Pre-licensing visit·September 23, 2025

On September 23, 2025, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs), Elka Chavez and Jeanette Estrada conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a new license. Upon arrival, LPAs met with Applicant Representative, Yecenia Cardenas. Also present, Elizabeth Rodriguez. Applicant, Because Children Matter LLC, is requesting to be licensed for 23 children: (9) infants ages 12 weeks to 18 months in the Infant Room; (8) toddlers ages 18-36 months in the Toddler Room and (6) preschoolers ages 3-5 years in the Preschool Room. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPAs informed Elizabeth Rodriguez 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, Elizabeth Rodriguez stated that they will be in the office area. A fully equipped first aid kit is located in the office. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in the hallway across from the kitchen. All required licensing documents were observed posted in the hallway. Children will be signed in and out at the entrance of their designated classroom. LPAs continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. The total indoor activity space for preschoolers measured 217.02 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of (6) Children. The total indoor activity space for toddlers measured 303.77 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of (8) Children. The total indoor activity space for infants measured 322.75 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of (9) Children. Page 1 LPAs observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping mats, napping mats for infants who can climb out of a crib, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for the children. Drinking water is available in the classrooms via water pitcher and children will be provided with their own cup. 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 September 12, 2025. In the infant room LPAs observed feeding chairs and feeding tables have broad-based legs, plastic seats are in good repair and trays lock onto chairs. Feeding chairs are made of washable, moisture-resistant material. Changing tables have at least 1\342\200\235 padding covered with moisture-resistant, washable material. Sides of the changing table are at least 3\342\200\235 high and the changing table is within arm\342\200\231s reach of a sink. Diapering sink is not used for meal preparation or dishwashing. Cribs meet regulatory requirements. The crib area is separated from activity space via a wall. This barrier is at least four feet high, made of sound absorbing material and allows for supervision of napping children. Toys are safe with no sharp edges, splinters, or points, nor made of small parts that can present a choking hazard. Sleep logs are kept in a binder in the classroom. Needs and Services Plans and Sleep Plans are kept in a binder in the classroom. There is at least one potty chair or toilet for every five infants. LPAs observed a total of (1) sink available for infant children\342\200\231s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of (9) children. LPAs observed a total of (1) sink and (1) toilet available for toddler children\342\200\231s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of (8) children. LPAs observed a wall mounted plastic changing station in the toddler restroom that is not within arm\342\200\231s reach of a sink. The applicant purchased a changing table for the toddler classroom during the inspection. LPAs observed a total of (2) sinks and (1) toilets available for preschool children\342\200\231s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of (6) 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 office. The ill children will use the staff restroom. The facility will provide breakfast, lunch and PM snack. The kitchen area currently includes a refrigerator, stove, microwave, Brita water filter, sink and prep counter. The kitchen area and food storage areas were observed free of rodents and/or vermin. Page 2 Food was observed to be properly stored separate from cleaning materials. Hazardous items in the kitchen are inaccessible to children via a closed door. The facility currently has 3 fully fenced playground areas. Fencing wrought iron and is at least four feet high. The total square footage for preschool outdoor activity space is 646.48 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. The total square footage for toddler outdoor activity space is 667.72 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. LPAs observed the toddler children will need to walk through the infant outdoor space to get to their designated outdoor space. The total square footage for infant outdoor activity space is 538.89 square feet, for only 7 children at one time, which insufficient for the number of children being requested. A playground waiver to share the playground at different times in the AM and PM due to limited square footage shall be submitted and approved prior to licensure. Shade is provided via shade sails. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on the playgrounds. There is a climbing dome structure on the preschool playground which is properly anchored. There is adequate cushioning in fall zones of climbers provided by rubber mats. Drinking water is available via water pitcher and cups. LPAs observed all hazardous items on the playground to be inaccessible to children. Applicant Represent Elizabeth Rodriguez 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). The facility has had a lead test completed within the last five years from the pre-licensing visit and is using the same outlets, you may submit a waiver request from the lead testing requirement to the Regional Office. Applicant representative, Elizabeth Rodriguez 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. Page 3 This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services \342\200\223 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 representative the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child\342\200\231s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted. LPAs discussed the safe sleep regulations with Applicant representative, Elizabeth Rodriguez 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 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. Applicant representative, Elizabeth Rodriguez 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. The following corrections are needed prior to the issuance of the license: \342\200\242 The Applicant will need to submit a waiver for shared outdoor space to obtain their requested preschool capacity. \342\200\242 The Applicant will need to submit a waiver for toddler children to walk through the infant outdoor space to get to their designated outdoor activity space. Applicant Representative, Elizabeth Rodriguez understands that all proof of corrections must be provided to the Department within 30 days, or the application may be denied. Page 4 Once final approval is granted for the requested waivers, a license for 23 children: (9) infants ages 12 weeks to 18 months in the Infant Room; (8) toddlers ages 18-36 months in the Toddler Room and (6) preschoolers ages 3-5 years in the Preschool Room will be granted. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Applicant representative, Elizabeth Rodriguez. 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. Page 5