493003397-2-1-2024-01-CC-AHON-D23QNZ-20240202111955

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493003397
Report Date: 02/01/2024
Date Signed: 02/01/2024 04:17:45 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 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
12/18/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20231218140411

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	493003397
ADMINISTRATOR:	MINDY MERONEK		FACILITY TYPE:	830
ADDRESS:	1485 N. MC DOWELL BOULEVARD		TELEPHONE:	(707) 794-0211
CITY:	PETALUMA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94954
CAPACITY:	44	CENSUS: 11	DATE:	02/01/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	12:22 PM
MET WITH:	Melissa "Mel" Terhune, Center Director		TIME COMPLETED:	02:13 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff are not qualified.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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A follow-up complaint investigation visit was made today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Y. Yang to deliver complaint investigation findings. Previously, an investigation visit was made to the facility by the LPA on 12/22/23. It has been alleged that facility staff are not qualified. Specifically, it has been alleged that staff members working in the center’s infant classroom lacked the required early education units needed to work as a qualified teacher in the classroom.

During the initial investigation visit to the facility on 12/22/23, the LPA met with the center director, Melissa “Mel” Terhune to discuss the allegation. Terhune stated that she started working at this center on 11/17/23. Terhune stated that she did not work at this center prior to accepting the director position and is unable to comment on any staffing arrangements that occurred under the previous center director, Mindy Meronek. Terhune stated that she maintained the “status quo” and did not move staff from their previously assigned positions within the classrooms. Terhune stated that she believed that all staff that worked in the infant classrooms were qualified and possessed the necessary early childhood education units needed to work alone with infants. Terhune stated that she did not review the staff’s personnel files for their transcripts or qualifications. (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: 02/01/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/01/2024

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-20231218140411

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

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

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 493003397
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 02/01/2024

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 02/15/2024 Section Cited CCR 101416.2(b)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Infant Care Teacher Qualifications and Duties. Prior to employment, an infant care teacher shall have completed, with passing grades, at least three postsecondary semesters or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development, and three postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units related to the care of infants, at an accredited or approved college or university.This requirement was not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Center Director Terhune stated that one of the infant classroom is currently closed due to the center not having qualified staff to work in this classroom.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on the LPA's interviews with staff and a personnel record review, the facility did not ensure that staff S2-S4 met the qualifications required to work in the capacity of a teacher. Record review indicates that S2-S4 were only qualified to work as an aide under the direct supervision of a teacher. Based on the LPA's interviews, it was corroborated that S2-S4 supervised awake children for a portion of the day without being under direct supervision of a qualified teacher, which poses a potential risk to the children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Terhune stated that the facility has since hired qualified staff and are enrolling existing staff into early education classes to qualify them to work in the infant classroom(s). The center director stated that she will submit an updated LIC500 along with a written plan detailing staff's work schedule showing coverage of the infant classroom at the center. The written plan and the LIC500 to be submitted to the LPA by 02/15/24
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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: 02/01/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/01/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20231218140411

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

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

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 493003397
	VISIT DATE: 02/01/2024

NARRATIVE

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During the investigation, the LPA interviewed staff members S1-S4 regarding the allegation. The LPA was able to corroborate the allegation through staff interviews and personnel file reviews. All classroom staff interviewed stated that they either did not possess any early educational units or lacked the infant specific units required to work alone as a teacher in the infant classroom. The staff members all stated that on more than one occasion, they have been assigned to supervise awake infants in the infant classroom without working under the direct supervision of a fully qualified infant teacher.

Based on information obtained from interviews and documents obtained during the investigation, 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. An exit interview was conducted, and this report was read and discussed with the facility’s director, Melissa Terhune. Appeal rights were provided. 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: 02/01/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/01/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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