343600372-5-11-2022-53-CC-JSMH-CEZVX8-20220602164903

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 343600372
Report Date: 05/11/2022
Date Signed: 05/11/2022 03:50:59 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, 2525 NATOMAS PARK DR. STE 250
SACRAMENTO, CA 95833

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
03/09/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Nola Maestas

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 53-CC-20220309132514

FACILITY NAME:	MERRYHILL SCHOOL-LAGUNA PARK		FACILITY NUMBER:	343600372
ADMINISTRATOR:	NORRIS, LISA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	6613 LAGUNA PARK DRIVE		TELEPHONE:	(916) 684-4044
CITY:	ELK GROVE	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95758
CAPACITY:	116	CENSUS: 99	DATE:	05/11/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:15 PM
MET WITH:	Karina Medina		TIME COMPLETED:	04:30 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Child sustained an injury due to a staff member inappropriately grabbing a child.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Katy Maestas conducted a visit to the facility on 05/11/2022 and met with the Director, Karina Medina, (D1) for the purpose of delivering findings regarding the above allegation. On 03/09/2022, it was alleged by the complainant that a teacher (T1) scratched a child's (C1) neck with her fingernails. Photos revealed that the scratches were minor. C1 was seen by a doctor, and the medical report was reviewed. Local law enforcement was also involved in the investigation. The officer from the Elk Grove Police Department (EGPD) attempted to interview C1, but due to C1’s young age and language barrier the interview was not informative. The EGPD did not investigate further due to lack of evidence.

The investigation revealed that T1’s classroom activity was captured on video for the entirety of the day on 03/07/2022. Video footage (Camera 8 at 9:21:27) showed one physical interaction between T1 and C1.

Continued on 9099-C

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Jeanne Smith	TELEPHONE: (916) 208-4405
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Nola Maestas	TELEPHONE: 916-926-9100
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/11/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/11/2022

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 53-CC-20220309132514

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 2525 NATOMAS PARK DR. STE 250
SACRAMENTO, CA 95833

FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL-LAGUNA PARK	FACILITY NUMBER: 343600372
	VISIT DATE: 05/11/2022

NARRATIVE

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C1 did not want to line-up to go outside for play time and was ignoring T1’s directions to join the line. T1 approached C1 to help her line-up by taking C1’s hand, but C1 began to drop herself to the floor. In the video, T1 can be seen picking up C1 under her arm pits to stand up. There was no mishandling of C1 that could be observed. T1’s hands were never near the victim’s neck where P1 said they observed scratches. Interviews revealed that after this interaction, the children went outside to play. There were two other staff members and T1 who were supervising outdoor play. During this time, staff 1 and 2 never observed T1 have any physical interactions with C1. However, the staff did witness C1 laying and rolling on the grass and suspect that is how the scratches on C1’s neck occurred. T1 denied having scratched C1’s neck and stated that she never mishandled nor hurt C1 nor did anything that was inappropriate.

There is no evidence or indication that T1 caused the scratches on C1’s neck, but at the same time the evidence does not reveal exactly how the scratches occurred. Therefore, the finding is determined to be unsubstantiated. No deficiencies were cited at this time. An exit interview was conducted with the Director and the Licensee Appeal Rights were provided. A Notice of Site Visit was posted by LPA and this shall be posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Jeanne Smith	TELEPHONE: (916) 208-4405
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Nola Maestas	TELEPHONE: 916-926-9100
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/11/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/11/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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