493001830-10-27-2023-01-CC-AHON-CX5TPN-20231031145435

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493001830
Report Date: 10/27/2023
Date Signed: 10/27/2023 03:37:00 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
08/08/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20230808104454

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	493001830
ADMINISTRATOR:	PEPPER, ALEXANDRIA		FACILITY TYPE:	830
ADDRESS:	6150 STATE FARM DRIVE		TELEPHONE:	(707) 584-0124
CITY:	ROHNERT PARK	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94928
CAPACITY:	40	CENSUS: 11	DATE:	10/27/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	12:41 PM
MET WITH:	Alexandria "Alex" Pepper		TIME COMPLETED:	02:37 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

-Staff are not reporting incidents to CCL
-Staff are not meeting day care children's needs

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

A follow-up complaint investigation visit was made today by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Y. Yang to deliver complaint investigation findings. Previously, investigation visits were made to the facility by the LPA on 08/11/23 and 10/05/23. It has been alleged that the facility is not reporting personal rights violations to Community Care Licensing and that staff are not meeting day care children’s needs. Specifically, it was alleged that the facility is not meeting children’s needs because children are being moved around to different classrooms and the facility is temporarily closing classrooms for the day due to staff shortage.

During the initial investigation visit to the facility on 08/11/23, the LPA met with the center director, Alex Pepper to discuss the allegations. Pepper stated that she denies the allegations but acknowledges that the center has been short staffed recently due to staff turnover. Pepper stated that there have been instances of daycare children being turned away at morning drop off due to unexpected staff absences. Pepper stated that the infant classroom is currently closed due to the center not having qualified staff with the required infant specific early childhood education (ECE) units, as outlined in Title 22 regulations.
(Continued on LIC9099-C)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Alexis Hollon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/27/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2023

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 2

Control Number 01-CC-20230808104454

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: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 493001830
	VISIT DATE: 10/27/2023

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Pepper also admitted that there have been occurrences in the past where staff without infant and other ECE units have been permitted to work alone in the infant classroom with awake infants.

Pepper stated that it is common practice for the center to combine developmentally similar children from different classrooms under the same license to maintain ratios and help with the staffing shortage. Pepper stated that this is most observed in preschool classrooms. Pepper stated that with the combined classrooms, teachers are still able to provide care and supervision to meet the children’s needs. Pepper stated that children from different licenses are not commingled. In a follow up interview with Pepper on 10/05/23, Pepper stated that the facility recently hired new staff to work in the toddler and preschool classrooms. Pepper stated that the infant classroom is still closed until the center can hire teachers with the proper infant specific ECE units. Pepper stated that all staff are required to receive a criminal record clearance or transfer their existing clearance prior to their initial presence in the facility.

Pepper stated that any time a child suffers an injury or other unusual incident while in care, an incident report is filled out, and the child’s authorized representative is notified. Pepper stated that depending on the severity of the incident, law enforcement, Community Care Licensing, and/or child protective services are also notified. Pepper stated that the most recent incident at the facility involving a teacher roughly handling a child was reported to the child’s authorized representative, Community Care Licensing, and the local child welfare services agency.

During the investigation, the LPA interviewed staff members S1-S7 regarding the allegations. Interviews corroborated the center director’s statements. Based on available information, although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore, the allegations are determined to be unsubstantiated at this time. There were no Title 22 deficiencies cited. This report was reviewed and discussed with the facility’s director, Alex Pepper. Appeal rights were provided. Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days from today's visit.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Alexis Hollon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/27/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/27/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 2