493003399-12-9-2022-01-CC-AHON-CM4N48-20221214090729

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493003399
Report Date: 12/09/2022
Date Signed: 12/09/2022 05:01:44 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, 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
09/29/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20220929151015

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	493003399
ADMINISTRATOR:	KRISTEN AMARAL		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1485 N. MC DOWELL BOULEVARD		TELEPHONE:	(707) 794-0211
CITY:	PETALUMA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94954
CAPACITY:	85	CENSUS: 45	DATE:	12/09/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:49 PM
MET WITH:	Brenda Bustamante, Asssitant Director		TIME COMPLETED:	04:20 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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-Facility operating over ratio
-Staff placed child into a stroller for an extended period of time
-Child sustained injury while in care due to insufficient staffing

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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An unannounced follow-up complaint investigation visit to the facility was made today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Y. Yang to deliver complaint investigation findings. The LPA met with the center's assistant director Brenda Bustamante today. It has been alleged that the facility is operating over ratio, that preschool age child C1 was injured on 09/26/22 while at the facility due to insufficient staffing, and that on an unspecified date, child C1 was placed in a stroller for an extended period of time by facility staff.
During the initial investigation visit on 10/05/22, the LPA interviewed the center director, Mindy Meronek. The Center Director denied the allegations. The Center Director stated that she started working at this center at the beginning of October 2022. The Center Director stated that she has not observed any instance where a classroom was operating over ratio. The Center Director stated that the center maintains an average ratio of one staff member to 10 awake children. The Center Director stated that the facility never exceeds a ratio of one staff member to 12 awake children. The Center Director stated that if a teacher is absent or needs to leave before the end of their shift, either a substitute teacher is called in to assist or children are sent home and/or turned away during drop off. Continued on LIC9099-C

Unsubstantiated

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: 12/09/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2022

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 01-CC-20220929151015

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: 493003399
	VISIT DATE: 12/09/2022

NARRATIVE

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The Center Director stated that she is aware of one injury related incident involving child C1. The Center Director stated that this incident occurred before she started working at this center. Based on the 09/26/22 KinderCare Child Supervision Record (CSR) obtained from the facility, there were a total of two teachers and 13 children in the classroom around the time of child C1’s injury. According to the KinderCare “Incident/Accident Report for Parent/Guardian” C1 was sitting down reading a book and fell forward, hitting their forehead on a shelf and was provided ice and comfort; no medical attention was needed. Child C1’s teachers that day, staff S2 and S3 were interviewed regarding this incident and both staff members stated that adequate supervision was provided at the time and that this was an unintentional, self-inflicted injury and did not involve any other children in the classroom.

During the investigation, interviews were conducted with the center’s staff S2-S6 beginning at 02:21pm. Staff members stated that they have not observed or heard about any classroom operating over ratio. Child C1’s primary teachers, staff S3 and S4 were questioned regarding the child being placed in a stroller for an extended period of time. Staff S3 and S4 stated that child C1 woke up early from a nap and began to disturb other napping children and attempted to leave the classroom. According to staff interviews, S3 was the only staff member in the classroom at the time. Staff S3 stated that she then called for assistance as she was in ratio supervising the napping children. Staff S4 stated that she placed the child into a stroller to accompany the center’s Assistant Director, Brenda Bustamante (staff S5) in delivering snacks to the classrooms at the center. S5 stated that once the child was handed over to her, she removed the child from the stroller and walked with the child. Staff members S2, S3, S4, and S5 stated that this was the only instance where C1 used a stroller at the center. Staff stated that the child was in the stroller accompanied by staff for approximately five to ten minutes. All staff interviewed stated that strollers are never used as a form of punishment and are used for their expressed purposes only.

Childcare clients were also interviewed during the complaint investigation. Clients interviewed stated that they have not observed any classroom operating over ratio and have observed a sufficient number of staff in each classroom. Clients stated that they did not have any concerns regarding care and supervision at this center and have not observed any personal rights violations, either. The LPA made a total of three unannounced visits (10/05/22, 11/30/22, 12/09/22) to the facility to make observations and conduct interviews. During the LPA’s site visits, there were no ratio or personal rights violations observed. No children were observed to be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time.

Although it was corroborated that child C1 sustained an injury while in care, there is not a preponderance of evidence to suggest that the injury was caused by insufficient staffing or any other violation of regulations. Based on available information and interviews conducted, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur. Therefore, the allegations are unsubstantiated. All licensing reports are public information and must be made available upon request for at least three years. This report was read and reviewed with Assistant Center Director Brenda Bustamante. There were no Title 22 deficiencies cited during today's inspection. Appeal rights were provided.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 12/09/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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