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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197608610
Report Date: 09/14/2023
Date Signed: 09/14/2023 04:12:01 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
Lookup Error,
, CA
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/16/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Alberto Lopez
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 28-AS-20220516092536
FACILITY NAME:AMBITIONS - VERDUGO HOUSE 2FACILITY NUMBER:
197608610
ADMINISTRATOR:LUCY KECHEDJIANFACILITY TYPE:
735
ADDRESS:3206 W VERDUGO BLVDTELEPHONE:
(818) 562-7794
CITY:BURBANKSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91505
CAPACITY:4CENSUS: 4DATE:
09/14/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
03:01 PM
MET WITH:Saul Funes DSP2 TIME COMPLETED:
04:18 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Clients were physically abused while in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Alberto Lopez made subsequent unannounced visit to facility to deliver findings for complaint dated 05/16/2022. LPA Lopez met with DSP Saul Funes and contacted Letica Woods, Program Manager via phone and discussed the purpose of the visit. LPA read report to Ms. Woods via phone and she Authorized DSP2 Saul Funes to sign reports.

The investigation consisted of Department Investigative Branch investigating the allegation of physical abuse.

During initial visit on 5/16/2022 LPA obtained a copy of the Staff/Client roster, C1-C4 Face sheets, C1-C4 MAR sheets, facility internal Incident Reports for 05/03/2022 (2) and 05/12/2022 (4).

LPA obtained on later date, the Investigative Branch report, Ambitions internal Investigation Report and email confirming the findings of the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center.

Allegation: Clients were physically abused while in care. It is alleged that clients at the facility were physically abused by several staff members. (continued on 9099C)
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Lisa Hicks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alberto Lopez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
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 5
Control Number 28-AS-20220516092536
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
Lookup Error,
, CA
FACILITY NAME: AMBITIONS - VERDUGO HOUSE 2
FACILITY NUMBER: 197608610
VISIT DATE: 09/14/2023
NARRATIVE
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(continued)

Investigative Branch conducted the investigation regarding the physical abuse to clients and the investigation revealed several witnessing staff members confirmed the physical abuse by 9 staff that included hitting or shoving clients. Ambitions and Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center conducted internal Investigations, substantiated the physical abuse, and terminated the staff involved.

Based on Investigative Branch findings, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is SUBSTANTIATED.

Exit interview conducted and copy of report left with facility authorized staff .

“The licensee was informed that a civil penalty might be assessed based on the Health & Safety Code 1569.49(e) or (f), or 1548(e) or (f), or 1568.0822(e) or (f).“
SUPERVISORS NAME: Lisa Hicks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alberto Lopez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
Lookup Error,
, CA
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/16/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Alberto Lopez
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 28-AS-20220516092536

FACILITY NAME:AMBITIONS - VERDUGO HOUSE 2FACILITY NUMBER:
197608610
ADMINISTRATOR:LUCY KECHEDJIANFACILITY TYPE:
735
ADDRESS:3206 W VERDUGO BLVDTELEPHONE:
(818) 562-7794
CITY:BURBANKSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91505
CAPACITY:4CENSUS: 4DATE:
09/14/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
03:01 PM
MET WITH:Saul Funes DSP2 TIME COMPLETED:
04:18 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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9
Client(s) was verbally abused while in care
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Allegation: Client(s) was verbally abused while in care. It is alleged that staff verbally abused clients at facility by yelling and screaming at them and calling them names

Investigation consisted of interviews with facility staff, and Frank D Lanterman Regional Center staff. LPA was unable to interview any clients.

Investigation revealed that 13 of 18 staff interviewed denied the allegations. W2 stated that their investigation was inconclusive. Of the 5 staff that collaborated the allegation, only 2 staff could provide names of other staff involved, and the 3 other staff stated they heard loud voices. Ambitions and Frank D Lanterman Regional Center investigated the verbal abuse, and both findings were inconclusive.

(continued on 9099(C)
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Lisa Hicks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alberto Lopez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 28-AS-20220516092536
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
Lookup Error,
, CA
FACILITY NAME: AMBITIONS - VERDUGO HOUSE 2
FACILITY NUMBER: 197608610
VISIT DATE: 09/14/2023
NARRATIVE
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Based on LPA's interviews, observation and file review, the investigation revealed: Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED.


Exit interview conducted and copy of report provided to Authorized Staff Saul Funes
SUPERVISORS NAME: Lisa Hicks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alberto Lopez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 28-AS-20220516092536
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
Lookup Error,
, CA

FACILITY NAME: AMBITIONS - VERDUGO HOUSE 2
FACILITY NUMBER: 197608610
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/14/2023
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
09/21/2023
Section Cited
CCR
80072(a)(3)
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80072 Personal Rights (a)... each client shall have personal rights which include, but are not limited to, the following: (3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment..or other actions of a punitive nature, including but not limited to: interference with the daily living functions...
This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
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The Administrator agreed to submit a written plan on how defienciy will be corrected by POC date. Conduct an in-service training to go over personal rights of clients and how to appropriately handle the client while they are exhibiting self injurious behaviors. The training log(s) shall be submitted to LPA by POC due date 09/21/2023.
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Investigation conducted by Investigative
Branch substantiated physical abuse by several staff on clients which poses/posed a health a safety hazard to residents 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: Lisa Hicks
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Alberto Lopez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/14/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5