483008486-11-5-2021-01-CC-AHON-C8GVUF-20211105164436

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 483008486
Report Date: 11/05/2021
Date Signed: 11/05/2021 02:42:00 PM

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 101 GOLF COURSE DR. STE. A-230
ROHNERT PARK, CA 94928

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/06/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20210806153829

FACILITY NAME:	GROWING HEARTS CHILDCARE CENTER S/A		FACILITY NUMBER:	483008486
ADMINISTRATOR:	BOWERS, PENNY		FACILITY TYPE:	840
ADDRESS:	1955 WEST TEXAS STREET, #17		TELEPHONE:	(707) 399-8112
CITY:	FAIRFIELD	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94533
CAPACITY:	30	CENSUS: 16	DATE:	11/05/2021
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	12:38 PM
MET WITH:	Penny Bowers		TIME COMPLETED:	01:22 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff are comingling day care children

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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An unannounced follow-up complaint investigation visit was made today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Y. Yang to deliver complaint investigation findings. Previous investigation visits were made to the facility by the LPA on 08/11/21 and 08/18/21. It was alleged that the facility is commingling daycare children. Specifically, it was alleged that preschool age children are being commingled with school age children.

The LPA met with the facility licensee, Penny Bowers (Staff S1) today at 11:20am discuss the investigation findings. A follow-up tour of the facility was conducted at 11:30am today. There were 16 school age children present at the facility. The licensee stated that there are currently no preschool children enrolled at the facility. During the LPA’s initial visit to the facility on 08/11/2021, the LPA met with licensee Bowers at 01:27pm to discuss the allegations. The licensee stated that preschool age children and school age children are commingled most mornings for periods of less than one hour while waiting for additional teachers and children to arrive. Continued on LIC9099-C

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/05/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/05/2021

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-20210806153829

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 101 GOLF COURSE DR. STE. A-230
ROHNERT PARK, CA 94928

FACILITY NAME: GROWING HEARTS CHILDCARE CENTER S/A	FACILITY NUMBER: 483008486
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 11/05/2021

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 11/19/2021 Section Cited CCR 101538.3(b)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Indoor Activity Space for School-Age Children. In combination programs, indoor activity space provided for school-age child care center children shall be physically separated from space provided for infant care and child care center children. This requirement is not met as evidenced by; Based on staff interviews conducted by the LPA on	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	The licensee stated she will submit either an updated LIC 500 showing appropriate staff coverage in the morning or will submit a plan in writing detailing how the facility will maintain coverage so that no commingling occurs between different age groups. The plan of correction shall be submitted no later than 11/19/21.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	08/11/21 and 08/18/21 and the licensee's own admission on 08/11/21 at 01:27pm, it was revealed that school aged children and day care children are commingled together most mornings for non-planned activities while waiting for additional staff and children to arrive at the facility. This is a potential health and safety risk to children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/05/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/05/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20210806153829

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 101 GOLF COURSE DR. STE. A-230
ROHNERT PARK, CA 94928

FACILITY NAME: GROWING HEARTS CHILDCARE CENTER S/A	FACILITY NUMBER: 483008486
	VISIT DATE: 11/05/2021

NARRATIVE

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The licensee stated that once their respective teachers arrive at the center, the school age children are then transitioned to their designated classroom. The licensee stated that this is done due to staffing difficulties and low child attendance early in the morning. The licensee stated that school age children are never commingled with the infants in care. The licensee stated that ratios for the preschool age group are followed when the two different age groups are commingled.

Interviews with facility staff were conducted during the investigation. Staff members S2-S5 were interviewed on 08/11/21 beginning at 02:06pm and S6 was interviewed on 08/18/21 at 12:23pm. Staff members that were interviewed corroborated the licensee’s statements. All staff members interviewed stated that they have never observed any commingling between school age children and infants.

During the initial investigation visit, a facility tour was provided by the licensee at 01:15pm. A subsequent inspection visit was made to the facility on 08/18/21 and a tour was provided by the licensee at 11:03am. The LPA did not observe any commingling of children between the different licenses. This is not a Title 5 facility. Therefore, commingling children between the different licenses is prohibited at this combination center.

Based on information obtained from interviews with the licensee, staff, and children, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. Appeal rights were provided. An exit interview was conducted, and this report was read and discussed with the facility’s licensee, Penny Bowers. The Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 11/05/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/05/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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