Incident investigation·December 21, 2023

Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs), Cortney Nelson and Liridon "Doni" Fici, met with Center Manager, Lorena Dominguez, to follow-up on incident self-reported to the Department on 12/8/2023. Upon arrival, LPAs were admitted into the facility by staff, Nayely, and advised that Lorena is on her way. On 12/8/2023, the facility reported that C1 ran out of the facility and was unable to be retrieved for approximately 8 minutes. The incident occurred around 5:00PM and due to dark conditions, as the sun had already set, the staff lost sight of the child while attempting to return her to the facility. Police and parents of the child were notified and C1 was found at another after-school program operating at the same elementary school campus. At the time of the incident, there were two staff members (S1 & S2) and twelve (12) children present. LPAs toured the facility with Lorena, who identified the room in which the child ran from and the area in which the child was located. Lorena states C1 ran from the room and S1 advised the child not to run in the street as it is not safe. C1 ran back towards the facility and around the back to the elementary school campus where she was lost from visual sight as the sun had already set. A plan has been created for C1 moving forward to prevent the child from running from the facility again. LPAs advised closing the gates accessing the main road outside of the facility as it is open during operating hours for parents to park. Lorena states that they are additionally considering locking the side gate that provides access to the elementary school yard. Moving forward, the facility plans to follow the plan developed for C1 and ensure that there are always at least two staff members present while children are in care. The behaviors of C1 have also been observed by staff from the elementary school and Lorena states the follow-up plan will be consistently utilized by the day care, elementary school, and at home. LPA s informed license e (Lorena Dominguez) that this report dated (12/21/2023) documents one Type A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there are immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. Also, LPAs informed the licensee to provide a copy of this licensing report dated (12/21/2023) that documents any Type A citation to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification. As a result of todays inspection, a deficiency has been cited, see LIC809-D. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Center Manager, Lorena Dominguez. A NOTICE OF SITE VISIT HAS BEEN GIVEN AND SHALL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.