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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 045407592
Report Date: 08/28/2025
Date Signed: 08/28/2025 01:21:29 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
06/30/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Erica Laird
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 13-CC-20250630154720
FACILITY NAME:CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
045407592
ADMINISTRATOR:LINGEMANN, HEATHERFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:973 PALMETTO AVE. SUITE 1 & 2TELEPHONE:
(530) 636-4206
CITY:CHICOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95926
CAPACITY:30CENSUS: 9DATE:
08/28/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
01:05 PM
MET WITH:Heather Lingeman, owner/directorTIME COMPLETED:
01:20 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Lack of Supervision
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 8/28/25 @ 1:08pm, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Erica Laird conducted an unannounced complaint inspection and met with owner/director Heather Lingeman. It was alleged there was a lack of supervision, specifically that staff left a child unattended on the playground for less than a minute.

On 7/2/25 LPA Laird conducted an interview at the facility with owner/director Heather Lingeman. Heather stated there was an incident (date unknown) when a child (C1) was on the playground for less than 5 seconds when a teacher accidently closed the door behind them, leaving the child alone on the porch near the door. Heather stated she did not have video footage of the incident.

report continued on 9099C
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250630154720
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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On 6/27/25 LPA Laird conducted five staff interviews (S1-S5). Four staff interviewed stated they were aware of an incident when a child was left on the playground without supervision. One staff stated the child was standing right behind them when the door closed momentarily. Three staff stated video footage was pulled, and they were informed by the director that the child was outside alone for 48 seconds.

On 8/14/25 and 8/18/25 LPA Laird conducted five parent interviews (P1-P5). All parents’ interviews had no knowledge of a child being left unattended on the playground. All parents interviewed stated they have never seen children left unsupervised.

On 6/27/25 and 7/14/25 LPA Laird received activity logs, incident reports and Brightwheel correspondence. Documentation received indicates C1 was left on the playground unattended for 48 seconds.

Based on the evidence obtained, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, (Title 22), is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

LPA Erica Laird informed facility director Heather Lingeman that this report dated 8/28/25 documents 1 Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Erica Laird informed Heather Lingeman to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 8/28/25 that documents any Type A citation(s) to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250630154720
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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An exit interview was conducted, and this report was reviewed with the facility owner/director, Heather Lingeman. Appeal rights were provided.

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.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250630154720
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926

FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
08/29/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
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(a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1)No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). Supervision shall include visual observation.
This requirement was not met as evidence by:
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Licensee to provide staff meeting agenda from 8/1/25 addressing supervision to CCL by 8/29/25.

erica.laird@dss.ca.gov
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Based on interviews the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 incident, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4