283005477-12-15-2021-01-CC-LLEI-C9SP5Q-20211217100105

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 283005477
Report Date: 12/15/2021
Date Signed: 12/15/2021 10:48:20 AM

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office,
, CA

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/17/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Kevin O'Connell

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20210917145652

FACILITY NAME:	CHILDREN'S COTTAGE - PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	283005477
ADMINISTRATOR:	TIFFANY KEAR		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1078 EAST AVENUE		TELEPHONE:	(707) 224-3825
CITY:	NAPA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94559
CAPACITY:	64	CENSUS: 19	DATE:	12/15/2021
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:15 AM
MET WITH:	Tiffany Kear, Director		TIME COMPLETED:	11:05 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff handled child inappropriately

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kevin O’Connell made a subsequent complaint investigation visit and met with Director, Tiffany Kear (S1) on 12/15/21 to deliver the findings of the allegation noted above. LPA O’Connell previously met with S1 on 9/22/21 and 12/3/21 to discuss the details of the allegation, initiate the investigation, and obtain a facility roster. It was alleged that staff handled child inappropriately, specifically staff mismanaged a child’s hair causing knotting in the hair.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kevin O'Connell	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/15/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/15/2021

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 01-CC-20210917145652

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office,
, CA

FACILITY NAME: CHILDREN'S COTTAGE - PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 283005477
	VISIT DATE: 12/15/2021

NARRATIVE

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S1 denied the allegation on 9/22/21 & 12/13/21 stating that she and staff did not knot C1’s hair but would attempt to remove food from her hair often. S1 further stated that staff would readjust and replace child's rubber band on occasion but did not allow inappropriate interactions between staff and day care child. There was no intention to handle C1’s hair inappropriately but instead to assist C1.

The investigation consisted of interviews of staff (S1- S3) 9/22/21 & 12/3/21, parents (P1- P7) from 12/9/21 through 12/13/21, and children (C2- C3) 12/3/21, documentation review, and observations. Some children were not verbal enough or too young to interview and could not be qualified to interview. S1(Director), S2, and S3 confirmed that staff do manage some children’s hair but only to assist with children’s hair when needed. P1- P7 did not observe any staff handle children inappropriately. P3 and P6 stated that staff placed child’s hair in a braid on a few occasions but parents and children were okay with it.

Although there is evidence to show staff do manage children’s hair, the intent was only to assist the children, and there was no corroborating evidence to show any inappropriate interactions or negative impact on children when staff managed children’s hair. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violation occurred, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated.
This report was discussed and reviewed with the Director, S1. Appeal Rights were provided.
Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 days from today's inspection. No violations of Title 22 were cited.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kevin O'Connell	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/15/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/15/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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