367750009-6-24-2025-12-CC-LKIG-DHZP4Y-20250626105953

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 367750009
Report Date: 06/24/2025
Date Signed: 06/24/2025 01:15:32 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
04/10/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Kendal Zirbes

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 12-CC-20250410160757

FACILITY NAME:	BARSTOW HEAD START/STATE PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	367750009
ADMINISTRATOR:	PAMELA MCQUAIN		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1121 W MAIN STREET		TELEPHONE:	(888) 543-7025
CITY:	BARSTOW	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92311
CAPACITY:	66	CENSUS: 17	DATE:	06/24/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:00 AM
MET WITH:	Site Supervisor, Neena Malhotra		TIME COMPLETED:	01:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff forced child to nap
Staff handled child in an inappropriate manner
Staff used inappropriate language toward child

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On June 24, 2025, at 10:00am Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kendal Zirbes met with facility representative Neena Malhotra. The purpose of the inspection was to deliver the findings for the above stated allegations.  During the investigation, the Department conducted interviews with children, staff and parents. In addition, a review of the facility records was conducted along with unannounced inspections on April 3, 2025, and April 17, 2025.
On April 7, 2025, the Department received an allegation alleging, staff 2 (S2) sat on child 4 (C4) legs to hold C4 down during nap time. Parent interviews did not support the allegation. A review of the facility records revealed the Center submitted an Unusual Incident Report (UIR) to the Department on April 1, 2025. According to the UIR, the Center received information alleging staff 1 (S1) held down child 2 (C2) during nap time on an unknown date. When questioned by the Department, S1 and S2 denied the allegations and expressed children are not forced to nap and denied they have physically held children down during nap time. The Departments staff interviews provided inconsistent information.
Report continued on page two

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Lady King
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kendal Zirbes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 06/24/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/24/2025

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 12-CC-20250410160757

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551

FACILITY NAME: BARSTOW HEAD START/STATE PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 367750009
	VISIT DATE: 06/24/2025

NARRATIVE

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Report continued from page one
Some staff reported S1 held children by leaning on the child while they were on the cots therefore preventing the child from getting up. Other staff reported they did not observed staff holding down the children during nap time. During the unannounced inspections conducted by the Department on April 3, 2025, and April 17, 2025, S1 and S2 were not working in classrooms therefore the Department was unable to observed S1 and S2 interactions with the children.
A second allegation was received alleging on an unknown date in the beginning of 2025, staff 2 (S2) grabbed child 1 (C1) by the arm, lifted C1 up and dragged C1 to another table. In addition, allegations were received alleging S1 pinched C2 and grabbed C2 by the shirt. Staff interviews did not corroborate the allegation. Parent interviews did not support the allegation. A review of the facility records revealed, the Center submitted an Unusual Incident Report (UIR) to the Department on April 1, 2025. According to the UIR, the Center received information alleging S2 grabbed C2 by the arm on February 19, 2025. S1 and S2 denied the allegations and expressed children are redirected when a challenging behavior is being displayed. During the unannounced inspections conducted by the Department on April 3, 2025, and April 17, 2025, S1 and S2 were not working in classrooms therefore the Department was unable to observed S1 and S2 interactions with the children.
A third allegation was received alleging S1 called C2 “retarded” on an unknown date. Confidential interviews completed with children and staff did not corroborate the allegation. Parent interviews did not support the allegation. S1 denied the allegation when questioned by the Department. During the unannounced inspections conducted by the Department on April 3, 2025, and April 17, 2025, S1 was not working in a classroom, therefore the Department was unable to observed S1 and S2 interactions with the children.

Based on interviews, and record review there is not enough evidence regarding the allegations alleging Staff forced child to nap, Staff handled child in an inappropriate manner, and Staff used inappropriate language toward child. Therefore, the allegations are deemed unsubstantiated at this time. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.

Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. An exit interview was conducted, where this report and appeal rights were reviewed with facility representative Neena Malhotra.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Lady King
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kendal Zirbes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 06/24/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/24/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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