198016200-9-23-2020-33-CC-VCOK-BTY4B5-20200930185654

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198016200
Report Date: 09/23/2020
Date Signed: 09/23/2020 04:03:23 PM

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
02/11/2020 and conducted by Evaluator Mireya Garcia

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20200211134205

FACILITY NAME:	GRATTS EARLY EDUCATION CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	198016200
ADMINISTRATOR:	ANA OREGEL		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1415 5TH STREET		TELEPHONE:	(213) 481-3230
CITY:	LOS ANGELES	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90017
CAPACITY:	175	CENSUS: 0	DATE:	09/23/2020
		ANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	11:00 AM
MET WITH:	Obioma Uche, Director & Kathy Romo, Principal		TIME COMPLETED:	11:24 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff inappropriately handled child while in care.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mireya García contacted the facility on September 23, 2020, via telephone due to COVID-19 and precautionary measures in order to provide the findings of the Complaint investigation.

LPA Garcia spoke to Director, Obioma Uche & Principal, Kathy Romo, and explained the purpose of the call to Director and Principal, who verified that facility is closed and there are no children in care.

Census: Zero. There have not been daycare children present effective March 16, 2020 when the Los Angeles Unified School District facilities closed as a safety precautionary measure due to COVID-19.

Allegation states that Staff inappropriately handled child while in care. Reporting Party (RP) was informed by Adult #1 that Child #1 disclosed a Staff pulled Child #1’s hair. The RP did not observe any injuries or bruises on Child #1. Report continues on next page 1 of 2.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Valarie Cook	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3362
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mireya Garcia	TELEPHONE: (323) 558-2192
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/23/2020

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/23/2020

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 33-CC-20200211134205

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: GRATTS EARLY EDUCATION CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 198016200
	VISIT DATE: 09/23/2020

NARRATIVE

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During this investigation, LPA Garcia obtained; a copy of LIC 9040 Children’s roster dated 02/18/20, Children’s Classroom Schedule dated 02/18/20, Staff schedule (2019-2020), written statements from Staff #4, Staff #5 and Staff #6’s interview notes from Child #1, Child #2, and Child #3 and conducted interviews with seven (7) staff, five (5) children and attempted to interview Adult #1.

Although all interviews conducted with staff determined staff denied observing or having knowledge of any child being hit while in care. Staff #1 disclosed reading a story about ponytails to children during large group time where staff #1 counted children’s ponytails and touched child #1’s hair however, staff #1 denied pulling child #1's hair. Staff # 5 disclosed statements that concur with staff #1’s disclosure. Staff #5 witness when staff #1 touched the top of child#1’s head with an open hand demonstrating to the class child#1’s hairstyle and stated staff #1 did not pull child #1’s hair. Staff #6 disclosed interviewing child #1; who could not verbalize who pulled child #1’s hair. All five (5) children were interviewed and all made no disclosures of any child being hit by staff or staff hitting. LPA García attempted to reach Adult #1 for interview however, adult #1 could not be reached. Based on the interviews conducted, at this time there is not enough evidence to support the above allegation.

This agency has investigated the complaint alleging Staff inappropriately handled child while in care. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid; Based on interviews conducted; there were no witness to the allegation and child #1 made no disclosures during interview, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore at this time the allegation is deemed Unsubstantiated.

A Notice of Site Visit was not provided to Director, Obioma Uche & Principal, Kathy Romo since a physical inspection was not conducted.

Exit interview was conducted with Director Uche & Principal Romo, via tele-inspection, during which Appeal Rights were verbally explained to Director and Principal. A copy of this report has been signed by LPA García. This report, along with a copy of the Appeal Rights (LIC 9058) will be scanned via e-mail to Principal, Kathy Romo, who understands that an electronic “Read Receipt” and/or confirmation of receipt of the e-mail confirms receipt of the report and constitutes an electronic signature.

Report ends here page 2 of 2.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Valarie Cook	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3362
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mireya Garcia	TELEPHONE: (323) 558-2192
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/23/2020

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/23/2020

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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