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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 483010213
Report Date: 08/22/2025
Date Signed: 08/22/2025 01:27:17 PM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 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
06/16/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Melinda Mohr
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20250616094936
FACILITY NAME:GROWING HEARTSFACILITY NUMBER:
483010213
ADMINISTRATOR:ALEXANDRIA BOWERSFACILITY TYPE:
840
ADDRESS:1830 WEST TEXAS STREETTELEPHONE:
(707) 399-8112
CITY:FAIRFIELDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
94533
CAPACITY:42CENSUS: 34DATE:
08/22/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
12:39 PM
MET WITH:Alexandria BowersTIME COMPLETED:
01:40 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff yells at children in care
Staff made an inappropriate comment towards a child in care
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mindy Mohr made an unannounced complaint investigation visit today and met with Director Alexandria Bowers Hunsucker for the purpose of delivering the findings for the above allegations. LPA Mohr previously met with Director Alexandria Bowers on 06/25/2025 to open the complaint.

During the course of the investigation, LPA Mohr conducted interviews, received documents, and made observations. From 06/25/2025 through 08/08/2025, interviews were conducted with Director (D1), staff (S1-S5), children (C1-C5) and adults (A1-A4) and adult interviews attempted.
Continued on LIC9099-C
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Leslie Lepori
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melinda Mohr
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
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 5
Control Number 01-CC-20250616094936
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405
FACILITY NAME: GROWING HEARTS
FACILITY NUMBER: 483010213
VISIT DATE: 08/22/2025
NARRATIVE
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Director stated staff do not yell or speak inappropriately to children but will raise their voices so the children can hear them. Staff interviews (S1, S4 & S5) all state they do not yell or raise their voice to the children while S4 specifically stated staff do not yell at the children, but they will raise their voices to get the attention of the children. S4 further stated staff are not verbally abusive towards the children. S5 stated staff do not raise their voices at the children, however they do talk over the children so it could sound like yelling, it is not aggressive or in a mean tone. S2 stated they have never seen a staff member talk to a child in a rude way, while S3 stated they have said to children “you are not a baby, you do not need to be crying, you are a big kid”. LPA observed D1 tell a child in care “I don’t want to be your friend”. LPA observed the child walk away from D1 and go back to playing. D1 stated she has told children she does not want to be their friend, but they know she is not serious. Adult interviews (A1-A3) all stated their children have told them staff yell, while A1 stated they have never heard any staff talk to children in an inappropriate manner.

Based on the information gathered during this investigation, although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove that the allegation occurred and therefore is determined to be unsubstantiated. There were no Title 22 deficiencies cited. This report was reviewed and discussed with the Director, Alexandria Bowers. Appeal rights were provided. Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days from today's visit. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Leslie Lepori
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melinda Mohr
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 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
06/16/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Melinda Mohr
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20250616094936

FACILITY NAME:GROWING HEARTSFACILITY NUMBER:
483010213
ADMINISTRATOR:ALEXANDRIA BOWERSFACILITY TYPE:
840
ADDRESS:1830 WEST TEXAS STREETTELEPHONE:
(707) 399-8112
CITY:FAIRFIELDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
94533
CAPACITY:42CENSUS: DATE:
08/22/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
12:39 PM
MET WITH:Alexandria BowersTIME COMPLETED:
01:40 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff used an inappropriate form of discipline
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mindy Mohr made an unannounced complaint investigation visit today and met with Director Alexandria Bowers for the purpose of delivering the findings for the above allegation. LPA Mohr previously met with Director Alexandria Bowers on 06/25/2025 to open the complaint. It is alleged that staff use inappropriate forms of discipline specifically that staff throw Legos on the floor and have the children pick them up.
During the course of the investigation, LPA Mohr conducted interviews, received documents, and made observations. From 06/25/2025 through 08/08/2025, interviews were conducted with Director (D1), staff (S1-S5), children (C1-C5) and adults (A1-A4) and adult interviews attempted.
Continued on LIC9099-C
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Leslie Lepori
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melinda Mohr
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 01-CC-20250616094936
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405
FACILITY NAME: GROWING HEARTS
FACILITY NUMBER: 483010213
VISIT DATE: 08/22/2025
NARRATIVE
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D1 admitted a staff member (S3) has taken Legos, dumped them on the floor and will have the children pick them up. D1 further stated children do not always put toys away in the correct bins, and teachers might take those toys, throw them on the floor for the children to put them away correctly. Children’s interviews corroborate with D1’s statement that S3 will dump Legos on the floor and have the children clean them up. C2 stated this happens when children don’t listen, while C3 stated it will happen when children are in trouble and S3 gets mad. Adult interview (A3) stated their child has told them S3 will throw baskets of toys on the floor and have the children pick them up, while A4 stated S3 told them when the children are not listening S3 will take a box of Legos, throw them on the floor, kick them all over, then have the children clean them up.

Based on the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met. Therefore, the above allegation is found to be substantiated. The following violations of the Health and Safety Code section 1596.895; see LIC 9099D. Appeal rights were provided.

Exit interview was conducted, and report reviewed with Director Alexandria Bowers.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days

SUPERVISORS NAME: Leslie Lepori
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melinda Mohr
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 01-CC-20250616094936
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: GROWING HEARTS
FACILITY NUMBER: 483010213
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/22/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
08/29/2025
Section Cited
HSC
101223(a)(3)
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To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication or aids to physical functioning.
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Director stated she will have a training with staff on discipline and the standard of care, along reviewing the teacher handbook.
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This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on interviews S3 has purposely thrown toys on the floor and had children pick them up as a form of discipline. This poses a potential health and safety risk to the children in care.
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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: Leslie Lepori
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Melinda Mohr
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/22/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5