198003099-11-14-2022-33-CC-BVON-CL78S7-20221114214551

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198003099
Report Date: 11/14/2022
Date Signed: 11/14/2022 05:00:56 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/18/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Lilli Babcock

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20220818080641

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	198003099
ADMINISTRATOR:	MARGIE ZARATE		FACILITY TYPE:	830
ADDRESS:	3443 NOGALES		TELEPHONE:	(626) 965-9611
CITY:	WEST COVINA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	91792
CAPACITY:	40	CENSUS: 16	DATE:	11/14/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	04:00 PM
MET WITH:	Director, Margie Zarate		TIME COMPLETED:	05:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility did not meet reporting requirements

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Lilli Babcock conducted an unannounced follow-up complaint inspection to deliver findings on the above allegation. A COVID risk assessment was conducted upon entry and appropriate PPE was used. LPA met with Assistant Director, Valerie Rodriguez, to whom the reason for the visit was explained. Assistant Director guided LPA on a tour of the facility. LPA observed sixteen (16) infants and four (4) staff present at the facility during this inspection.

During this investigation LPAs Razo and Babcock conducted interviews with eight (8) staff, including the Director, and eight (8) parents. LPA’s Razo and Babcock also obtained several documents related to the complaint allegation, including but not limited to, a copy of the Facility Roster (LIC 9040), staff roster, Unusual Incident/Injury Report dated 3/30/2022, email from facility to parents dated 3/22/2022 and 3/30/2022 regarding hand mouth and mouth disease, and a copy of the facility newsletter for November 2022.
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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Brandi VanOosten	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3365
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3350
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/14/2022

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/14/2022

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 5

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/18/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Lilli Babcock

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20220818080641

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	198003099
ADMINISTRATOR:	MARGIE ZARATE		FACILITY TYPE:	830
ADDRESS:	3443 NOGALES		TELEPHONE:	(626) 965-9611
CITY:	WEST COVINA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	91792
CAPACITY:	21	CENSUS: 16	DATE:	11/14/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	04:00 PM
MET WITH:	Director, Margie Zarate		TIME COMPLETED:	05:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility is in disrepair

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Lilli Babcock conducted an unannounced follow-up complaint inspection to deliver findings on the above allegation. A COVID risk assessment was conducted upon entry and appropriate PPE was used. LPA met with Assistant Director, Valerie Rodriguez, to whom the reason for the visit was explained. Assistant Director guided LPA on a tour of the facility. LPA observed sixteen (16) children and four (4) staff present at the facility during this inspection.

During this investigation LPAs Razo and Babcock conducted interviews with eight (8) staff, including the Director, and eight (8) parents. LPA’s Razo and Babcock also obtained several documents related to the complaint allegation, including but not limited to, a copy of the Facility Roster (LIC 9040), temperature readings charts, staff roster, rental agreement from Spot Coolers, invoices dated 8/3/2022 and 8/15/2022 from air conditioning vendor, and a copy of the facility newsletter for November 2022.
Page 1 of 2

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Brandi VanOosten	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3365
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3350
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/14/2022

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/14/2022

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 5

Control Number 33-CC-20220818080641

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 198003099
	VISIT DATE: 11/14/2022

NARRATIVE

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Allegation #1: Facility is in disrepair

According to the allegation, in August of 2022, the air conditioning was not working in both Infant A and Infant B, and the room temperature was too hot for children in care. Interviews conducted and documents reviewed by LPAs revealed the following: A chart titled, “Room Temperature” provided by and initialed by the Director, and dated 8/2/22, shows the temperature in the room for Infant A to be 88 degrees at 5:00 PM, and the temperature in the room for Infant B to be 87 degrees. This exceeds Title 22 Regulations which states a comfortable temperature shall be maintained at all times, and the maximum temperature to be 85 degrees.

Additionally, Staff #1, Staff #5 and Staff #6 stated the Infant rooms were uncomfortable. Staff #5 stated the infants were sweating and “it was very hot in there. I went home with a headache from it being so hot in there.” Staff #1, Staff #2, Staff #3, and Staff #4 stated they tried to cool down infants by wiping their faces and dampening their hair. Staff #6 stated, the infant’s cheeks were red, flushed, and sticky. Staff #5 stated “There were a few days when they had red cheeks and were sweating”.

Based on the information gathered, and interviews conducted, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 Chapter 1 is being cited on the attached 9099D. Deficiencies that are being cited need to be cleared to protect the children’s health and safety.

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.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director, Margie Zarate.

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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Brandi VanOosten	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3365
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3350
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/14/2022

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/14/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 3 of 5

Control Number 33-CC-20220818080641

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 198003099
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 11/14/2022

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 11/14/2022 Section Cited CCR 101239(a)(1)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	101239(a)(1) A comfortable temperature for children shall be maintained at all times. The licensee shall maintain the temperature in rooms that children occupy... a maximum of 85 degrees F. This requirement was not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Facility air conditioning unit was repaired. Temperature is now a comfortable temperature and in compliance with Title 22 temperature limits.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on interviews and record review, the director did not ensure a comfortable temperature in 2 of 2 infant rooms in which the temperature exceeded the maximum of 85 degrees. This poses a potential helath and safety risk to children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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: Brandi VanOosten	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3365
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3350
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/14/2022

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/14/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 4 of 5

Control Number 33-CC-20220818080641

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 198003099
	VISIT DATE: 11/14/2022

NARRATIVE

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Allegation #1: Facility did not meet reporting requirements

According to the allegation, there was an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease and pink eye at the facility, and the parents were not informed.

Various interviews have revealed that there was an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease. This was supported by an unusual incident report dated 3/30/2022. Per Director Margie Zarate, the incident was reported to the parents and Director provided two mass emails dated 3/22/2022 and 3/30/2022 informing the parents of the incident. Staff and parent interviews provided no disclosures to establish the presence of a pink eye outbreak.

Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore at this time the above allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED.

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.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director, Margie Zarate.

Page 2 of 2

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Brandi VanOosten	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3365
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3350
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/14/2022

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/14/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 5 of 5