490102274-1-5-2026-01-CC-MAUN-DQ5R7S-20260108114649

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 490102274
Report Date: 01/05/2026
Date Signed: 01/05/2026 04:43:56 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/08/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20251008120515

FACILITY NAME:	SUNSHINE NURSERY SCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	490102274
ADMINISTRATOR:	MELISSA SHIELDS		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	109 PATTEN STREET		TELEPHONE:	(707) 996-2702
CITY:	SONOMA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95476
CAPACITY:	105	CENSUS: 42	DATE:	01/05/2026
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:01 AM
MET WITH:	Melissa Shields		TIME COMPLETED:	11:32 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff is not providing incident reports to parents.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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A follow-up complaint investigation visit was conducted today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Y. Yang to provide the results of the complaint investigation. LPAs Yang and J. Patel previously visited the facility on October 16, 2025, as part of the initial investigation. The complaint alleged that the facility failed to provide parents with incident reports. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the facility provided incident reports for certain children’s injuries only when authorized representatives requested them, overstated the number of incident reports in official communications, and did not produce supporting documentation to a child’s authorized representative upon request.

During the initial investigation visit on October 16, 2025, the LPAs met with the center director, Melissa Shields, to discuss the allegation. A comprehensive tour of the facility was also provided to the LPAs by the director. Director Shields denied the allegation, asserting that the facility maintains strict procedures for documenting and reporting incidents involving children in care. Shields explained that whenever a child sustains an injury or experiences an unusual incident while under the facility’s supervision, a written incident report is completed and the child’s authorized representative is notified, in accordance with applicable reporting requirements. (Continued on LIC-9099-C)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/05/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/05/2026

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-20251008120515

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: SUNSHINE NURSERY SCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 490102274
	VISIT DATE: 01/05/2026

NARRATIVE

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In addition, Shields stated that depending on the severity or nature of the incident, appropriate external agencies including law enforcement, Community Care Licensing, and/or child protective services, are also notified.

Director Shields further stated that teachers in each classroom possess the authority to independently initiate and complete incident reports without prior approval from the center director or other administrative personnel. According to Shields, teachers complete detailed documentation that includes information about the nature and circumstances of the incident, any care or first aid provided, and the notification of the child’s authorized representatives. Shields emphasized that these reports are maintained in the child’s record and that children's authorized representatives are provided with the opportunity to review and discuss the report at the time of notification.

As part of the investigation, the LPAs interviewed staff members S1–S6 regarding the allegation. Each staff member interviewed corroborated the center director’s statements and affirmed that the facility consistently reports all incidents and unusual occurrences to children’s authorized representatives, as per the established reporting protocols. Staff uniformly maintained that incident reports are completed for all occurrences that may affect a child’s health, safety, or well-being and are provided to children’s authorized representatives in a timely manner. Teachers further explained that they possess the authority to initiate and complete incident reports and notify parents or guardians independently, without requiring prior approval from the center director or other administrative personnel, and that they follow the defined procedures to ensure that all relevant details, including the nature and circumstances of the incident, any first aid or medical care rendered, identified witnesses, and corrective or preventive actions taken. Staff stated that these events are accurately documented and communicated. In addition, several parents and authorized representatives interviewed during the investigation further corroborated the facility’s reporting practices as described by staff and confirmed that they routinely receive completed incident reports and that staff provide clear explanations and opportunities for questions at the time of notification.

Based on the information available, although the allegation may have occurred or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to confirm whether the alleged violation did or did not occur; therefore, the allegation is determined to be unsubstantiated at this time. No Title 22 deficiencies were cited. This report was reviewed and discussed with the center director, Melissa Shields. Appeal rights were provided. A Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days from today’s visit.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/05/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/05/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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