198018356-9-1-2022-33-CC-CGUA-CJLS4Y-20220925133332

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198018356
Report Date: 09/01/2022
Date Signed: 09/01/2022 06:14:24 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
08/31/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20220831140952

FACILITY NAME:	L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	198018356
ADMINISTRATOR:	CHOE, ESTHER INJA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	213 S. HOBART BLVD.		TELEPHONE:	(949) 233-4215
CITY:	LOS ANGELES	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90004
CAPACITY:	40	CENSUS: 9	DATE:	09/01/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:31 PM
MET WITH:	Esther Choe		TIME COMPLETED:	04:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff member hit day care child leaving marks.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Esther Choe.

During the course of the investigation, LPA Lee conducted interviews, reviewed documents, and made obeservations in regards to the above allegation.

The complaint alleges that a staff member hit a child in care at the facility on 08/19/2022. The Director denied this allegation and made no disclosure. All staff members interviewed regarding this matter denied the allegation and made no disclosures. During the inspection LPA Lee obtained written declrations from the Director and Staff members regarding the events that occurred involving Child#1 at the facility. The details of the allegation stated that Staff#3 had hit Child#1 in the classroom during nap time. The details of the allegation go on to state that this intereaction was observed by Staff#1 who comforted the child afterwards and that Staff#2 informed a parent of Child#1 what had happened during pick up time on 08/19/2022.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Guangorena Claudia	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3382
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/01/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/01/2022

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-20220831140952

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: L.A. FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 198018356
	VISIT DATE: 09/01/2022

NARRATIVE

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During the investigation, LPA Lee observed video footage of the classroom that showed Child#1 in the classroom when the alleged interaction took place. LPA Lee observed Staff#3 pick up Child#1 to reposition the child more towards the center of the napping cot and place a blanket over Child#1 afterwards. It was not really clear if this interaction showed Staff#3 handling Child#1 in a rough manner due to the angle and lack of audio in the footage. After observing that interaction, LPA Lee observed that around 3 minutes of the video footage was missing. LPA Lee asked the Director why the footage was missing or cut from the recording. The Director stated that video camera automatically cuts footage from the recording if there is a lack of motion captured on the feed. Although the interaction between Staff#3 and Child#1 did not look like any type of clear violation of personal rights, the footage also is missing audio and a few minutes of the feed which was not edited or cut according to the Director.

During the investigation, LPA Lee spoke to the parent of Child#1 over the phone. Parent stated that no pictures of the alleged marks were obtained due to the marks not being visible in the pictures that were taken on 08/19/2022. LPA Lee attempted to interview Child#1 who stopped attending the facility on 08/22/2022 but was unable to.

LPA Lee did get a chance to speak to Staff#3 over the phone. Staff#3 declined to meet in person to do an interview with LPA Lee. A declaration form with instructions was sent to Staff#3 via email.

Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the allegations that staff member hit day care child leaving marks may be valid. However, there is not enough preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore at this time the above allegations are found to be unsubstantiated.

The notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 days during hours operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.

Exit interview conducted with Director Esther Choe. Appeal rights discussed and explained.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Guangorena Claudia	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3382
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/01/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/01/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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