Inspector’s narrative
What the inspector wrote
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Mahnaz (Nancy) Malek
conducted an onsite inspection for the purpose of Annual/Random inspection. LPA met with director, Athana Howard. The director and LPA toured of the facility inside and outside. The floor and yard plan (LIC 999) were checked. LPA took census, there were a total of 34 preschool children in one classroom and outside. There were 10 children in classroom # 2 with 3 staff and there were 37 children with 10 staff observed. All the classrooms (Room 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were inspected. Room # 7 was not in use. Room # 8 is private elementary children with private school affidavit which is not part of the licensed childcare program. There were 5 children with 3 staff in Room 2, and there were 29 children with 6 staff outside on the playground. Children were dropping off on the playground during inspection.
During the inspection it was determined the facility is operating within its licensed capacity and within compliance of staffing ratios. Facility hours are 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents sign their children in and out electronically and manually if needed to.
A review of the Facility Personnel Report Summary on this date indicates all facility staff or other individuals who require caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.
During the inspection of the indoor activity space, items which could pose a danger to children (cleaning compounds, and medications) were observed to be stored out of the reach of children. Poisons/Hazardous
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Items are not kept on the premises. The facility provides afternoon snack to children. Menu was posted. The parents provide morning snack and lunch to their children. Floors, equipment, and furniture were clean and were observed to be in good repair and free of sharp edges. Drinking water is available to children indoors by water containers that children bring from home and the facility fill them up with filtered water if needs to.
Children nap on mats, and bedding is stored individually and washed on a weekly basis by parents The facility has conducted an emergency drill within the past six months, last drill was in 1/14/2025.
The facility has a working carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher.
Facility met all posting requirement
.
The outdoor activity space was inspected for compliance. The playground was enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height. The surface of the outdoor activity space was well maintained and free of hazards. The cushioning material around the climbing structure and slide appeared to be enough to absorb falls.(Commercial built in turf and sand). Drinking water in the outdoor activity space is provided by water containers children brought from home and the facility fills them up with filtered water. The outdoor equipment and toys were in good repair and free of sharp edges. Shade is provided by a large canopy. There are no bodies of water present at the facility.
Staff files were reviewed for staff present during the facility inspection on this date, 12 staff files were reviewed. Health screening and immunization as required were reviewed. Beginning September 1, 2016, Health and Safety (H&S) 1597.622 states, a person shall not be employed or volunteer at a childcare center if he or she has not been immunized against influenza, pertussis, and measles. Proof of immunization against pertussis, measles for staff were reviewed and were in compliance. Beginning March 31, 2018, H&S Code 1596.8662 requires all directors and employees to complete mandated reporting training, and to renew the training every two years. This section was not in compliance. At least one staff member present possesses current EMSA approved Pediatric CPR/First Aid certifications, which all were in compliance.
Children's records were reviewed, and there was a separate, complete and current record for each child. A random sample of 5 children's files were reviewed for documentation of the child’s name, address, and telephone number of the child’s authorized representative and of relatives or others that can assume responsibility for the child if the authorized representative cannot be reached when necessary (LIC 700) and a medical assessment. In the areas reviewed the children’s files were found to be in full compliance.
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Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018,
requires all licensed Child Care
Centers (CCCs) constructed before January 1, 2010, to test their water (used for drinking and food preparation) for lead contamination before January 1, 2023, and then every 5-years after the date of the first test. 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). LPA verified that the lead testing was completed in accordance to the Written Directives outlined in
PIN 21-21.1-CCP
on 8/24/2022.
LPA provided Guardian Information and website info:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/community-care-licensing/caregiver-background-check/guardian
LPA reviewed storage of “medication and equipment/supplies, and reviewed children’s, personnel, and administrative records. For IMS information see
PIN 22-02-CCP
. 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 are available at:
https://www.ada.gov/resources/child-carecenters
The facility representative, Athana Howard 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.
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
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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 communications.
The facility representative, Athana Howard 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.
To improve the quality and value of the new inspection process, a survey may be sent to the
email address provided. Please complete the survey and share your inspection experience. If
you have any questions regarding the process or CARE tools, please send email inquiries to
inspectionprocess@dss.ca.gov
. For additional information regarding the inspection and its
tools and methods, please visit the
Program website
at
www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/inspection-process
.
A notice of site visit was given to facility representative, Athana Howard and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to, the interior side of the main door for 30 days.
In the areas that were evaluated, the following deficiency was observed of the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12 at this inspection date. Please refer to LIC 809D for details of deficiency.
Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the facility representative, Athana Howard.
End of report.