Routine inspection·April 10, 2025

On April 10, 2025, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Annelise Villa and Ana Rodriguez met Licensee Maria Benavides who guided analysts on a tour of the facility for the random annual inspection. Upon arrival, LPAs observed 3 preschool age children and 3 infants in care. Family members living in the home are Licensee, spouse, and 1 adult child. Hours of operations are 5:30am-5:30pm, Monday through Friday. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) policy was discussed. No children in the daycare with IMS. Physical Plant: Physical This is a two-story home with 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, living room, family room, front/back yard and garage. The attached garage was observed to be locked during the time of this inspection. The garage is used for storage only and is off limits to children. Main care is provided in the permitted addition, accessible through a door in the kitchen and bedroom #1. Children have access to the living room, bedroom #1, bathroom #1 and back yard. The off-limits include all other areas of the home including bedrooms #2-7, bathroom #2-3, garage, family, living room, laundry room, and front yard. The home was inspected inside and out for safety, clean and orderly, comfort, cleanliness, telephone service, heating and ventilation, inaccessibility to poisons, detergents/cleaning compounds, and medicines. Hazardous items (sharp knives are located in a cabinet in the off-limits kitchen area and made inaccessible with a safety gate. Medications and cleaning compounds are stored in the off-limits laundry room and are inaccessible to children in care). Continued on LIC 809-C Safe and age-appropriate toys, play equipment and materials were observed. LPA tested the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector and observed both to be in operable condition. Fire extinguisher (3A40BC) was found to be in operable condition (in the green) located in the kitchen. Electrical outlets were inaccessible. No recalled and or prohibited toys or play equipment were observed on the premises. There is a designated area for ill children as necessary. Bathroom: Children use the restroom located next to bedroom #1. LPA did not observe any hazardous materials in Bathroom #1. LPA reminded applicant the children's bathroom must be free of accessible shampoos, mouthwash, medication, perfumes, razor, air freshener, nail polish and polish remover. Kitchen: The kitchen was observed to be clean and orderly. Sharp utensils are stored in the kitchen with safety latches and inaccessible to children in care. The home has a clean and fully stocked refrigerator/freezer. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided. Licensee stated she is a participant in a food program. Outdoor: Children play in the back yard. LPA toured the back yard and observed it to be free of garden tools, poisonous plants, thorn trees, cactus, or lawn mower inaccessible to children. The play area is clear and clean of debris, play area is fenced and gated all around. LPA observed age-appropriate play equipment for children. Pools/Spas/Bodies of Water: There are no pools, spas, or bodies of water on the premises. Advisory/Other: First Aid kit was observed with supplies readily available in daycare area. Licensee’s First Aid/CPR is valid and expires on 3/21/26. Licensee’s Mandated Reporter training expires on 7/29/2026. LPA reminded licensee mandated reporter training and First Aid/CPR must be completed every 2 years. Licensee was advised online First Aid/CPR courses cannot be accepted and all in person courses must be EMSA approved. For more information about First Aid/CPR courses, please visit, https://emsa.ca.gov/childcare_provider/ . Per Licensee there is one dog, 7 birds, and 1 fish in the home. Additionally, Licensee stated there is no smoking of any kind in the home. Last fire/disaster drill was conducted on 3/6/25. Continued on LIC 809-C Licensee’s annual fees are current. LPA observed all required facility postings on premises. Licensee had the following required posted documents: Notice of Parent's Rights Poster (PUB 394), Facility License (LIC 203) and Fire/Disaster Log. Licensee was reminded to post Emergency Disaster Plan (LIC 610A) in a prominent place. Licensee was reminded that all adults 18 and over living or working in the home, including employees and volunteers, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a licensed Family Child Care Home. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day up to $500.00 maximum per day/per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or agent of the Department shall, upon presentation of proper identification, shall inspect the facility. The Licensee shall permit the Department to inspect the family childcare home, and to privately interview children or staff, to determine compliance with or to prevent violations of family childcare laws or regulations, also enter and inspect any place providing personal care, supervision and services at any time, with or without advance notice, to secure compliance with, or to prevent a violation. Licensee advised of the requirement to report Unusual Incidents. Licensee informed to utilize the Unusual Incident Report/Injury Report LIC624B when submitting the report to the department (email address on the website: www.unusualincidentreport@dss.ca.gov . A report shall be made to the department by telephone or fax during the department's normal business hours before the close of the next working day following the occurrence during the operation of family day care home. In addition, a written report shall be submitted to the department within seven days following the occurrence of any events specified above. Prior to making alterations or additions to a family childcare home or grounds, the Licensee shall notify the Department of the proposed changed, including, but not limited to, the following: Conversion of a garage (either attached or detached) into a "child care" room; Room additions to the family child care home. Any change from an area of the family childcare home previously identified as "off limits" to an area where care and supervision will be provided to children in care. Licensee shall provide the Department with a copy of an inspection report when an inspection is required by the local building inspector as a result of the alteration, addition or construction. Continued on LIC 809-C Documents Provided and or Discussed: Earthquake Preparedness Checklist (LIC 9148), Safe Sleep PIN 20-24-CCP and Individual Sleeping Plan (LIC9227). LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with licensee and discussed the Child Care Licensing Safe Sleep. More information on Infant Safe Sleep procedures can be found online on the CDSS web page at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and-resources/safe-sleep as an additional resource. LPAs also informed licensee of the importance of checking for recalled infant devices on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website at https://www.cpsc.gov/ and recommended they register all infant devices with the CPSC to be notified of any recalls on their purchased equipment. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) policy was discussed. For IMS information see PIN 22-02CCP. When any IMS is provided, a Plan for Providing IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice)/ (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: https://www.ada.gov/resources/child-care-centers/ . The Department will convey all new information through PINs. Please sign up to be notified here and visit the Department’s website for the latest PINs. Licensee was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org website; 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. During the exit interview, Licensee, confirmed that there are no Registered Sex Offenders living in the facility and LPAs completed the RSO profile in FAS. To improve the quality and value of the new inspection process, a survey will 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 tools, please send them by email 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/process . Exit interview conducted, and report was reviewed with the licensee. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. No citation was given today as a result of this inspection.