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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 155601000
Report Date: 06/10/2025
Date Signed: 06/10/2025 06:57:06 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO SOUTH CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
06/06/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Octavia Nolan
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 57-CC-20250606154041
FACILITY NAME:SMALL STEPS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
155601000
ADMINISTRATOR:FERGUSON, DECONDIAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:4201 UNIVERSITY AVETELEPHONE:
(661) 872-4908
CITY:BAKERSFIELDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
93306
CAPACITY:28CENSUS: 6DATE:
06/10/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:45 AM
MET WITH:Sherrie DobbsTIME COMPLETED:
02:45 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Care and supervision was not provided to a child in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 06/10/2025, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Octavia Nolan and Licensing Program Manager (LPM) Cynthia Brannon, conducted an unannounced complaint inspection to investigate the above allegation. LPA met with Facility Representative, Sherrie Dobbs and discussed the allegation. LPA took a tour of the facility and a census.

During the inspection, LPA interviewed staff. Per staff interviews, there are several incidents of staff not providing required visual observation of children in care. This includes an incident where Staff #1 left a child unattended in the restroom without required visual observation. Based upon information gathered through interviews, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, and the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Facility Representative Sherrie Dobbs. Appeal rights were provided.

Continued on LIC 809C
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Cynthia Brannon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Octavia Nolan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
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 3
Control Number 57-CC-20250606154041
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO SOUTH CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710
FACILITY NAME: SMALL STEPS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 155601000
VISIT DATE: 06/10/2025
NARRATIVE
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Per Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1, of the California Code of Regulations, the following deficiencies are being cited: (see LIC 9099-D).

This report shall be made available to the public upon request. LIC 9213 Notice of Site Visit is provided and required to be posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Cynthia Brannon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Octavia Nolan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 57-CC-20250606154041
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO SOUTH CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710

FACILITY NAME: SMALL STEPS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 155601000
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 06/10/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
06/24/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
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101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation.
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The Director agrees provide an all-staff training regarding Title 22 Regulation 101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision. This training will include viewing Community Care Licensing (CCL) video "Supervising Children in Child Care Centers" This video can be viewed by
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This requirement was not met as evidenced by: staff left a child unattended in the restroom which poses a potential risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of children in care.
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accessing the Departments website: ccld.childcarevideos.org. Licensee will submit a copy of training agenda and a list of attendees to the Fresno CCL office by 06/24/2025.
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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: Cynthia Brannon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Octavia Nolan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/10/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3