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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197411956
Report Date: 01/17/2024
Date Signed: 01/18/2024 08:53:40 AM


Document Has Been Signed on 01/18/2024 08:53 AM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245



FACILITY NAME:CIRCLE OF CHILDREN PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
197411956
ADMINISTRATOR:GATHRID, MICHELEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1227 MONTANA AVENUETELEPHONE:
(310) 393-7731
CITY:SANTA MONICASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90403
CAPACITY:40CENSUS: 33DATE:
01/17/2024
TYPE OF VISIT:Case Management - Lead Testing/ExceedanceUNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
02:00 PM
MET WITH:Amy DicksteinTIME COMPLETED:
03:00 PM
NARRATIVE
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On 01/17/2024, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Judy Laureano and Ranita Richmond conducted an unannounced case management visit. LPAs Richmond and Laureano were greeted by facility admin Amy Dickstein and granted entry into the facility. Admin guided LPAs Richmond and Laureano on a tour of the facility. There were 9 staff members and 33 children, 1 admin staff, and 1 music teacher present during the visit.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018 requires all licensed Child Care Centers (CCC’s) constructed before January 1,2010 to test their drinking water for lead contamination between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2023, and then every five years after the date of the first test.

Community Care Licensing was notified that lead water testing conducted at the facility on 11/02/2023 exceeded allowable limit for lead. Samples testing over 5.5 ppb/ug L and above is considered an exceedance. The Purpose of today’s visit is to follow up lead testing results of Action Level Exceedances (ALE) and conduct an inspection.

On 11/29/2023 LPA Laureano received notification of lead exceedance via email.

The facility has been identified to have 1 water faucet/outlet with an Action Level Exceedance (ALE) in the amount of lead in water being 5.5pb, or greater. LPAs Laureano and Richmond confirmed with admin the following outlet/faucet, “B” in pathway between kitchen and bathroom, identified as exceedance of lead and has been repaired and retested. Outlet/faucet is indoors and children have access to drinking water inside of the classroom and via refillable water bottles.

During the facility inspection LPAs received the following documents from facility, LIC 9275, LIC 9276, Facility Sketch (water faucets/outlets identified). LPA Richmond took pictures of water outlet/faucet in pathway between kitchen and bathroom.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia EscobedoTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3044
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Ranita RichmondTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3065
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:
DATE: 01/17/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 01/17/2024
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: CIRCLE OF CHILDREN PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 197411956
VISIT DATE: 01/17/2024
NARRATIVE
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LPAs Richmond and Laureano observed all outlets identified with an Action Level Exceedance to be repaired and replaced. Children have access to water via water bottles in each classroom and while outdoors children bring their own refillable water bottles. LPAs observed water bottles in the facility as well as children’s refillable water bottles.

Based on observation, interviews and sampling records it has been determined that there was a violation of Licensing Regulation Title Division 12, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 – California Lead Action Level at Child Care Centers 101700.3(b)(1), “A result with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance”. Lead water testing samples taken on 11/2/2023 revealed that levels of lead were beyond allowable amount deemed by the State of California. This facility is being cited (1) deficiency during today’s visit 1/17/2024. This is a type B violation which poses a potential Health, Safety or Personal Rights risk to persons in care. In Accordance with California Code of Regulations. Refer to LIC 809-D.

LPAs discussed Proof of Correction (POC) with Admin. All faucets identified with an Action Lead Exceedance of 5.5 ppb or over have been repaired and retested. A notification of letter was drafted by facility and to sent out to parents with notification of cease of water outlets and remediation for planned for water outlets or alternative. Director will send LPAs a copy of the letter via email by 1/24/2024. Facility has corrected citation by installing a bottle filler station and retested the water outlet.

Instructions for required lead testing are outlined in PIN 21-21. This PIN which contains Written Directives, have the same force and effects as the regulations contained in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations Care Child Centers are expected to use an Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), for lead testing. Accreditation from the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, known as an ELAP laboratory, is equipped to measure the amount of lead in a parts per billion (ppb) unit of measurement.

For more information, go to the California Childhood. Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch’s website at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/clppb or call them at (510) 620-5600. Please see Provider Information Notice (PIN) 20-01-CCP for more information about lead toxicity prevention

Admin received Notice of Site Visit and copy of this report.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia EscobedoTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3044
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Ranita RichmondTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3065
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/17/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/17/2024
LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Document Has Been Signed on 01/18/2024 08:53 AM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245


FACILITY NAME: CIRCLE OF CHILDREN PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 197411956

DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 01/17/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
01/17/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101700.3(b)(1)

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101700.3(b)(1), A result with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance. This requirement was not met as by:
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All faucets identified with an Action Lead Exceedance of 5.5 ppb or over have been repaired and retested. Facility has corrected citation by installing a bottle filler station and retested the water outlet.
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Based on observation, interviews, and review of lead water testing samples taken on 11/02/2023 revealed that levels of lead were beyond allowable amount deemed by the State of California- 1 water outlet identified (B). This poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care.
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A notification of letter was drafted by facility and to sent out to parents with notification of cease of water outlets and remediation for planned for water outlets or alternative. Copy of notice will be emailed to LPA Judy Laureano by 1/24/24.

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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.
SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia EscobedoTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3044
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Ranita RichmondTELEPHONE: (424) 301-3065
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:
DATE: 01/17/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 01/17/2024
LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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