complaint·May 14, 2025

Page 2 On 03/06/2025, the Orange County Child Care Office received a complaint alleging: 1) Staff are mistreating the day care children while in care. 2) Staff inappropriately pulled on a day care child. Reporting Party (RP) stated staff 2 (S2) scared a child and that some staff in the green room have pulled on a child aggressively early in the year and that child was moved to another classroom. During the investigation, LPA toured the facility on 03/10/205, 4/07/2025, and 4/23/2025, conducted 6 staff interviews (S1-S6), attempted to interview 4 children (C1-C4), 3 of 4 children qualified to be interviewed, observed teacher/child interactions during classroom/playground time, obtained a copy of Staff Handbook, Meeting Agenda dated 2/18/2025, Family Handbook, and Classroom Rosters. Regarding allegation, \342\200\234Staff are mistreating the day care children while in care.\342\200\235 During facility inspections on 3/10/25, 4/07/25, and 4/23/25, LPA conducted observations in the green room classroom and during playground time. LPA observed staff engaged/supervising and supporting children in different activities. LPA interviewed 6 staff that stated personal rights of a child is to respect their needs/wants and do what\342\200\231s best for them. 6 interviewed staff stated they have not witnessed a staff member mistreat a child while in day care and that there are cameras in the classroom that are ongoing in the director\342\200\231s office. Director stated that the cameras are for the day of, and they are not able to retrieve footage from the past. Regarding allegation \342\200\234Staff inappropriately pulled on a day care child\342\200\235: During facility inspections, LPA toured facility on 3/10/2025, 4/07/25, and 4/23/2025, LPA conducted observations in the classrooms/playground. LPA observed green room staff supervising and participating in classroom activities with children. LPA observed one (1) staff (S3) needing children\342\200\231s attention in the classroom to give instructions and used an attention grabber by using a calm/soft voice and asked the children to freeze and put their hands up in the air. All children participated and listened to the staff and then continued playing in their activities. 6 staff interviewed stated they have not seen a staff member inappropriately pull on a day care child or heard of a child being moved to another classroom for a staff member inappropriately handling a child. 6 staff stated that staff use re-direction to support children with challenging behaviors. 3 of 3 children interviewed stated they like to go to school and that if their friends get in trouble they sit down. One (1) child interviewed stated that teachers use soft voices when talking to children. Director stated that they do conduct staff meetings and the last meeting they had was on 2/18/2025 and some of the topics covered was on supervision and how to handle children who resist re-direction. LPA obtained a copy of the meeting agenda dated 2/18/2025. Page 3 During parent interviews. LPA called 5 parents, and LPA was able to interview 1 parent. The 1 interviewed parent did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation. Based on LPA observations, interviews, and records review, the preponderance of evidence standard has not been met. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations of 1) Staff are mistreating the day care children while in care. 2) Staff inappropriately pulled on a day care child. Therefore, the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director Christine, Mitchell. The Director was informed that the \342\200\234Notice of Site Visit\342\200\235 must be posted on or adjacent to the door for 30 days. Failure to post will result in a Civil Penalty of a $100.00. End of Report.