 children were left in the playground. Per S2, immediately returned to the playground and found that the 2 children were in the classroom with the lead teacher for the PM session. S2 does not recall how many children were present on 09/15/23. On the unusual incident report, S2 and S3 admitted that they \342\200\234did not count the children and 2 children were left on the playground.\342\200\235 The following deficiency listed on the attached LIC 809D (deficiency page) is being cited in accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 22. Deficiencies that are being cited need to be cleared to protect the children\342\200\231s health & safety. LPA Veronica MartinezGarza informed Lead Teacher that this report dated 10/19/23 document(s) 1 Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is/are immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. Also, LPA Veronica MartinezGarza informed the Lead teacher Lydia Martinez to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 10/19/23 that documents any Type A citation(s) 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. The Notice of Site Visit (LIC 9213) must remain posted for 30 days during the hours of operation after each site visit by a licensing representative, a civil penalty of $100 can be assessed. Exit Interview was conducted, and appeal rights were given, along with a copy of this report was provided to the Lead Teacher Lydia Martinez. Page 2 of 2