198019751-8-6-2019-33-CC-CGUA-BF3TZZ-20190815151111

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198019751
Report Date: 08/06/2019
Date Signed: 08/06/2019 01:52:01 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
05/06/2019 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20190506095640

FACILITY NAME:	LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	198019751
ADMINISTRATOR:	ESTHER INJA CHOE		FACILITY TYPE:	840
ADDRESS:	213 S. HOBART BLVD		TELEPHONE:	(213) 380-6236
CITY:	LOS ANGELES	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90004
CAPACITY:	15	CENSUS: 3	DATE:	08/06/2019
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:30 AM
MET WITH:	Esther Choe		TIME COMPLETED:	01:50 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff yells at children in care.
Staff failed to ensure children are provided handwashing soap
Staff provides expired food to children in care.

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 investigation LPA Lee conducted interviews, reviewed records, and made observations in regards to the above allegations.

The complaint alleged that a staff member at the facility yelled at a school age child in care. During a phone interview, the reporting party specfied the staff member that yelled at the school age child. This Staff member, Staff#1 and the Director were interviewed at the facility. The Director and Staff#1 denied the allegation. The complaint also alleged that the facility does not provide handwashing soap and serves the children snacks that were expired. The reporting party stated that children were served snacks that were on sale at the local korean market due them being expired. During the investigation, LPA Lee observed that the snacks that were in the pantry of the facility were not expired. The reporting stated that her child does not have access to soap in the girls restroom for the school age program. During the investigation LPA Lee observed that the girls and boys restroom did have soap available for the children.

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: 08/06/2019

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/06/2019

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-20190506095640

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: LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 198019751
	VISIT DATE: 08/06/2019

NARRATIVE

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During the investigation LPA Lee interviewed children in the school age program. During interviews, children in care did not provide additional information that directly supported the allegations. During interviews, the snacks that were described by children did not match up with snacks described by the reporting party. It was also stated in the interviews that the girls and boys restroom had a soap available. LPA Lee verified that although there is soap available in the boys restroom, the dispenser did not work until it was pressed a few times. LPA Lee advised the facility to replace the dispenser so the children using the boys restroom can have easier access to hand washing soap when using the restroom. LPA Lee also checked the girls restroom and found that the dispenser had soap and worked with no issues when pressed during this inspection.

Although the dispenser being faulty in the boys restroom supports the allegation, there was soap inside the dispenser for the boys that can be accessed as observed during this inspection. Although the dispenser does have soap and dispenses soap after a few attempts, it was observed to not be perfectly functional. LPA Lee advised the Director to replace the faulty dispenser and the Director did replace it during this inspection. The restroom specified by the reporting party which was the girls restroom for school age children did have soap available with fully working dispensers inside which was verified on this inspection. Although the snacks that were observed in the facility were not expired, it is possible that the facility did feed the children the snacks that were described by the reporting party on a single occasion in the past. The children's description of the snacks provided by the facility also did not match with the reporting party's description. In regards to the allegation of children being yelled at by staff member, the children did not provide any direct information that supported this allegation. Staff#1 who was specified by the reporting party stated she did not yell at the child in the allegation. However, Staff#1 did state that the child was playing piano at the time, and she did have to repeat herself due to the child not responding the first time being asked a question.

This department has investigated the allegation that facility staff yells at children in care, staff failed to ensure children are provided hand washing soap, and staff provides expired food to children in care. 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 the allegation is Unsubstantiated at this time.

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

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

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Guangorena Claudia	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-3382
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/06/2019

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/06/2019

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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