483009279-9-25-2023-01-CC-LLEI-CW22TJ-20230925174046

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 483009279
Report Date: 09/25/2023
Date Signed: 09/25/2023 03:44:38 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
06/28/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Melchisedeck Augustin

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20230628161104

FACILITY NAME:	WALKER, CHARMENA FCCH		FACILITY NUMBER:	483009279
ADMINISTRATOR:	WALKER, CHARMENA		FACILITY TYPE:	810
ADDRESS:			TELEPHONE:	(707) 267-1470
CITY:	SUISUN CITY	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94585
CAPACITY:	14	CENSUS: 2	DATE:	09/25/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	03:00 PM
MET WITH:	Charmena Walker - Licensee		TIME COMPLETED:	04:00 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff did not prevent daycare children from being bullied by other daycare children

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Melchisedeck Augustin made an unannounced complaint-investigation visit and met with Licensee (LS), Charmena Walker, for the purpose of delivering finding for the above allegation. LPA previously met with LS on 07/03/23 to initiate the investigation by discussing the purpose of the visit, conducting an interview with LS and staff; and requested a facility roster of the children currently in care. It is alleged that staff did not prevent daycare children from being bullied by other daycare children. The report noted that children (C1 & C2) were hit and verbally belittled by other children in the presence of staff, but; staff did not take positive steps to stop the bullying.

LPA interviewed LS, one staff (S1), two children (C3 & C5), two adults (A1& A2) and two parents (P1 & P2), starting on 07/03/23 through 09/19/23. Some children were not verbal, too young to interview, did not qualify to be interviewed, or were unavailable to be interviewed. LS denied claims about children being bullied at the facility, and stated she did not allow bullying, and the facility had a strict policy on no fighting and/or bullying, and any repeated violation of the policy may result in termination of a child’s contract. (Continue to LIC 9099-C)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin	TELEPHONE: (707) 494-4918
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/25/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/25/2023

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 01-CC-20230628161104

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: WALKER, CHARMENA FCCH	FACILITY NUMBER: 483009279
	VISIT DATE: 09/25/2023

NARRATIVE

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LS did note that a child (C3) cursed and made derogatory comments towards other children, and in a prior incident when S1 went to pick the children up from school, C3 punched another child (C4) in the face and then C3 jumped in the vehicle, resulting in C4 crying. According to LS, C3’s contract was terminated due to repeated violations of the policy. The tools staff utilized to resolved conflict(s) between children included separating and talking with children, modeling behavior(s), encouraging children to express their feeling(s) by writing it down on paper, and notifying parents of their child’s behaviors. To LS’s knowledge, C1 & C2 were never bullied, and LS was unaware of C3 bullying other children. S1 did not report any concerns about children being bullied and claimed she never saw C3 bully any other children with exception to C3 getting into non-profane verbal altercation with C4. S1 confirmed the facility had strict policy on children not bullying others, and the discipline policy included asking children to sit down on a chair for a timeout in the family room.

Statements provided by C3 & C5 did not report concerns related to children being bullied or concerns about lack of or absence of supervision. Statements indicated children and staff were nice to each other, the children felt safe at the facility; and LS and S1 were always present to supervise the children. The children did not report any current or prior incident(s) of children being bullied but confirmed that if they saw a child being bullied, they would report acts of bullying to staff.

Statements provided by A2, P1 & P2 did not report concern(s) of children being bullied, and parents stated their child never disclosed any incident(s) of being bullied. Parents expressed when they dropped their child(ren) off at the facility, LS and S1 were always present, their child(ren) did not appear to be afraid of the other children in care, and A2, P1 & P2 confirmed they never saw or heard any child(ren) being bullied by another child while they were present at the facility.

Based on the investigation, there were no witnesses or conclusive evidence to confirm C1 & C2 were hit and verbally belittled by other children in the presence of staff, and/or staff did not take adequate steps to prevent daycare children from being bullied by other children. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. 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. There was no violation(s) of California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12 cited at this time. Appeal Rights were provided.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin	TELEPHONE: (707) 494-4918
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/25/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/25/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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