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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198401289
Report Date: 08/01/2025
Date Signed: 08/01/2025 05:08:24 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
07/28/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Elka Chavez
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 54-CC-20250728091333
FACILITY NAME:FULL STEAM AHEAD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
198401289
ADMINISTRATOR:MARIA VICENCIOFACILITY TYPE:
860
ADDRESS:12235 CENTRALIA STREETTELEPHONE:
(310) 701-3931
CITY:LAKEWOODSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90715
CAPACITY:28CENSUS: 10DATE:
08/01/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:00 AM
MET WITH:Amber CookTIME COMPLETED:
01:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Unlicensed Care
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Elka Chavez and Crystal Green conducted an unannounced visit to the above facility in response to a complaint allegation filed with the Department. Licensing staff met with Facility Representative, Amber Cook, and explained the reason for the visit.

Monterey Park South West Regional Office received a complaint allegation of unlicensed care being provided at 12235 Centralia Street, Lakewood, CA 90715. Upon arrival, licensing staff observed a total of 10 children and 5 adults in the outdoor play yard. This location was previously granted a licensed to operate under “In Mom’s Arms” – 198401289. However, on May 23, 2025, The Department received notification from the licensee representative that the facility will be closing effective May 30, 2025. On June 26, 2025, the license became invalid due to the licensee standing with the Franchise Tax Board remaining in Forfeiture Status.

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Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Elka Chavez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
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 54-CC-20250728091333
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: FULL STEAM AHEAD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 198401289
VISIT DATE: 08/01/2025
NARRATIVE
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Facility Representative, Amber Cook, was made aware on June 27, 2025, that the license was no longer valid and all provisions of care and supervision must cease at the above location.

Per Facility Representative, she continued to operate the childcare center to prevent the children from being displaced while the application was under review. During this inspection, Licensing staff obtained documentation from Ms. Cook pertaining to the ownership status of the previous licensee.

A license is required for a person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation to operate a childcare facility (Health and Safety Code Section 1596.80). Based on LPAs observation and the disclosure made by Ms. Cook that she was aware that the license had been forfeited, it is determined that this location is operating as a childcare facility without a valid license: the allegation is substantiated. There is an application request that was submitted by Amber Cook as the Applicant Representative on June 11, 2025, that is currently under review and pending with the Department.

During this inspection, Amber Cook was informed by licensing staff that childcare services must cease operating while the application process is under review and care cannot be provided until a license has been granted.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Elka Chavez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 54-CC-20250728091333
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK SW RO, 1000 CORPORATE CENTER DR 200B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: FULL STEAM AHEAD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 198401289
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/01/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
08/01/2025
Section Cited
HSC
1596.80
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H&S 1596.80 OPERATION WITHOUT A LICENSE No person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation shall operate, establish, conduct, or maintain a child care facility in this state without a current valid license, therefore, provided in this act. This poses an immediate health and safety risk to the children in care.
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The facility must cease its operation of providing childcare services until the application process is complete and a license is granted.
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Based on the LPA observations and the conversation with the owners, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met therefore the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.
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HSC
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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: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Elka Chavez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/01/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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