374604330-1-31-2024-08-AS-IESA-D226NJ-20240131195737

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 374604330
Report Date: 01/31/2024
Date Signed: 01/31/2024 03:26:20 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR. #109
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/27/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Liliana Silveira

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 08-AS-20221027161151

FACILITY NAME:	AMARIS CENTER FOR CHANGE		FACILITY NUMBER:	374604330
ADMINISTRATOR:	GASQUE, RUKHSANA		FACILITY TYPE:	775
ADDRESS:	250 E DOUGLAS AVE		TELEPHONE:	(202) 520-3781
CITY:	EL CAJON	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92020
CAPACITY:	40	CENSUS: 35	DATE:	01/31/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	03:00 PM
MET WITH:	Desiree Keene, Team Lead		TIME COMPLETED:	03:30 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff provided client with illegal drugs.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Liliana Silveira conducted an unannounced complaint investigation visit. LPA Silveira introduced themselves, met with Desire Keene and disclosed the purpose of the visit. The purpose of the visit was to deliver complaint findings for the above-mentioned allegation.

The Department’s investigation consisted of interviews with staff, residents and outside sources, as well as a facility records review. It was alleged that facility staff provided illegal drugs to a client. A review of a medical report dated 10/05/20 revealed that Client #1 (C1) is diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A review of C1’s San Diego Regional Center’s (SDRC) Individual Program Plan (IPP) revealed that C1 is intellectually disabled and has a history of substance abuse. During an interview on 10/31/22 with the Administrator of the Day Program, it was revealed that on 10/04/2022 C1 had a domestic dispute with Client #2 (C2) while at Day Program, resulting in C1 being arrested and taken to jail.
[CONTINUED ON LIC 809-C]

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Jennifer Lott
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Liliana Silveira
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/31/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/31/2024

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 08-AS-20221027161151

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR. #109
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: AMARIS CENTER FOR CHANGE	FACILITY NUMBER: 374604330
	VISIT DATE: 01/31/2024

NARRATIVE

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An interview by the Department with C2 on 10/31/22 revealed that when C1 called C2 from jail on 10/04/2022, C1 stated that Day Program Staff #1 (S1) gave them Marijuana. During the interview, C2 was asked if C1 had mentioned that any other drugs were provided by S1 to C1. C2 stated “just Marijuana.” An interview with C1 conducted on 11/01/2022 revealed that C1 was not credible due to inconsistent statements and the inability to answer certain questions. During the interview, C1 was asked if S1 had ever provided Marijuana to C1, C1 stated “no, S1 doesn’t deal Marijuana.” C1 was also asked if they had told C2 that S1 gave them drugs, C1 stated “no.” C1 stated that S1 made it known that they were dealing meth, but when asked if S1 was providing meth to any of the other clients, C1 said “no.”

Interviews with three clients at the Day Program (including C2) also revealed that the clients had never witnessed a staff member at Day Program giving drugs to a client. The clients also stated that they did not have issues with S1 and had never witnessed S1 giving drugs to any client. The interview with the Administrator revealed that S1 was a “good employee” and that all clients liked them. The Administrator also stated that they did not believe the allegation against S1. The Administrator stated that when they spoke to C1 about the allegation, C1 stated that an ex-Day Program client, Client #3 (C3) used to provide C1 with meth. The Administrator stated that C1 may have been upset with S1 for reporting C3’s drug use to the Administrator and turning in their source of meth. C3 was sent to rehabilitation.

During an interview conducted on 10/31/22, S1, the alleged perpetrator, stated that they have never sold drugs and denied ever giving drugs to C1. S1 stated that they couldn’t afford to lose their job. S1 stated that they did not know why C1 would accuse them of distributing drugs. An interview on 10/31/22 with Day Program Staff #2 (S2) also revealed that the clients really like S1. S2 stated that they had never observed S1 do anything inappropriate around the clients. S2 stated that they do not believe S1 would provide drugs to the clients.

Due to inconsistent statements and a lack of corroborating evidence, the allegation that facility staff provided client with illegal drugs is unsubstantiated.

LPA Silveira conducted an exit interview with Desiree. A copy of the Complaint Investigation Report (LIC9099) and Licensee Rights (LIC9058 01-2016) were provided. The signature on this report acknowledges receipt of the rights.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Jennifer Lott
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Liliana Silveira
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/31/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/31/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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