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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 336300003
Report Date: 03/21/2022
Date Signed: 03/21/2022 11:55:54 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/23/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Nasha King
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20220223134037
FACILITY NAME:FIRST SCHOOL-PALM DESERTFACILITY NUMBER:
336300003
ADMINISTRATOR:THERESA BRODYFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:73-247 HOVELY LANE WESTTELEPHONE:
(760) 568-1889
CITY:PALM DESERTSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92260
CAPACITY:74CENSUS: 44DATE:
03/21/2022
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:15 AM
MET WITH:Theresa Broady, DirectorTIME COMPLETED:
12:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Reporting Requirements- Facility failed to meet reporting requirements.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On the date and time listed, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Nasha King and Cindy Hamilton arrived at the facility for the purpose of delivering the complaint finding regarding the investigation of the above-referenced allegation. On 02/23/2022, Community Care Licensing (CCL) received a complaint alleging that facility failed to meet reporting requirements. An initial 10-day visit was conducted on 03/03/2022. During this time, interviews were conducted with three (3) staff members, and LPA King obtained pertinent documents/information regarding the investigation. Due to the need to review the documents/information provided and obtain additional information, the investigation was extended.

During today’s visit, LPAs were greeted by Candida Aleman-Lenk, Assistant Director. LPA Hamilton toured the facility and conducted census. After the facility tour concluded, at approximately 10:30 AM, LPAs met with the Director, Theresa Brody and discussed the conclusion of the complaint investigation.

See LIC 9099C (pg 2) for a continuation of this report.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Nasha King
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
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 10-CC-20220223134037
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: FIRST SCHOOL-PALM DESERT
FACILITY NUMBER: 336300003
VISIT DATE: 03/21/2022
NARRATIVE
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In regard to the allegation facility failed to meet reporting requirements, confidential interviews revealed that facility staff notified all parents of the two (2) positive COVID-19 cases/exposures that occurred at the facility on or around 02/03/2022. Interviews with parents also corroborated the facility staffs’ statements. During interviews conducted with staff on 03/03/2022, LPA was informed that there were no additional positive COVID cases reported to staff. On 03/11/2022, LPA King contacted the Director via email to retrieve additional information for the investigation, asking Ms. Brody again if there were any further COVID-19 cases reported to the facility due to COVID cases/exposures that was reported back in February 2022. The Director informed LPA King via email that the facility did receive a notification from a parent on 02/08/2022, indicating that their child (C1) along with their entire family tested positive for COVID. However, the email was not opened/read until 02/09/2022, as the parent’s email was sent after the facility closed for the day. Additionally, according to Ms. Brody, the family did not provide any verification of their positive COVID-19 test results to the facility staff. The Director also advised LPA King that due to the situation and the lack of any kind of documentation of the positive test results, they did not feel that there was a correlation between the exposure at school and the claim that the entire family was COVID positive, especially since no other families had notified the facility of any additional sicknesses.

Based upon the information gathered and the Director's own admission that the facility was notified of a third positive COVID-19 case when the two previous positives cases occurred in February and the staff did not notify parents, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, and therefore, the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

See LIC 9099D for deficiency cited.

An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was reviewed and provided to the Director Theresa Brody. Appeal rights were discussed and provided during the exit interview.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Nasha King
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 10-CC-20220223134037
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: FIRST SCHOOL-PALM DESERT
FACILITY NUMBER: 336300003
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 03/21/2022
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
04/05/2022
Section Cited
CCR
101212(f)
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101212 Reporting Requirements
(f) The items specified in (d)(1)(A) through (H) above shall also be reported to the child's authorized representative.
The requirement was not met as evidenced by:
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The Director agrees to stay in compliance with the Reporting Requirements set forth by the California Code of Regulations Title 22 and will provide a refresher training on Reporting Requirements to all staff. The Director will provide the training sign-in sheet, a copy of the training agenda, and training content to LPA King via email (nasha.king@dss.ca.gov) on or before the due date of 04/05/2022.

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Based on the Director's own admission via email correspondence, the Licensee did not notify parents/authorized representatives of the third positive COVID-19 case that was reported to the facility on 02/08/2022, which poses a 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.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Nasha King
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/21/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3