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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020157
Report Date: 07/29/2022
Date Signed: 07/29/2022 02:26:39 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, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/20/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20220520114717
FACILITY NAME:LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
198020157
ADMINISTRATOR:ESTHER CHOEFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:213 S HOBART BLVDTELEPHONE:
(213) 380-6236
CITY:LOS ANGELESSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90004
CAPACITY:6CENSUS: 4DATE:
07/29/2022
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:30 AM
MET WITH:Esther ChoeTIME COMPLETED:
11:25 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff did not feed day care child
Staff left day care child in inappropriate clothes for the weather
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Esther Choe.

During the course of this investigation LPA Lee conducted interviews, reviewed records, and made observations in regards to the above allegations.

The complaint alleges that the facility on 0512/2022 did not feed a child in care (Child#1). LPA Lee observed that Child#1 was at the facility for about 6 hours that day. The facility denied this allegation and made no disclosure. The facility stated that although Child#1 did not finish the formula in the bottle the child did consume a portion of the formula after the Staff member made several attempts to feed the child. The facility also stated that although meals are provided, it would not have been appropriate to attempt to feed this to Child#1 since the child was around 6 months old on the day of this incident. The facility also stated that since Child#1 did consume a portion of the formula during multiple attempts to feed the child, the parent was not contacted during the day since it did not seem like a urgent matter to the facility staff.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
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 33-CC-20220520114717
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020157
VISIT DATE: 07/29/2022
NARRATIVE
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LPA Lee did observe a copy of the text messages between the Parent of Child#1 and the facility. The parent had sent a message to the facility after Child#1 was picked up regarding the feeding. The facility Director responded to the message stating that there was no formula or milk in the Child's bag and that the solid food meals prepared by the facility would not have been appropriate since Child#1 is 6 months old. When asked about the messages sent to the parent, the Director stated that there was a misunderstanding between the Staff of the infant room and herself. The Director stated that she was not present at the facility during the day of the incident and misunderstood the explanation from the staff about Child#1. LPA Lee advised the Director to double check with the staff before responding to a parent to avoid communication errors in the future. It was observed from interviews that Child#1 was brought to the facility with formula, but the Child did not consume all of it which prompted the concern from the parent. Since the Director and Staff in the infant room do not use English as a first language, LPA Lee advised the Director on the importance of taking time to check for any errors before communicating with a parent using email or text messaging.

The complaint also alleged that Child#1 was picked up from the facility with a hat and a jacket that the child arrived in the morning. The complaint went on to state that the child's coat and hat should have been removed since the child looked uncomfortable to the parent during pick up. The facility stated that facility does tend to be a bit colder than outside, and the coat and hat were not removed since the child did not look uncomfortable to the Staff in the infant room.

Although Child#1 did not finish the formula in his bottle, the facility did attempt to feed the child multiple times during the 6 hours the child was in the facility. Due to regulations regarding personal rights, a facility staff cannot force a child to drink or eat if he or she does not want to. The same thing applies to the clothing of a child in the classroom. If a child did not seem to be uncomfortable to the staff member in the classroom, than choosing not to remove a child's coat and hat would have been the facility honoring the child's personal rights. Although it is possible that the child was uncomfortable but was not noticed by the facility there is not enough evidence to prove this was the case. Child#1 was at the facility for 1 day for 6 hours. Since the incident involving Child#1 and feeding happened 1 time, there is not enough evidence to suggest that there was a pattern of not feeding the child.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 33-CC-20220520114717
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020157
VISIT DATE: 07/29/2022
NARRATIVE
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Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the allegations that Staff did not feed day care child and Staff left day care child in inappropriate clothes for the weather may be valid. However, there is not enough preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore at this time the above allegations are found to be unsubstantiated.

The notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 days during hours operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.

Exit interview conducted with Director Esther Choe. Appeal rights discussed and explained.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/29/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3