Inspector’s narrative
What the inspector wrote
On 09/19/2023 at 1:01pm, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Samantha Clenista conducted an announced Change of Ownership Pre-Licensing inspection. Upon arrival, LPA met with the following: Christine Alderman (Center Director), Jacqueline Cleumas (Assistant Director), Lona Seitz (Children\342\200\231s Paradise COO), Diane Prospero (Children\342\200\231s Paradise Director of Child Development). All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children were inspected today. Facility is requesting to be licensed for 28 school-aged children ages Kinder thru 12-years-old in the multipurpose room. Fire clearance was granted on 08/29/23. This facility houses an infant, toddler, preschool and school-age program. LPA informed facility representatives that the programs shall never commingle, and that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor play. Medications on site will be stored and located in each classroom in an upper cabinet, out of children\342\200\231s reach.
LPA continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. The multipurpose room measured at 2,345.25 sq. ft., sufficient for 67 children. Facility representatives requested that this room be a shared indoor activity space with the preschoolers, however, this space was not approved for preschoolers by the fire marshal. An updated fire clearance will be needed for this request. Facility representatives also mentioned that they will place a partition in the middle of the multipurpose room to make two separate areas (one for preschoolers and another for school-aged children to be shared with preschoolers). LPA will have to conduct a follow-up inspection to remeasure this room according to what the fire marshal clears. Facility does not have a separate school-aged outdoor play area. There is a fenced in playground area located on the upper back left corner of the building that was measured at 6,485 sq. ft., sufficient for 86 children at one time, which is designated for preschoolers. Facility representatives are requesting that this area be a shared playground between their preschool and school-aged children.
A shared playground waiver shall be submitted and approved prior to licensure. Areas were observed to be fully fenced and free of hazards. Area had canopies and trees used for shade.
There is a separate bathroom designated for school-aged children that consists of 2 urinals, 2 toilets and 3 sinks, sufficient to accommodate their requested capacity. There is a separate staff bathroom located in the hallway that consists of 3 toilets and 3 sinks. The Director's office and staff restroom will be the isolation area for children who are ill. Kitchen area and food storage area was observed free of rodents and/or vermin. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in each classroom. The sign-in/out area is electronic (via Care Connect) and will be located in the front lobby area. Drinking water is readily accessible inside and outside the classroom via refillable water fountains and refillable water bottles (that the facility will require the parents/guardians to bring). Ms. Seitz is reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing.
LPA reviewed with Ms. Seitz the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained At The Facility, for child\342\200\231s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted.
Ms. Seitz 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.
This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services \342\200\223 IMS. For IMS information, see P
IN 22-02-CCP
. A Plan of Operation that includes IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) tollfree 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, available at:
http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm
Ms. Seitz 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.
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 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-carelicensing/subscribe
and select the Child Care option to receive email communication.
Prior to licensure, the following is needed: submit a shared playground waiver request for the school-age children to share the upper preschool playground, obtain fire clearance for the preschool to use the multi-purpose room, submit an updated indoor and outdoor facility sketch, label school-age bathroom, post required postings, and make the doors to the kitchen and laundry room inaccessible and add more cushioning to the falling hazard areas in the upper playground structure.
Exit interview was conducted and report was reviewed Ms. Seitz. A notice of site visit was given to Ms. Seitz and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to, the interior side of the main door for 30 days. A follow-up inspection is required to dictate the facility\342\200\231s indoor activity space, following what the fire marshal approves for the multipurpose room. Ms. Seitz stated her understanding. Ms. Seitz understands that this report shall be kept available at the facility for public review for 3 years.