Incident investigation·October 3, 2024

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Martha Jimenez-Villanueva and Licensing Program Manager (LPM) Belinda DeVall met with Juana Lola Garcia Site Director, for an unannounced case management inspection in response to a self reported Unusual Incident reported to the Department. During the visit LPA observed 14 children were in care in the playground area with 5 Staff. LPA conducted interviews and record reviews. An incident occurred on August 27, 2024 at approximately 10:50am, where a child had ingested soap water during outdoor water activity play. There were two staff members in the outdoor area observing 16 children. During the water activity, S1 turned from the water table to address two other children who were fighting. S2 was at the water table and turned their direction to another child when C1 ingested water from the water bucket. C1 has a known history of placing items in their mouth. Staff did not observe C1 ingesting the soap water. C1 began to show symptoms of vomiting and not behaving like their normal self when staff called 911 and C1 was checked by the paramedics and told to monitor the child as the child was fine. Based on the available evidence, it is concluded that a child, with known behavior of placing items in their mouth, was not under supervision throughout the outdoor water activity where the child was able to ingest soap water without staff noticing or intervening and the paramedics had to be called as C1 was experiencing symptoms that needed emergency medical treatment. This presented an immediate health & safety risk and thus a Type A deficiency is cited on the attached page (809-D). Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Site Director, Juana Lola Garcia, and copy of appeal rights was provided. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Also, LPA Martha Jimenez-Villanueva informed the facility representative Juana Lola Garcia to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 10/03/2024 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 .