complaint·July 29, 2021

Page 2 of 3 Today LPA discussed the allegation with director. The director stated they are not requiring mask on children at the facility. LPA asked the director if she was receiving Provider Information Notices (PINs) and quarterly updates from our Department. She stated she signed up on the Department's website last week. LPA asked the director if it would be all right to interview the staff in the classrooms or in the office. The director suggested that she would cover the classroom for each staff for few minutes so LPA could interview staff privately regarding the complaint allegation. LPA interviewed 6 available staff in the office individually. The staff stated they would not require wearing masks on children. In rare situations, parents send children with masks but children take them off. LPA was able to interview 6 parents at drop off time who stated children are not required to wear masks at the facility. LPA observed no children were wearing masks in the four classrooms. Staff were wearing masks but not children. LPA informed the director that she would interview some older children regarding masks. She said the older children are outside on the playground. LPA got a chance to interview 12 older children on the playground while playing around 9:40 am. Children stated they don't wear masks at school. Around 10:00 am LPA was informed by the owner of the facility over the phone that children will go on a field trip at 10:30 am. The director informed LPA that a small group of children will go on a field trip for ice cream and she had to go with children per her owner's instruction. The director stated staff, Megan Maple will be in charge and will sign the report. LPA started preparing the reports outside the facility. LPA observed director, one staff and 5 parents and 8 children left the facility for a walking field trip around 10:50 am. They came back at 11:30 am. LPA reviewed the final report with the director. During inspection, LPA observed children over 2 years old were not wearing masks. The facility did not make any efforts to encourage the children to wear mask. This requirement was sent to all the childcare providers by different Provider Information Notices (PINs) from the Department. The Orange County Childcare ordinance stated masks were required for children over 2 years old who attend the childcare facilities. LPA found out that the facility had not enforced this requirement among children. It was found out the facility did not inform the parents of this requirement. The Guidance for Childcare Industry Covid-19 update guidance: Child care Programs and providers July 17, 2020 stated: children aged 2 years and older should wear face coverings, especially when indoors or when 6 foot physical distance from others cannot be maintained. Guidance for the use of face coverings took effect on June 15, 2021 and superseded all prior face guidance. Continued on page 3 Page 3 of 3 It stated: The following individuals are exempt from wearing masks at all times: persons younger than 2 years old, persons with medical conditions. On 7/29/21, the facility did not ensure the personal rights of persons in care to safe and healthful accommodations. In this facility children did not wear face coverings while in the facility as required by the CA Dept. of Public Health Guidance on the use of face coverings on children issued June 18,2020 and updated November 16, 2020 and an individual mask exception did not apply. Statewide Face Covering guidance, CDHP Guidance for Facial Coverings – (Updated June 4th, 2021) Federal Guidance on Face Masks: CDC Facial Covering Guidance: This guidance supersedes prior COVID-19 guidance in the COVID-19 Update Guidance: Child Care Program and Providers dated July 17, 2020. Licensees and other child care providers should continue to follow COVID-19 requirements and guidance in all applicable California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Community Care Licensing (CCL) Provider Information Notices (PIN), in addition to guidance or requirements from California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety & Health (Cal/OSHA), and local public health departments, as applicable to the particular facility. If there are differing requirements between the most current CDPH, CCL, Cal/OSHA, and local health department guidance or health orders, licensees and providers should follow the strictest requirements. Implementation of this guidance should be adapted for the setting in which you provide care and may require training and support for staff and adequate consideration of children and family needs. Follow the guidance for the childcare industry to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Based on LPA's interviews which were conducted with a total of 7 staff (including the director), 6 parents at drop off time, 12 qualified preschool children, and LPA's observation today, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the allegation of “Children are not required to wear masks” is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division & Chapter 12, Section 101223(a)(2) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D. Notice of Site Visit was posted. The notice of site visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The licensee was provided a copy of their appeal right (LIC 9058 1/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. Exit interview was conducted with director who came back from field trip around 11:30 am. This report ends here.