Pre-licensing visit·December 20, 2023

On December 20, 2023, at 9:10 AM, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs), Elka Chavez and Crystal Green conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a new license. Upon arrival, LPAs met with Applicant, Janice Balgemino. Applicant is requesting to be licensed for 26 preschool children ages 2 through 6 years of age in the preschool classroom. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is a change of ownership; the facility was observed operating under the license 198020118 (The Besa School). This facility is located on the premises of La Senda Antigua Church. There are two additional licenses which are for an infant and preschool for the existing licensee that share the premises of La Senda Antigua Church. Each of the facilities has a separate license due to the physical address of each building being different. License number 198400525 is for Preschool license and 198020117 is for infants with a toddler component license. The applicant also has pending applications for both facilities. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPAs informed Janice Balgemino that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor activities. When medications are on site, Janice Balgemino stated that they will be kept in a cabinet located in the toddler main office for license number 198400897. A fully equipped first aid kit is in the cubby area where children store their belongings. LPAs observed child safety gates in the cubbies area. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located next to the activity room. LPAs observed licensing documents to be posted. Children will be signed in and out via QR code through the ProCare App. A tablet will also be available for sign in and out. LPAs continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. Total indoor activity space measured 942.97 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 26 children. LPAs observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping cots, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for the children. Drinking water is available in the classrooms via water jug. LPAs observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance was granted on November 15, 2023. LPAs observed a total of 2 sinks and 3 toilets available for children’s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 26 children. There is a separate staff restroom equipped with a toilet and a sink. The isolation area for children who are ill will be the main director’s office which is located on the property for license number 198400930. And the staff restroom which is located next to the director’s main office. LPAs did not observe a changing table in the staff restroom. This program will provide an AM snack and PM snack. Parents are required to bring their child lunch. The kitchen area is located within the toddler classroom which includes 2 standard refrigerators, a mini fridge, microwave and one sink. The kitchen area and food storage areas were observed free of rodents and/or vermin. Food was observed to be properly stored separate from cleaning materials. Hazardous items in kitchen are inaccessible to children via child safety latches. LPAs observed child safety gates making the kitchen area inaccessible to children. The facility currently has a fully fenced playground area which is separate from other components. LPAs observed the fencing to be wood and chain link and is at least four feet high. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space is 4808.08 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. Shade is provided via ship sails. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on the playground. Drinking water is available via water jugs. Water is delivered to the facility which is used to fill the water jugs. LPAs observed paper cups available for children. Applicant, Janice Balgemino was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing. For child care 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). No corrections are needed. A license for 198400896 children will be granted upon a final file review. Applicant, Janice Balgemino was reminded that all adults 18 and over responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff, persons who provides care and supervision to children, and staff who have contact with children, 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.” This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services – IMS. For IMS information, see PIN 22-02-CCP . A 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, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm . “ LPAs reviewed with applicant, Janice Balgemino the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child’s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted. LPAs discussed the safe sleep regulations with applicant, Janice Balgemino 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. LPAs also informed applicant, Janice Balgemino 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. Applicant, Janice Balgemino was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org site, a consumer education website that helps families obtain child care by connecting them to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the applicant, applicant, Janice Balgemino. Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) regularly sends information to licensed facilities, providers, and stakeholders by way of Provider Information Notices (PIN), Program Quarterly Update Newsletters and other important information communication platforms. To receive important licensed related information to licensed facilities, visit the CCLD Important Information website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/subscribe and select the Child Care option to receive email communication.