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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020451
Report Date: 12/12/2024
Date Signed: 12/12/2024 11:27:17 AM

Document Has Been Signed on 12/12/2024 11:27 AM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME:MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
198020451
ADMINISTRATOR/
DIRECTOR:		MICHELLE BENITEZFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:13841 CHRISTINE DR.TELEPHONE:
(562) 696-5114
CITY:WHITTIERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90605
CAPACITY: 28TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN: 20CENSUS: 19DATE:
12/12/2024
TYPE OF VISIT:Case Management - DeficienciesUNANNOUNCEDTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION BEGAN:
09:20 AM
MET WITH:Director, Michelle BenitezTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION COMPLETED:
10:30 AM
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Lilli Babcock conducted a Case Management-Deficiencies visit on 12/12/24 to address deficiencies revealed during a complaint investigation. A COVID risk assessment was conducted. LPA met with Director, Michelle Benitez to whom the reason for the visit was explained. LPA observed nineteen (19) children and three (3) staff present at the facility during this inspection.

On 10/22/24, 10/24/24, 10/28/24, and 12/5/24, LPA Babcock visited the facility to conduct complaint investigation visits. Interviews with staff and school-age children which were conducted during the complaint investigations revealed children from the School-Age Licensed classroom (Butterfly) have commingled with other age groups and gone to the Preschool licensed classroom (Twigs and Branches) or the Private School (Caterpillar) Classroom for care at the end of the day on multiple occasions in order to maintain ratio. The Private School (Caterpillar) classroom is not licensed by California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care Licensing.


During interviews conducted, Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, Child #4, Child #5, Child #7, Staff #1, and Staff #5 stated that children from the School-Age Licensed classroom have commingled with other classes and gone to the Preschool licensed classroom or the Private School (Caterpillar) Classroom for care at the end of the day on multiple occasions in order to maintain ratio. Child #1 stated, "when we are here we are outside and then we split up and go to inside classes. That means one of us goes to Twigs and Branches class and some go to Caterpillar class". Child #2 stated, "Sometimes we come in
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SUPERVISORS NAME: Brandi VanOosten
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE: DATE: 12/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE: DATE: 12/12/2024
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020451
VISIT DATE: 12/12/2024
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and go to different rooms. Sometimes we go to Twigs and Branches and sometimes to this room (Butterfly) and sometimes to the Caterpillars. During interviews with School-Age children, children interviewed often brought up the term "split Up". When LPA asked children interviewed what it means to "split up", Child #3 stated, "It means we go to the Twigs and Branches or the Butterfly or the Caterpillars", and Child #7 stated, "Some of us go in this classroom (Butterfly) and some go in the other room (points to Caterpillar classroom)". Additionally, Staff #1 and Staff #5 confirmed that School-Age children have been combined with the Preschool (Twigs and Branches) class or the Private School (Caterpillar) class on multiple occasions. During interviews, LPA asked Staff # 1 and Staff #5 if they know what happens when the children are "split up"? Staff #1 stated, "Yes they are split up and go into the Twigs and Branches, Butterfly, and Caterpillar Classrooms". Staff #5 stated, "The school-agers go into different classrooms"...The Caterpillars, the Twigs and Branches, and the Butterflies.

Based on child and staff interviews conducted, the following deficiency listed on the attached LIC 809D (deficiency page) is being cited in accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 22. Deficiencies that are being cited need to be cleared to protect the children’s health and safety.

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.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director, Michelle Benitez.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Brandi VanOosten
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/12/2024
LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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Document Has Been Signed on 12/12/2024 11:27 AM - It Cannot Be Edited


Created By: Lilli Babcock On 12/12/2024 at 10:51 AM
Link to Parent Document Below:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: MULBERRY TREE PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020451

DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 12/12/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
12/12/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101161(a)

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101161 Limitations on Capacity
(a) A licensee shall not operate a child care center beyond the conditions and limitations specified on the license, including the capacity limitation.
This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
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Director signed a declaration which states the facility will no longer combine the School-Age, Preschool, or Private School Classrooms. Director stated the facility had a staff development meeting on 12/6/24 and Director discussed not commingling children with staff.
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Based on interviews, the facility did not comply with the section cited above as children from the School-Age Classroom are being combined with the Preschool and Private School Classrooms for care, which poses/posed an potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons 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.
SUPERVISOR'S NAME:Brandi VanOosten
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME:Lilli Babcock
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 12/12/2024


LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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