Office review·July 12, 2023

On 7/12/2023, an Informal Office Meeting was conducted at the Fresno Regional Child Care Office. In attendance at this meeting were Licensee Norma Del Toro, Licensees adult daughter Melissa Del Toro Avina, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Ruby Ocegueda and Licensing Program Manager (LPM) Susie Fanning. The purpose of today's meeting was to discuss continued violations of Title 22 Regulations. The following issues/violations were discussed: Type A Deficiencies: · 6/07/2023- LPA observed an accessible play yard and an accessible area of the property that had various hazards such as broken play equipment, sharp gardening tools, various rusted debris, gas cans, a trench (which was approximately 2.5 feet in depth). The trench ran along the back side of the property. Also, in the accessible play yard and property were rusted discarded vehicles and rusted metals and wires. Interviews confirmed that children accessed both the play yard and back property area regularly to see the farm animals towards the back of the property. · 4/19/2023 – LPA observed an uncleared adult assisting and supervising children. Licensee indicated that this adult (adult #1) had just came to assist momentarily due to her regular assistant being unavailable. A $100.00 civil penalty was assessed. · 12/3/2021- LPA Ocegueda observed one of the two pool gates was not self-closing as required due to the self-latching mechanism not working. Type B Deficiencies: · 6/7/2023- As it pertained to the complaint allegation, “staff intimidated day care children”, it was substantiated that children felt intimidated at the facility due to licensee using an off-limit room that smelled of animal urine, was dark and cluttered. Multiple children and parents confirmed through private interviews that the room was used for care when children were “in trouble”. Report continued to LIC 809-C · 6/7/2023- As it pertained to the complaint allegation, “licensee failed to provide comfortable sleeping accommodations”, it was substantiated that licensee had uncomfortable sleeping accommodations for children. LPA Ocegueda observed that children were laying on and sleeping on the wood floor and on top of a carpet (that had no cushion/padding). The carpet sat directly on top of a wooden floor. Multiple children confirmed through interview that they slept on the floor with blankets and no cots or napping mats. · 6/7/2023-It was observed by LPA Ocegueda that the kitchen, restroom and dining room area were disorderly and cluttered with several items on top of counters and surfaces. · 6/7/2023- Licensee did not have a Children’s Roster with required information readily available when it was requested during an inspection on 4/19/2023. Licensee provided the Children's Roster to LPA Ocegueda on 5/31/2023. · 6/7/2023-It was determined that Licensee was using previously identified “off limit” rooms and outside areas for care. The kitchen which is deemed off limits has a baby gate that was not being used correctly, making it accessible. Interviews revealed that two bedrooms in the home were being used for care. The outdoor play yard that was identified as off limits, was accessible and determined to have been used by day care children. These areas were not reported to the Department as areas that were going to be used for care and not approved. · 4/24/2023-It was observed by LPA Candis Rodriguez that licensee had accessible cleaning products under the kitchen sink cabinet. · 4/19/2023- LPA Ocegueda observed that licensee had 7 preschool children and 1 infant under the age of 12 months old in care. Licensee stated that she had cared for these 8 children by herself for multiple days since her regular assistant had been absent in the last week. · 4/19/2023-LPA Ocegueda observed that the kitchen table (in the accessible dining room) was full of clutter (paper material, toys and other various items). Also, in the dining room area were dining chairs that had various boxes of paper and other areas that had boxes of paper materials, making it difficult for children to comfortably use this furniture and space. Report continued to 809-C · 4/5/2022-LPA Mercado observed that licensee did not have required infant sleep log for an infant in care. · 4/5/2022-LPA Mercado observed that multiple children did not have required immunization documents in their files. · 4/5/2022-LPA Mercado observed that an infant was napping with multiple blankets in a pack and play located in the dining room. · 4/5/2022-LPA Mercado observed a car seat in the accessible living room with a blanket inside of it. · 4/5/2022-LPA Mercado observed that children’s files did not have the required LIC 9224 Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Reports that should be used as proof that licensee provided day care parents with any report that indicates she was cited a Type A violation. A type A violation was cited on 12/3/2021. · 12/3/2021-LPA Ocegueda observed that the kitchen that is used for cooking meals for children was disorderly, cluttered and unclean. Today, Licensee was informed that childcare training videos are available on the Community Care Licensing Division's website at www.ccld.ca.gov . Licensee Del Toro was provided information about the Technical Support Program. Licensee will inform the Department if she is interested in this resource. Licensee was provided a ratio/capacity worksheet to help licensee maintain capacity and ratio. Licensee was provided Entrance Checklist (LIC 126) that includes a list of all required forms and documents for both staff and children. Licensee Del Toro was reminded that she is required to ensure that the health, safety, and personal rights of children in care remains protected at all times. Licensee provided photos of her facility and some of the improvements made thus far. Licensee was reminded that prior to the use of any outdoor activity space or off-limit rooms, an inspection will have to be conducted by the Department to ensure it is safe and appropriate for children. It was discussed that continued violations of Title 22 Regulations may result in a Non-Compliance meeting and/or a possible referral of the child care facility to the Legal Division for possible Administrative Action. Licensee was encouraged to contact the Department with any questions. A copy of this signed report was provided to licensee Del Toro today.