376701437-5-13-2025-51-CC-JREG-DHHUNE-20250610154345

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376701437
Report Date: 05/13/2025
Date Signed: 05/13/2025 03:15:53 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. 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
04/01/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Gerald Poindexter

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 51-CC-20250401134340

FACILITY NAME:	CHILDREN'S CHOICE LEARNING CONNECTION		FACILITY NUMBER:	376701437
ADMINISTRATOR:	SYDNEY HUNTER		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	350 PRESCOTT AVENUE		TELEPHONE:	(619) 499-7524
CITY:	EL CAJON	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92020
CAPACITY:	61	CENSUS: 41	DATE:	05/13/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:00 PM
MET WITH:	Bertha Tapia		TIME COMPLETED:	03:30 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff did not ensure day care child was provided appropriate clothing.
Staff did not communicate incidents to responsible party in a timely manner.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 5/13/25 at 2:00 pm, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Gerald Poindexter made an unannounced visit for the complaint received on 4/1/25 for the purpose of delivering findings on the above reference allegations. LPA met with Bertha Tapia, assistant center director. There were 41 children present in 3 classrooms with 8 staff (including 2 aides). Facility is with ratio.

It was alleged by the Reporting Party (RP) that “staff did not ensure day care child was provided appropriate clothing” and that “staff did not communicate incidents to responsible party in a timely manner” – specifically, to the child’s authorized representative. During the course of the investigation, LPA Poindexter toured the facility, reviewed facility documents, and interviewed the facility staff and parents.

LPA interviews with the RP and staff determined that on 3/17/25 child C1 was hit in the face by another child. Per the center director, the authorized representative of the child who was struck, was sent notification

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/13/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/13/2025

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 51-CC-20250401134340

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: CHILDREN'S CHOICE LEARNING CONNECTION	FACILITY NUMBER: 376701437
	VISIT DATE: 05/13/2025

NARRATIVE

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of the incident via the ProCare app which stated that the child’s teacher “immediately offered him an ice pack.” This notification did not reach the intended recipient, and the message was not received until 3/18/25. Per the center director, the app was being updated on 3/17/25, which may have caused messages to not be received. Staff interviewed identified the app as the only method used for notification about the hitting incident. The authorized representative also was not notified at pick up time, on 3/17/25. Per page 34 of the facility’s Parent Handbook, which is submitted with the Admissions Agreement, and signed before a child can attend: “If a minor scratch, bump, or bruise occurs during play, parents will be informed through the ProCare app and when the child is collected.”

LPA interviews with the RP and staff determined that on 3/20/25 child C2, who was in the stages of being potty trained, was permitted to leave the facility, at pick up time, with neither underwear nor a diaper. Multiple staff members interviewed acknowledge that “there was a misunderstanding” and that they “forgot” to put underwear on the child after naptime, which was part of the child’s routine. Multiple staff also acknowledged that, at the time, “there were a few pairs of underwear” available in the child’s storage cubby. LPA has determined that this lapse resulted in the staff not meeting the child’s needs.

Based on the information obtained during interviews and documentation reviewed, it is determined that both allegations are valid because the preponderance of the evidence has been met. Therefore, the allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

See LIC9099D for Type B deficiencies cited.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Bertha Tapia, assistant center director. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100. Appeal rights were provided.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/13/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/13/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 51-CC-20250401134340

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: CHILDREN'S CHOICE LEARNING CONNECTION	FACILITY NUMBER: 376701437
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 05/13/2025

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 06/12/2025 Section Cited CCR 101219(f)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Admission Agreements: (f) The licensee shall comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the admission agreement. This requirement is not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Assistant center director, Ms. Tapia, stated that, center director will provide a written Statement of Understanding to LPA by 6/12//25 to reflect that, in the
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on information obtained during interviews and record review, the licensee failed to comply with the regulation above as child C1’s authorized representative, per the facility’s Parent Handbook, was not notified of a hitting incident, which poses a potential health, safety or personal right risk to children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	future, the facility will adhere to all aspects of the Admission Agreement signed by parents, including Parent Handbook policies. Director agrees that any amendments to the Admissions Agreement be submitted to Licensing for approval.
Type B 06/12/2025 Section Cited CCR 101216(a)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Personnel Requirements: (a) Child care center personnel shall be competent to provide the services necessary to meet the individual needs of children in care and shall at all times be employed in numbers sufficient to meet those needs. This requirement is not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Assistant center director, Ms. Tapia, stated that the facility will conduct a re-training for infant staff and Laybugs classroom staff on “Toilet Learning” as described in the Parent Handbook. Facility will submit a copy of the training
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on interviews, the LPA determined that facility staff neglected to outfit child C2 with supplied underwear necessary to meet the child’s personal needs, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	agenda and a signed/dated attendance sheet to LPA Poindexter by the POC due date. Email: Gerald.Poindexter@dss.ca.gov.

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: Joelle Redding
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Gerald Poindexter
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/13/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/13/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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