Routine inspection·April 28, 2026

On April 28, 2026 at 11:15AM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Hector Canton arrived unannounced at the Family Child Care Home operated by Melanie Wode to conduct the required annual inspection. LPA identified themselves, stated the purpose of the visit, and was granted entry. Present during today’s inspection were 11 children and 1 assistant, Charles (Chuck) Elghoroury. The child care areas of the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single family home was toured to evaluate compliance with Title 22 regulations and to ensure the continued health and safety of children in care. Child care areas include the kitchen, family room, and backyard. Areas made off limits include the two bedrooms, the two bathrooms, the garage, the living room, and the garage, which were made inaccessible through the use of child gates and door locks. Heating, lighting, and ventilation were adequate throughout licensed care areas, and the home was clean, orderly, and maintained in good repair. A working telephone was available for emergency use. Age-appropriate toys, materials, furnishings, and play equipment were observed to be in good condition and free of obvious hazards. LPA did not observe poisons accessible to children inside the home and the fireplace was properly secured and inaccessible. The outdoor area located at backyard was inspected and found to be free of hazards and appropriate for supervision. The toileting for children occurs in an outdoor shed that is regularly maintained and with immediate access to soap and water for handwashing. The licensee confirmed that no firearms are stored in the home. Cleaning compounds, detergents, medications, and other hazardous items were stored in a manner that made them inaccessible to children. The fire extinguisher was observed in the following location: the garage. The smoke detectors were observed in the following location: the family room. The carbon monoxide detector was observed in the following location: the family. All devices were tested and found operational. Emergency exit routes were clear of obstruction. A designated isolation area for children who become ill during the day was identified in the family room. No prohibited equipment, including walkers, exersaucers, jumpers, or bouncers, were observed in the home. All equipment in care was used only as intended by the manufacturer. LPA reviewed children’s records and verified that emergency information, immunization records, and required notices were present and complete. A current facility roster was maintained. The licensee maintains documentation of emergency disaster drills and the most recent drill was conducted on April 21, 2026. Required postings, including the facility license and Parents’ Rights Notification, were observed and accessible to parents and guardians. LPA reviewed operational requirements for a Family Child Care Home, including maintaining complete children’s files, ensuring current postings, maintaining an Emergency Disaster Plan, documenting disaster drills, and securing hazardous items. LPA reviewed staff and adult resident records and verified that all adults living or working in the home have obtained fingerprint clearance and are associated to the facility. Licensee was reminded that all adults 18 and over living or working in the home, 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 licensed Family Child Care Home. 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. Licensee’s Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification is valid through September 26, 2027 and meets EMSA standards. The licensee completed the required Mandated Reporter Training on January 2024 and understands that the training must be renewed every two years. LPA verified that the licensee has met all required immunization mandates. LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with licensee and discussed the Child Care Licensing Safe Sleep webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and-resources/safe-sleep as an additional resource. LPA also informed licensee of the importance of checking for and removing any 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 22-02-CCP. 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/ . Licensee was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org website, a consumer education resource connecting families to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies across California. LPA also provided the Child Care Advocates Program email at childcareadvocatesprogram@dss.ca.gov and advised that the Child Care Duty Line at (619) 767‑2248 is available for licensing questions. No violations were observed during today’s inspection, and the facility was found to be operating in substantial compliance with Title 22 regulations governing Family Child Care Homes. A Notice of Site Visit was issued and must remain posted for 30 days. An exit interview was conducted with the licensee Melanie Wode and this report was reviewed in its entirety. A copy of the report was provided, and appeal rights were issued. During the exit interview, the licensee confirmed that there are no Registered Sex Offenders living at the facility address and LPA completed the Registered Sex Offender (RSO) profile in FAS. To improve the quality and value of the inspection process, a survey may be sent to the email address provided. If received, please complete the survey. If there are any questions about this inspection or the CARE tools, inquiries may be sent to inspectionprocess@dss.ca.gov. Additional information regarding the inspection process and tools can be found at www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/inspection-process .