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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 045404371
Report Date: 09/02/2021
Date Signed: 09/02/2021 10:27:21 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/26/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Kirk Marks
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 13-CC-20210826085419
FACILITY NAME:SMART START PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
045404371
ADMINISTRATOR:THOMAS, JULIEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1565 EAST AVENUETELEPHONE:
(530) 897-6278
CITY:CHICOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95926
CAPACITY:111CENSUS: DATE:
09/02/2021
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:00 AM
MET WITH:Facility Administrator, Ann NelsonTIME COMPLETED:
10:30 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Day care children are not wearing masks.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kirk Marks conducted an unannounced complaint visit and met with Administrator, Ann Nelson. It was alleged the facility is not following guidelines for facial coverings specifically that children are not required to wear masks at the facility. LPA Marks entered the facility at 9:00am and observed two facility administration wearing masks properly. Upon entering LPA Marks advised the Administrator of the complaint and asked about protocol for children wearing masks in the daycare. The Administrator admitted that the facility had not been reqiuring children to wear masks and that the facility did not fully understand this as a requirement. The Administrator shared that the facility is updating protocols for mask wearing and a letter had been written to send to parents, requesting their support. LPA was taken by the Administrator to the preschool room where LPA observed two staff members, properly wearing masks, supervising 14 children with only one of the children wearing a mask. LPA Marks discussed and reviewed the mask requirement from the Department with the Administrator. The facility is not following the Governor's executive order and not following State mandates for child care providers. Based on the evidence obtained, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be substantiated.
Notice of Site visit must be posted for 30 days.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kirk Marks
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/02/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/02/2021
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 2
Control Number 13-CC-20210826085419
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926

FACILITY NAME: SMART START PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 045404371
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/02/2021
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Request Denied
Type B
09/03/2021
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(2)
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The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs.
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The Administrator has discussed with parents and staff the requirement for the mask for children over that age of 2. The director will utilize videos provided by the Department to assist with encouraging children to wear masks.
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This requirement was not met as evidenced by; Based on administrator's statements of not following protocol and observation in classroom where only one child of 14 was wearing a face covering.This poses a potential health and safety risk to the children in care.
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The Administrator also will send in documentation that staff were advised regarding the mask requirements which include reminding children to wear the mask in a correct fashion. This shall be sent to the department no later than 9/03/2021.
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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.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kirk Marks
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/02/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/02/2021
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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