Incident investigation·September 27, 2024

An unannounced case management visit was made to the facility by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Y. Yang in response to a self-reported, lack of supervision incident involving child C1, C2, and C3 and the center\342\200\231s former director Jajuan Jaymes (staff S1) that occurred on 09/16/24. During today\342\200\231s visit, the LPA met with the acting center director, Daysi Lemus (staff S2) to discuss the incident. Staff S2 stated that she was not present at the center at the time of the reported incident but is familiar with the incident after interviewing staff who were on site at the time. On 09/23/24, it was reported via written unusual incident report (UIR) and email by facility representative Cari Huff (staff S3) that on 09/16/24 at approximately 10:25am, staff S1, who was with seven preschool-age children on the center\342\200\231s main play yard, escorted four children inside the building to use the bathroom and left child C1-C3 on the play yard. Staff S3 reported that S6 \342\200\234Saw the children immediately and told her co teacher [Staff S5].\342\200\235 Staff S3 reported that the teachers then opened the gate to their play yard and instructed C1-C3 to join them on their play yard until S1 returned \342\200\234A few moments later.\342\200\235 Staff S3 reported that she was not on site at the time of this incident. The UIR did not provide any information on the immediate actions taken by the center or include any additional comments. Staff S3 reported that S1 is no longer employed by the center. Based on interviews conducted by the LPA with staff S1-S6 on 09/19/24 and 09/27/24, all staff members interviewed stated that they do not corroborate the narrative of events described in the UIR written and submitted by S3. The LPA interviewed S5 and S6 regarding their recollection of this event. Staff S5 and S6 both stated that they did not immediately observe C1-C3 and estimate that C1-C3 were without the direct supervision of a staff member for approximately five minutes while on the center\342\200\231s fully fenced play yard. Staff S5 and S6 both stated that they were supervising the children from their assigned classroom on the adjacent play yard and was not aware that S1 was leaving the three children on the play yard. Staff S6 informed the LPA that S1 stated that the reason why C1-C3 were intentionally left without supervision on the play yard was due to C1-C3 not wanting to go inside the building to use the bathroom with the rest of their classmates. Staff S5 and S6 stated that S1 returned to the play yard with the four other children approximately three minutes after C1-C3 were brought to their play yard. Staff S5 and S6 stated that C1-C3 did not appear to be upset or in distress. Based on available information, it has been determined that adequate supervision was not provided to child C1-C3 during the incident on 09/16/2024. The following violation of the California Code of Regulations, Title 22; Division 12, was observed: see LIC 809D. This report was read and reviewed with the acting center director, Daysi Lemus. Notice of site visit shall be posted for 30 days. Appeal rights provided.