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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 343600372
Report Date: 07/22/2026
Date Signed: 07/22/2026 03:03:23 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO S. CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
07/20/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Katy Velazquez
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 53-CC-20260720105020
FACILITY NAME:MERRYHILL SCHOOL - LAGUNA PARKFACILITY NUMBER:
343600372
ADMINISTRATOR:DUENAS, VANESSAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:6613 LAGUNA PARK DRIVETELEPHONE:
(916) 684-4044
CITY:ELK GROVESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95758
CAPACITY:116CENSUS: 44DATE:
07/22/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:30 AM
MET WITH:Vanessa DuenasTIME COMPLETED:
03:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff left day care child unattended.
Staff did not notify day care child's parents of incident.
Staff did not notifiy CCL of incident.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 07/22/2026, Licensing Program Analyst Katy Velazquez (LPA) conducted an unannounced complaint investigation and delivered the findings for the above allegations. LPA arrived at the center and observed a preschool census of 44 children in attendance. LPA accessed Guardian to determine that all required adults were background cleared and associated to the license. LPA met with Director Vanessa Duenas (D1) and conducted staff interviews. Throughout the course of the investigation, LPA conducted physical plant inspections, on-site observations, interviews, reviewed and collected documentation.
It was alleged that staff left a day care child unattended. Interviews revelaed that on 07/17/2026, a child was left on the playground for approximately 1 minute while his/her teacher and classmates entered the classroom and closed the door. Another staff member observed the child alone on the playground, through a window, and notified the child's teacher. It was alleged that staff did not notify the day care child's parent(s) of the incident. Interviews and a lack of documentation reveled that the child's parent(s) had not been notified that their child was left unattended on 07/17/2026.
CONTINUED ON 9099-C
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Karyn Guerra
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Katy Velazquez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
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 4
Control Number 53-CC-20260720105020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO S. CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827
FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL - LAGUNA PARK
FACILITY NUMBER: 343600372
VISIT DATE: 07/22/2026
NARRATIVE
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It was alleged that staff did not notify CCL of the incident. An Unusual Incident Report was not submitted to the Department regarding the 07/17/2026 incident.
Based on interviews, file reviews, and observations conducted the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED. 1 Type-A deficiency and 2 Type-B deficiencies were cited on subsequent 9099-D pages. D1 acknowledges, that FOR TYPE A DEFICIENCIES ONLY upon receipt, licensee shall post LIC 9099-D with Type A deficiencies for 30 days and provide copies of this licensing report to parents/guardians of children in care at the facility and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. LIC 9224 must be signed by parents/guardians and kept with the children's forms as a receipt whenever any Type A documents are provided by the licensee.
An exit interview was conducted, and the report was reviewed with Director Duenas. LPA provided Licensee Appeal Rights to D1. A Notice of Site visit was posted by LPA and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to, the interior side of the main door for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Karyn Guerra
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Katy Velazquez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 53-CC-20260720105020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO S. CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827

FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL - LAGUNA PARK
FACILITY NUMBER: 343600372
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 07/22/2026
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
07/23/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
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Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation.
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Director Duenas will email LPA the agenda for training on Supervision During Transitions by COB on 07/23/2026.
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This requirement was not met as evidenced by a child being left unattended on the playground on 07/17/2026. This poses/posed an immediate health, safety, or personal right risk to persons(s) 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: Karyn Guerra
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Katy Velazquez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Control Number 53-CC-20260720105020
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO S. CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827

FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL - LAGUNA PARK
FACILITY NUMBER: 343600372
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 07/22/2026
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
07/23/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101212(d)
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Reporting Requirements (d) Upon the occurrence, during the operation of the child care center... a report shall be made to the Department by telephone or fax within the Department's next working day and during its normal business hours. a written report containing the information...
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Director Duenas will watch the video titled "Child Care Reporting Requirements" for Child Care Center Operators available for free at CCLD.childcarevideos.org. Director will email LPA Velazquez that she watched the video in entirety by COB on 07/29/2026.
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shall be submitted to the Department within seven days... This requirement was not met as evidenced by a child being left unattended on 07/17/2026 and no report was made to the Department. This poses/posed a potential health, safety, or personal rights risk to person(s) in care.
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Type B
07/23/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101212(f)
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Reporting Requirements (f) The items specified in (d)(1)(A) through (H) above shall also be reported to the child's authorized representative.
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Director Duenas will notify the parent(s) of the child who was left unattanded on 07/17/2026 of the incident and email LPA a signed Incident Report by COB on 07/23/2026.
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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: Karyn Guerra
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Katy Velazquez
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/22/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4