198006195-10-16-2023-06-CC-PMAA-CX4TDR-20231030143847

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198006195
Report Date: 10/16/2023
Date Signed: 10/16/2023 02:59:06 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/29/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Archibaldo Silva

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20230829134309

FACILITY NAME:	HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS		FACILITY NUMBER:	198006195
ADMINISTRATOR:	QUARANTA, TERRI		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	12200 OXFORD DRIVE		TELEPHONE:	(562) 902-1779
CITY:	LA MIRADA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90638
CAPACITY:	176	CENSUS: 43	DATE:	10/16/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:00 PM
MET WITH:	Terri Quaranta		TIME COMPLETED:	03:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff is rude and mean to children
Staff intimidates children
The director is allowing staff to be rude and intimidate children.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 10/16/2023 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) A. Silva conducted an unannounced complaint investigation inspection. This is a continuation of the investigation initiated on 9/7/2023. Upon arrival, the LPA met with Director Terri Quaranta and informed the director of the purpose of the visit. A review of the Facility Personnel Report Summary shows all facility staff or individuals who require caregiver background checks have received a criminal record clearance and a child abuse index clearance or an exemption clearance. The census at the time of the visit was 43 preschool clients (11 in room 1, 14 in room B, and 18 in room D). Clients were napping while supervised by a qualified staff.

The Department received a complaint on 8/29/2023 alleging 1) Staff is rude and mean to children, 2) Staff intimidates children, and 3) the director is allowing staff to be rude and intimidate children.

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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Patricia Magana	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2821
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Archibaldo Silva	TELEPHONE: (510) 504-4954
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/16/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/16/2023

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

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20230829134309

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS	FACILITY NUMBER: 198006195
	VISIT DATE: 10/16/2023

NARRATIVE

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Allegation 1: Staff is rude and mean to children.

Interview with the complainant: The complaint was submitted anonymously and without any contact information. The Department could not reach the complainant for an interview about this or any of the two allegations below.

Interview with staff: On 9/7/2023, five (5) staff were interviewed about the allegations. All staff interviewed denied the allegations happened. All staff asserted they have never been rude or mean to daycare children. All staff stated they have never heard or seen staff be rude or intimidate children. All staff consistently asserted that they use redirection, talking to the child, and/or tapping children on the shoulder instead of yelling to get their attention.

Interview with children: On 9/7/2023, Six (6) preschool children were selected for an interview about the allegations. Three of the four children qualified for the interview, three were disqualified. None of the three qualified children provided any information that could corroborate the allegations.

Interview with Parents: On 9/8/2023, four (4) parents were called for an interview. Only one parent answered the Department’s request for an interview. The parent interviewed did not disclose any information that could corroborate the allegation.

Allegation 2: Staff intimidates children.

Interview with staff: On 9/7/2023, five (5) staff were interviewed about the allegations. All staff interviewed denied the allegations happened. All staff asserted they have never intimidated daycare children. All staff stated they have never heard or seen staff intimidate children. All staff consistently asserted they use redirection, talking to the child, and/or tapping children on the shoulder instead of yelling to get their attention.

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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Patricia Magana	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2821
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Archibaldo Silva	TELEPHONE: (510) 504-4954
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/16/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/16/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20230829134309

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS	FACILITY NUMBER: 198006195
	VISIT DATE: 10/16/2023

NARRATIVE

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Interview with children: On 9/7/2023, Six (6) preschool children were selected for an interview about the allegations. Three of the four children qualified for the interview, three were disqualified. None of the three qualified children provided any information that could corroborate the allegations.

Interview with Parents: On 9/8/2023, four (4) parents were called for an interview. Only one parent answered the Department’s request for an interview. The parent interviewed did not disclose any information that could corroborate the allegation.

Allegation 3: The director is allowing staff to be rude and intimidate children.

Interview with staff: On 9/7/2023, five (5) staff were interviewed about the allegations. All staff interviewed denied the allegations happened. All staff consistently asserted the director addresses the staff's concerns and is involved in meeting the children’s needs. The director stated she is involved in meeting the children’s needs and gets the parents involved when necessary. The director denied she allows staff to be rude to children or intimidate children adding that if a teacher is rude or intimidating to the children that teacher is not a good fit for the school.

Interview with children: On 9/7/2023, Six (6) preschool children were selected for an interview about the allegations. Three of the four children qualified for the interview, three were disqualified. None of the three qualified children provided any information that could corroborate the allegations.

Interview with Parents: On 9/8/2023, four (4) parents were called for an interview. Only one parent answered the Department’s request for an interview. The parent interviewed did not disclose any information that could corroborate the allegation.

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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Patricia Magana	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2821
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Archibaldo Silva	TELEPHONE: (510) 504-4954
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/16/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/16/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20230829134309

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS	FACILITY NUMBER: 198006195
	VISIT DATE: 10/16/2023

NARRATIVE

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Records review: On 10/4/2023, LPA reviewed the New Employee Handbook. Among other topics, the handbook discusses “classroom control” and the “hands off” policy. The Executive Preschool Director provided evidence of training topics offered to staff. Director Quaranta provided staff monthly meeting attendance sheets for July and August. Among the training given to staff are preferred strategies for managing challenging behaviors in the classroom, emotional awareness, resilience & self-regulation, and healing trauma-promoting skill development training.

Based on the LPA’s observations, interviews conducted with children, parents, and staff, and records review, the preponderance of evidence standard has not been met. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.

An exit interview was conducted with Director Terri Quaranta. The Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. The director was informed that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The director was provided a copy of their appeal rights (LIC 9058 01/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. First-level appeals should be sent to the regional manager to the address listed above.

end.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Patricia Magana	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2821
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Archibaldo Silva	TELEPHONE: (510) 504-4954
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/16/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/16/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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