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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198601937
Report Date: 10/30/2025
Date Signed: 10/30/2025 03:17:44 PM

Document Has Been Signed on 10/30/2025 03:17 PM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO ASC, 400 CONTINENTAL BLVD, STE 340
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME:BRIGHTER OUTLOOK IFACILITY NUMBER:
198601937
ADMINISTRATOR/
DIRECTOR:		WENDY DE LEONFACILITY TYPE:
775
ADDRESS:2110 E. GLADWICK STREETTELEPHONE:
(310) 631-2070
CITY:RANCHO DOMINGUEZSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90220
CAPACITY: 90CENSUS: DATE:
10/30/2025
TYPE OF VISIT:OfficeUNANNOUNCEDTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION BEGAN:
02:00 PM
MET WITH:Wendy De leonTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION COMPLETED:
03:00 PM
NARRATIVE
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On 10/30/2025, at 2:00 pm, an office meeting was held in the El Segundo Adult & Senior Office. Present during the meeting were Benita Yates Regional Manager, Janae Hammond Licensing Program Manager (LPM), Perry Scott Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) and Administrator Wendy De Leon. The purpose of the meeting was to deliver findings for a case management investigation conducted by the department.

The investigation consisted of the following: On 03/27/2025 the department conducted a case management visit and met with Wendy De Leon, Administrator (S1). A subsequent visit was completed by the department on 04/24/2025. During the initial case management visit, the department conducted a tour of the facility’s physical plant and observed clients in care. The department obtained copies of the following documents: ID and Emergency Information (Dated: No Date), Incident Report (Dated: 03/26/2025), Face Sheet (Dated: No Date), Personnel Report (Dated: 03/17/2025), South Central Los Angeles Regional Center Individual Program Plan (Dated: 10/30/2023), Individual Service Plan (Dated: 11/01/2024), Client Roster (Dated: March 2025), Staff to Client Ratio Level One Distribution (Dated: 03/26/2025), Annual Progress Report (Dated: 11/2024), Functional Capability Assessment (Dated: No Date), Medical Visit Record (Dated: 07/24/2023), Administrator Certificate & Trainings, and In-Service Training (Dated: 09/24/24-10/25/24) from the facility.

Report Continued on LIC 809-C

NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Janae Hammond
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Perry Scott
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE: DATE: 10/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE: DATE: 10/30/2025
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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California Health & Human Services Agency
California Department of Social Services

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT California law requires a public report of each licensing visit/inspection. This report is a record for the facility and the licensing agency. This report is available for public review; therefore, care is taken not to disclose personal or confidential information. Inquiries concerning the location, maintenance, and contents of these reports may be directed to the Licensing Program Analyst or Regional Office whose address and telephone number are listed on the front of this form.

DEFICIENCIES A deficiency is an instance of noncompliance with licensing requirements, including applicable statutes, regulations, interim licensing standards, operating standards, and written directives. Applicants/ licensees must be notified in writing of all licensing deficiencies. Deficiencies are listed on the left side of this form, and the applicable licensing requirement upon which the deficiency is identified. There are two types of deficiencies:
  • Type A deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, if not corrected, have a direct and immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care.
  • Type B deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, without correction, could become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care, a recordkeeping violation that could impact the care of said persons and/or protection of their resources, or a violation that could impact those services required to meet the needs of persons in care.

PLANS OF CORRECTION (POCs) The licensing agency is required to establish a reasonable length of time to correct a deficiency. In order to set the time, the licensing agency must take into consideration the seriousness of the violation, the number of persons in care involved, and the availability of equipment and personnel necessary to correct the violation. Applicants/licensees are requested to provide a specific plan for each violation on the right side of the form across from each deficiency. The more specific the plan, the less chance exists for any misunderstanding in setting time limits and reviewing corrections. The applicant/licensee who encounters problems beyond their control in completing the corrections within the specified time frame may request and may be granted an extension of the correction due date by the licensing agency.

CORRECTION NOTIFICATION The applicant/licensee is responsible for completing all corrections and promptly notifying the licensing agency of corrections. Applicants/licensees are advised to keep a dated copy of any correspondence sent to the licensing agency concerning corrections, or if corrections are telephoned to the licensing agency, the date, person contacted, and information given.

CIVIL PENALTIES The licensing agency is required by law to issue a Penalty Notice, when applicable, to all facilities holding a license issued by the licensing agency, or subject to licensure, except Certified Family Homes, Resource Families, and Foster Family Homes, or any governmental entity.

PENALTY NOTICE GIVEN The statement concerning civil penalties serves as a penalty notice on this Licensing Report and failure to correct cited licensing deficiencies will result in civil penalties. Applicants/ licensees are required to pay civil penalties when administrative appeals have been exhausted and in accordance with any payment arrangements made with the licensing agency.

APPEAL RIGHTS The applicant/licensee has a right without prejudice to discuss any disagreement in this report with the licensing agency concerning the proper application of licensing requirements. The applicant/ licensee may request a formal review by the licensing agency to amend or dismiss the notice of deficiency and/ or civil penalty. Requests for review shall be made in writing within 15 business days of receipt of a deficiency notification or civil penalty assessment. Licensing deficiencies may be appealed pursuant to the procedures in the LIC 9058 Applicant/Licensee Rights.

