Incident investigation·October 22, 2021

On 10/22/2021 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Corral conducted a Case Management Inspection to investigate an Unusual Incident Report (UIR) which was self-reported to our office on 10/20/2021. Prior to entering the Facility LPA Corral reviewed the COVID-19 Questionnaire with Staff Supervisor, Mindy Ho. Upon entry to the facility, LPA Corral met with Mindy Ho, where 23 school children were observed in care with 3 staff members providing care and supervision. Due to COVID 19 Guidelines, LPA Corral observed staff members wearing face masks, social distancing and following CDC and Dept of Public Health Guidelines. During the inspection it was determined the facility is operating within its licensed capacity and within compliance of staffing ratios. A review of the Facility Personnel Report Summary on 10/22/2021 indicates all facility staff or other individuals who required caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions. According to the self-report incident received in our office, a 9-year-old child (C1) left home from care without informing staff or checking out. The incident report stated C1 arrived at the facility and checked in with the Site Supervisor, Mindy Ho. C1 then asked if he was supposed to be in care that day. Site Supervisor checked in with C1\342\200\231s Mother and mother stated Yes, that C1 was to stay in the Facility for care. The UIR stated that Mindy Ho was supervising C1\342\200\231s group and at about 3:00ish Mindy realized the child was not in the classroom. Site Supervisor then called C1\342\200\231s Mother to ask if C1 had walked home. Mother informed Site Supervisor that she would go home to see if child was there. Facility contacted the Irvine Police Department to report the missing child. Mother stated when she arrived home, the child was at home. Mother returned to the Facility to pick up C1\342\200\231s sibling. Child\342\200\231s mother was interviewed by Irvine Police Officer. During today\342\200\231s inspection, LPA Corral interviewed Program Director Christy Pate and Site Supervisor Mindy Ho. Director Christy Pate stated this has never happened before. During the Interview with Site Supervisor, Mindy Ho stated C1 arrived to the Facility at 1:44PM and Mindy asked C1 if he was to attend care and C1 replied Yes. Continue to Page 2. Page 2. C1 then came to Mindy and wanted to confirm if he had to stay, C1 asked Mindy to text C1's Mother and confirm if he had to stay. Mindy texted C1's Mother at 2:08 PM to confirm and Mother replied at 2:16PM saying Yes, C1 was to stay in care. Mindy spoke to C1 face to face at 2:18PM and confirmed with child that he was to stay. Site Supervisor stated she saw C1 playing Legos in the back of the room at about 2:30 PM and asked him to clean up and get ready for homework time. Child picked up the Legos and Mindy stated she does not recall seeing C1 during homework time. Mindy stated she realized C1 was gone during outside play time at about 3:20 PM. Site Supervisor stated she believes C1 left after clean up time, right before homework time. Based on information gathered and LPA Corral\342\200\231s interviews with Program Director Christy Pate and Site Supervisor Mindy Ho it has been determined that Facility failed to provide care and supervision for C1. The Facility was unaware of C1\342\200\231s whereabouts for about 50 minutes. The Facility did not know how or when C1 left the building. C1 was left without the supervision of a teacher and the facility was unable to maintain visual supervision of the Child. In the areas that were evaluated, the facility was not in compliance of the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12. The following citation 101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). Supervision shall in clude visual observation was issued during today\342\200\231s inspection on the attached LIC 809D. An immediate civil penalty of $500.00 was assessed today. Upon receiving a Type A violation, the Licensee shall post and provide copies of the report to parents/guardians of the children in care at the facility by the next business day, and shall provide to the parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. The facility is to keep Acknowledgement Receipt (LIC 9224) signed by parents in each child\342\200\231s file. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. Site Supervisor was informed that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The Site Supervisor was provided a copy of their Appeal Rights (LIC 9058 01/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. Site Supervisor was informed all appeals must be in writing and received by the Licensing office within 15 business days. End of Report.