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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 045407592
Report Date: 08/28/2025
Date Signed: 08/28/2025 01:56:42 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 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
06/20/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Erica Laird
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 13-CC-20250620111330
FACILITY NAME:CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
045407592
ADMINISTRATOR:LINGEMANN, HEATHERFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:973 PALMETTO AVE. SUITE 1 & 2TELEPHONE:
(530) 636-4206
CITY:CHICOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95926
CAPACITY:30CENSUS: 9DATE:
08/28/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
01:30 PM
MET WITH:Heather Lingeman, owner/directorTIME COMPLETED:
01:58 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff did not prevent day care child(ren) from having access to a hazardous material.
Staff are not following reporting requirements as necessary.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 8/28/25 @ 1:31pm, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Erica Laird conducted an unannounced complaint inspection and met with owner/director Heather Lingeman. It was alleged staff did not prevent day care child(ren) from having access to a hazardous material; specifically, children were able to access bleach, and staff are not following reporting requirements as necessary; specifically, staff are not informing parents and/or licensing of all incidents as required.

On 7/2/25 LPA Laird conducted an interview with owner/director Heather Lingeman. Heather acknowledged an incident when two children were exposed to bleach at the facility. Heather stated one child had a bleach/water mixture spilled on them and another child had sprayed their face with the same bleach/water mixture. Heather stated parents are notified of incidents either verbally or through the Brightwheel app. Heather acknowledged two incidents which were not reported to licensing as required.

Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
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 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250620111330
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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On 6/27/25 LPA Laird conducted interviews with six staff (S1-S6). All staff acknowledged an incident involving children being exposed to bleach. Three staff stated they were present when the incidents occurred and three staff stated they had heard about it. All staff interviewed stated they believed there were concerns with reporting incidents to parents and/or licensing. Three staff stated there have been incidents that were minimized to parents. Three staff stated there have been incidents that went unreported. Four staff stated there have been incidents which were reported several days or weeks later to parents.

On 8/14/25 and 8/18/25 LPA Laird conducted interviews with five parents (P1-P5). One parent acknowledged an incident involving a child being exposed to bleach. One parent acknowledged an incident which was reported several weeks after the incident occurred. One parent had no knowledge of an incident which had occurred at the facility involving their child. One parent interviewed felt incidents were minimized by the facility.

On 7/2/25 LPA Laird requested video footage of two incidents which occurred at the facility. LPA Laird was informed by owner/director Heather Lingeman that the footage requested was no longer available.

On 6/27/25 and 7/14/25 LPA Laird received activity logs, incident reports and Brightwheel correspondence.

Based on interviews and documentation, LPA Laird determined there is sufficient evidence to suggest the allegations occurred.

Based on the evidence obtained, 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 9099D.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250620111330
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CHICO-DAY CARE, 520 COHASSET RD., SUITE 170
CHICO, CA 95926
FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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LPA Erica Laird informed facility owner/director Heather Lingeman that this report dated 8/28/25 documents 1 Type A citation(s) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Erica Laird informed Heather Lingeman to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 8/28/25 that documents any Type A citation(s) to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

An exit interview was conducted, and this report was reviewed with owner/director Heather Lingeman. Appeal rights were provided.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Megan Aviles
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Control Number 13-CC-20250620111330
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

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

FACILITY NAME: CREATIVE MINDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 045407592
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/28/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
08/29/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101238(g)
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(g) Disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that could pose a danger if readily available to children shall be stored where inaccessible to children.
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Licensee to read and acknowledge regulations pertaining to storing of hazardous material. Licensee to submit statement of understanding to CCL by 8/29/25.

erica.laird@dss.ca.gov
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Based on interviews and documentation the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 incident, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
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Type B
09/26/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101212(d)(C)
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(d) Upon the occurrence, during the operation of the child care center of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department by telephone or fax within the Department's next working day and during its normal business hours. In addition, a written report containing the information specified in (d)(2) below shall be submitted to the Department within seven days following the occurrence of such event. (C) Any unusual incident or child absence that threatens the physical or emotional health or safety of any child.
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Licensee to read and acknowledge regulations pertaining to reporting requirements. Licensee to submit statement of understanding to CCL by 9/26/25.

erica.laird@dss.ca.gov
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Based on interviews and documentation the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 2 incidents, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.

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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: Erica Laird
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4