AGENCY REVIEW The licensing agency review of an appeal may be conducted based upon information provided in writing by the applicant/licensee. The applicant/licensee may request an office meeting to provide additional information. The applicant/licensee will be notified in writing of the results of the agency review within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the licensing agency.

EMAIL REQUIREMENT Adult Community Care Facilities, Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill, and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are required to provide and maintain an active email address of record with the licensing agency.

LIC809 (FAS) - (09/23)
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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
EL SEGUNDO ASC, 400 CONTINENTAL BLVD, STE 340
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: BRIGHTER OUTLOOK I
FACILITY NUMBER: 198601937
VISIT DATE: 10/30/2025
NARRATIVE
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As a part of the investigation, the department obtained copies of Harbor UCLA Medical Center medical records for client (C1), requested and obtained Emergency Medical Services (EMS) report and 911 audio call from LAFD City Fire, and obtained the death certificate for the client. Additionally, the investigator conducted interviews with staff (S1-S4), witness (W1), and client (C2).

The investigation revealed the following: Incident- Neglect/lack of care leading to death. Client passed away after a choking incident at the adult day program due to negligence and lack of care.

It is alleged that Client (C1) died as a result of choking because their food was not prepared in accordance with the dietary requirements outlined in the South-Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) Individual Program Plan (IPP) and physician’s orders. The Department reviewed C1’s death report, which indicated that C1 passed away on March 26, 2025, at approximately 12:24 p.m. at LAC Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The immediate cause of death was listed as “Sequelae of Choking.”

On April 17, 2025, from 2:05 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Department interviewed Witness (W1). Additional interviews were conducted on April 24, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with Staff (S1–S4) and Client (C2) regarding the incident.

Staff #1 stated that all staff were aware of C1’s IPP, which specified that C1 required a chopped diet due to specific dietary needs. Staff #2 through #4 confirmed they were on duty the day of the incident and acknowledged awareness of the event. Two of the three direct care staff confirmed they were aware of C1’s dietary restrictions.

According to staff statements, C1 began choking while eating regular-sized crinkle-cut French fries and a mini donut during lunchtime—neither of which had been chopped. Review of C1’s SCLARC IPP confirmed that C1 required a chopped diet. The Department also reviewed SCLARC’s corrective action report, which concluded that staff failed to ensure that C1’s food was prepared according to these dietary specifications.

Report Continued on LIC809-C

NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Janae Hammond
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Perry Scott
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/30/2025
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
EL SEGUNDO ASC, 400 CONTINENTAL BLVD, STE 340
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: BRIGHTER OUTLOOK I
FACILITY NUMBER: 198601937
VISIT DATE: 10/30/2025
NARRATIVE
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Staff #2 admitted to offering and feeding C1 unmodified food items, stating they believed the fries and donut were small enough for C1 to safely consume. When staff observed that C1 was turning blue and having difficulty breathing, they immediately sought assistance and called 911.

Witness (W1) confirmed that C1 was on a strictly modified diet consisting of chopped and/or mechanical soft foods. W1 stated that, during their initial interview with staff, the staff admitted to providing C1 with whole French fries and a mini donut, neither of which had been chopped. W1 also reported inconsistencies regarding staff-to-client ratios at the day program on the date of the incident.

Based on interviews conducted and records reviewed, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above incident is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 6 and Chapter 3 are being cited on the attached LIC 809D. An immediate $500-dollar civil penalty was assessed.

At this time, the department is conducting an analysis of this incident for a possible Enhance Civil Penalty determination for a violation that resulted in the death of a client in accordance with Health & Safety Code h and safety code Section 1548(e)(2)(B) Civil penalties. This violation resulted in a death caused by staff neglect by not following the clients' Individual Program Plan (IPP).

An exit interview was conducted, and a hard copy of this Report was provided to Wendy De Leon, Administrator.

NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Janae Hammond
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Perry Scott
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/30/2025
LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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Document Has Been Signed on 10/30/2025 03:17 PM - It Cannot Be Edited


Created By: Perry Scott On 10/30/2025 at 12:18 PM
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
, 400 CONTINENTAL BLVD, STE 340
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: BRIGHTER OUTLOOK I
FACILITY NUMBER: 198601937

DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/30/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
10/31/2025
Section Cited
CCR
82078(a)

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82078(a) Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision. (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision necessary to meet the client's needs and all services specified in the admission agreement. This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
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The Licensee will submit training for all staff on all clients’ dietary restrictions and submit proof of the training by POC due date of 10/31/2025. Email proof of training with staff signatures to LPA Perry Scott’s address at perry.scott@dss.ca.gov. An immediate $500.00 civil penalty was assessed.
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Based on interviews conducted and records reviewed the facility did not comply with the section above by not following C1 dietary restrictions which resulted in C1 choking to death. This posed an immediate health & Safety risk to clients 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.
Janae Hammond
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER:
Perry Scott
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST:
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:
DATE: 10/30/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:
DATE: 10/30/2025


LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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