198020452-9-10-2021-33-CC-CGUA-C75PJS-20210923112157

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020452
Report Date: 09/10/2021
Date Signed: 09/10/2021 02:20:09 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
07/08/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Alanna Gontarek

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20210708110546

FACILITY NAME:	MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	198020452
ADMINISTRATOR:	MICHELLE BENITEZ		FACILITY TYPE:	840
ADDRESS:	13841 CHRISTINE DR.		TELEPHONE:	(562) 696-5114
CITY:	WHITTIER	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90605
CAPACITY:	12	CENSUS: 0	DATE:	09/10/2021
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:20 PM
MET WITH:	Michelle Benitez		TIME COMPLETED:	03:00 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff did not prevent children from engaging in physical altercations
Facility staff treat child in care differently from other children in care

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 9/10/2021 at 1:25 p.m., Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Alanna Gontarek conducted a follow up unannounced Complaint inspection to the above facility for the purpose of delivering findings. LPA met with Michelle Benitez, Director who provided a tour of the facility. Per Director, the School Age children attend from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Census was taken. There were 0 children with 0 staff present in the School Age program during visit. Per Director, School Age children arrive at the facility at 3:00 p.m. today, and Staff were at lunch upon arrival.

During this investigation, interviews were conducted with: staff, children, and children’s authorized representatives. Documentation gathered includes: Children's roster, Parent Handbook, Admission Agreement, email and text message correspondences regarding behavior, Incident and “Ouch” Reports for the month of June 2021, and Child/Family Log records.

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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia Guangorena	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-8417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alanna Gontarek	TELEPHONE: (323) 854-8644
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/10/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/10/2021

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-20210708110546

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: MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 198020452
	VISIT DATE: 09/10/2021

NARRATIVE

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Per Complainant, Child #4 and Child #5 were being bullied and singled out by school administration.
Complainant also states that Child #6 hits Child #4 and Child #5 and none of the staff do anything to stop Child #6 from being physical with Child #4 and Child #5.

Pertaining to the allegation: Facility staff treat child in care differently from other children in care, multiple children disclosures were made that all children have the same rules and children are treated fairly by the Staff. During interviews conducted with Staff, Staff denied allegation of Staff bullying children, stating that every child is treated based on their individual needs, but all children have rules they need to follow. During interviews conducted with Staff, children, and children’s authorized representatives, corroborating statements were made stating if a child harms another child, the child is immediately separated from the other child, removed from the activity, and/or taken to the Principal’s office.

Pertaining to the allegation: Facility staff did not prevent children from engaging in physical altercations, multiple children and staff disclosures were made stating that when conflict occurred between children, staff would separate the children, remove the child that was causing the conflict from the activity, and have the child(ren) sit out, and/or be taken to the Principal’s office. Per staff and children’s authorized representatives interviewed, corroborating statements were made that Staff communicated verbally, through text messages, or emails regarding ongoing or worsening behavior. Multiple Staff disclosures were made stating that Staff will intervene when physical altercations occurred by separating the children having the altercation, remove the children from that activity to discuss the issue and discuss ways to problem-solve, or be taken to the office. Staff also stated that if the facility does not have the specific resources needed for the child, and to further prevent harm to a child’s self or others, termination will occur. During interviews conducted with children’s authorized representatives, disclosures were made stating that Staff would step in and separate children that were having conflict. During interviews conducted with children, corroborating statements were made that Child #5 (C5) and Child #6 (C6) didn't fight all the time, only sometimes. LPA also asked children interviewed what would happen if children were not playing nice, and multiple disclosures were made stating children would get talked to, gets taken out of the activity, have to take a break, or taken to the office.

During record review, LPA observed detailed incident reports, and emails, informing authorized representatives of their child’s ongoing behavior issues, including steps to termination.
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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia Guangorena	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-8417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alanna Gontarek	TELEPHONE: (323) 854-8644
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/10/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/10/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 33-CC-20210708110546

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: MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 198020452
	VISIT DATE: 09/10/2021

NARRATIVE

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This agency has investigated the complaint alleging: Facility staff did not prevent children from engaging in physical altercations and Facility staff treat child in care differently from other children in care.

Although the allegations may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.

Exit interview conducted with Director Michelle Benitez. A copy of this report (LIC 9099), Appeal Rights, and the Notice of Site Visit were explained and provided to the Director. The Notice of Site Visit must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to do so will result in a $100.00 civil penalty.

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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Claudia Guangorena	TELEPHONE: (323) 981-8417
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alanna Gontarek	TELEPHONE: (323) 854-8644
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/10/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/10/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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