Incident investigation·November 14, 2022

An unannounced case management visit to the facility was made today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Y. Yang in response to a self reported absence of supervision incident that occurred at the facility on 11/01/22 involving child C1. Previously, an attempted visit was made by the LPA on 11/08/22. During today's case management visit, the licensee and an assistant were supervising three children. It was reported by the Licensee, Debra Durgin, that on 11/01/22 at approximately 12:00pm, child C1 wandered away from her and her assistant (staff S2) during a nature walk to a park located down the street from the facility. The Licensee stated that child C1, who normally rides in a stroller, was walking and “puddle jumping” with the rest of the children in the group. The Licensee stated that there was a total of five preschool age children at the time being supervised by her and staff S2. The Licensee stated that she was walking with three of the children and staff S2 was following behind and walking with the remaining two. The Licensee stated that due to a miscommunication between her and staff S2, both staff members believed the other was supervising child C1. The Licensee stated that child C1 wandered away from the group without her or staff S2 noticing during their walk. The Licensee stated that she estimates daycare child C1 was without the supervision of a staff member for approximately 15 minutes before law enforcement was contacted by a member of the public. The licensee stated that while walking back to the facility, they approached the law enforcement officer and was asked by the officer if they were missing a child. The licensee stated that her and staff S2 initially informed the officer that they were not missing a child as they believed all five children in their possession were accounted for. The Licensee stated that the officer then asked her to identify a child in their possession. The licensee stated that the child in the officer’s possession was child C1. The licensee stated that the child was unharmed, and the child’s authorized representative was notified of the incident immediately. Continued on LIC809-C The licensee notified the LPA and CCLD by telephone on the day of the incident and a written Unusual Incident Report (UIR) by was received by the Department on 11/01/2022. The licensee stated that as a result of this incident, the facility has implemented some changes to its operating procedures. The license stated that the facility now utilizes a staff to child ratio of 1:3 or fewer. The licensee stated that on all outings outside of the facility, there are now three staff members supervising the children. The licensee stated that she has also purchased customized fluorescent yellow t-shirts with the facility’s contact information for the children to wear on outings. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. A civil penalty is being assessed. An exit interview was conducted, and this report was read and discussed with the facility’s licensee, Debra Durgin. Appeal rights were provided. The Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days. Reports citing Type A violations are to be provided to parents/guardians of children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility for the next 12 months from the date of this report. Parents/guardians must sign Form LIC 9224 to be kept in each child's file.