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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376600887
Report Date: 11/24/2025
Date Signed: 11/25/2025 08:09:05 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/02/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Adrian Castellon
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 20-CC-20250902111558
FACILITY NAME:ECS MONTGOMERY HEAD STARTFACILITY NUMBER:
376600887
ADMINISTRATOR:MARIA CABELLOFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:3240 PALM AVENUETELEPHONE:
(619) 424-4027
CITY:SAN DIEGOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92154
CAPACITY:120CENSUS: 23DATE:
11/24/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:45 AM
MET WITH:Lucy AguirreTIME COMPLETED:
11:10 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff member violated the personal rights of a child in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 11/24/25 at 8:45am Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Adrian Castellon conducted an unannounced complaint inspection for the purpose of delivering the complaint finding for the above listed allegation. Upon arrival LPA met with Site Supervisor Lucy Aguirre, discussed the purpose of the inspection, and proceeded to tour the facility. During the inspection there were twenty-three children in care with thirteen staff members present.

It was alleged that staff member violated the personal rights of a child in care. During the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with facility staff, children in care, and day-care parents. Reporting Party was interviewed. LPA Castellon obtained video footage of a classroom incident. A staff member written statement was obtained. Two unannounced inspections were conducted.

Video footage shows a staff member forcibly coerce, hold and place child in care on sleeping mat. Video footage also shows that child did not wish to nap or be on the mat.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Adrian Castellon
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
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 20-CC-20250902111558
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
FACILITY NAME: ECS MONTGOMERY HEAD START
FACILITY NUMBER: 376600887
VISIT DATE: 11/24/2025
NARRATIVE
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Based on interviews, review of video footage and staff member written statement, sufficient evidence supports Staff member violated the personal rights of a child in care. The preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12 & Chapter 3, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

LPA informed Site Supervisor that this report dated 11/24/2025 document(s) (1) Type A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA informed Site Supervisor to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 11/24/2025 that documents a Type A citation to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

Exit interview conducted and this report was reviewed with Site Supervisor. A Notice of Site Visit was provided and must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Adrian Castellon
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 20-CC-20250902111558
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: ECS MONTGOMERY HEAD START
FACILITY NUMBER: 376600887
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 11/24/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
11/24/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(3)
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101223 Personal Rights: (a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (3)To be free from "... coercion, threat.. but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting...". Based on interviews conducted and video
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Site Supervisor states that an all staff meeting will be held on11/26/25 and 12/19/25 where regulation 101223(a)(1) will be reviewed and discussed. Staff members will sign attendance sheet and sheet will be submitted to the Regional Office. Staff member involved in incident has been placed
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footage reviewed, the facility did not ensure that child in care was free from coercion where child was coerced to lay on the sleeping mat . Child was physically forced to remain on sleeping mat during nap time. This poses an immediate Health, Safety or Personal Rights risk to persons in care.
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on administrative leave pending investigation and will not return as an employee. Site Supervisor will remind staff that a child does not have to stay on the sleeping mat during nap time and other activities (reading, coloring, outdoor play) are available options.
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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: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Adrian Castellon
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 11/24/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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