Incident investigation·November 15, 2023

Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mel Matos met with Ruma Chokshi, director, for an unannounced case management investigation. Purpose of today's investigation: investigate self reported Unusual Incident that the Facility self reported to the Department. Ruma states that the mother of one preschool child reported to her that the preschool child told his older brother that a teacher had hit him in the classroom during nap time on November 1, 2023. Ruma states that she spoke with the preschool child the following day and the child denied the allegation. Ruma also states that she had a meeting with the child's mother and the child on November 2, 2023 and states that the child again denied the allegation. Ruma states that there was one teacher in the classroom in question on November 1, 2023 with 10 children. Ruma states that she was in the classroom most of the nap time on November 1, 2023 and did not observe or hear of anything. Ruma states that the teacher in the classroom also denies the allegation. Ruma states that she conducts "periodic checks" of the classrooms, including nap times, and has not observed or heard of any staff hitting a child(ren). Ruma states that the child is still enrolled in the same classroom and states that the child's mother has not raised any additional concern(s) since the initial alleged incident noted above. Based on the available evidence, it is concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the alleged incident noted above did occur and thus there is no violation of Title 22 regulations. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Director, Ruma Chokshi. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.