Incident investigation·June 18, 2024

On 6/18/2024 at 10:30 am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Manel Estoesta conducted an unannounced Case Management Visit. LPA met with the Center Director Fara Tehrany and explained the nature of the visit. Present on this visit were LPA Estoesta received an LIC 624 Unusual Incident Report (UIR) via email on 5/3/2024 at 3:18 PM from the Center Director. On the completed LIC 624, description of the incident stated, "The employee (S1) raised her voice at a couple children in the classroom." LPA conducted Staff Interview during the visit. LPA obtained copies of Sign In and Out Sheet and Facility's Child Supervision dated 5/1/2024. Based on the LPA's interview and record review that on 5/1/2024 at 4:32 to 5:07 pm, S1 and S2 were supervising classroom 4. During that time, S2 observed S1 "raised" voice and "yelled" to children during children’s activities. S2 observed S1 statements such as, "Don't do that!" "That's not nice!" and "You need to stop doing that!" S2 stated that S1 told S2 that a child was "touching" another child's "bottom" in front of the child. S2 reported her observations to the Center Director on that day. The Center Director reported the incidents her manager and decided for S1's suspension. S1 was a new hire and was still on training from 4/29/2024 to 5/1/2024. S1 employment was terminated on 5/14/2024. LPA's conclusion was S1 violated children's personal rights on 5/1/2024 and S2 reported the incident to the center director right away. The facility's management took an immediate action by suspending S1 the next day and were terminated soon after. LPA Estoesta and the center director discussed the Technical Violation and, on a plan, to prevent this incident from happening again. LPA reminded the center director on the Reporting Requirements. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Center Director Fara Tehrany.