493001831-10-12-2023-01-CC-AHON-CWPSW7-20231017141349

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493001831
Report Date: 10/12/2023
Date Signed: 10/12/2023 05:16:41 PM

Substantiated

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-20230808104713

FACILITY NAME:	KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	493001831
ADMINISTRATOR:	PEPPER, ALEXANDRIA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	6150 STATE FARM DRIVE		TELEPHONE:	(707) 584-0124
CITY:	ROHNERT PARK	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94928
CAPACITY:	96	CENSUS: 11	DATE:	10/12/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:24 PM
MET WITH:	Alexandria Pepper		TIME COMPLETED:	04:10 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff made inappropriate comments regarding day care children

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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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 08/17/23. It has been alleged that staff S5 and S8 have made inappropriate comments towards daycare children.

During the initial investigation visit to the facility on 08/11/23, the LPA met with the center director, Alex Pepper to discuss the allegation. Pepper stated that she does not deny the allegation. Pepper stated that although she has not heard staff S5 or S8 making any inappropriate comments regarding daycare children, she has heard from other staff at the center that they have heard S5 and S8 make inappropriate comments regarding daycare children while in the classroom. The center director stated that upon learning of this, S5 and S8 were both provided informal “coaching” about communicating with children while at the center. Pepper stated that S5 and S8 are no longer employed by this center; their employment was terminated after the center conducted an internal investigation and found the two staff members violated a child’s personal rights in a related incident while in the infant classroom (see complaint control number 01-CC-20230802140827, facility number 493001830).
Continued on LIC9099-C

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/12/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2023

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 3

Control Number 01-CC-20230808104713

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: 493001831
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 10/12/2023

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 10/13/2023 Section Cited CCR 101223(a)(3)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: 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. This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on information obtained through interviews, the center director's own admission, and documents obtained during the investigation, it was corroborated that children's personal rights were violated while at this facility.	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	This deficiency has been cleared. The center director, Alexandria Pepper stated that on 10/09/23 all staff watched the Children's Personal Rights in Care video on the ccld.ca.gov website and reviewed and discussed the written regulation cited above during their all staff meeting on 10/09/23. A sign in sheet with staff names and signatures to verify training was submitted to the LPA via email on 10/09/23.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Specifically, it was corroborated through interviews that S5 and S8 have made inappropriate statements to children regarding their appearance and/or personal hygiene. This poses an immediate health and safety risk to the children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/12/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20230808104713

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: 493001831
	VISIT DATE: 10/12/2023

NARRATIVE

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During the investigation, the LPA interviewed staff members S1-S7 regarding the allegation. Staff S5 was interviewed during the investigation and stated that she denies that she made any inappropriate comments regarding any daycare child. Staff S8 could not be reached for an interview. The LPA was able to corroborate through interviews with the center’s staff that S5 and S8 made inappropriate comments regarding daycare children. Several staff members interviewed stated that they have personally heard S5 and S8 teasing children about their appearance and/or personal hygiene.

Based on information obtained from interviews and documents obtained during the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. An exit interview was conducted, and this report was read and discussed with the facility’s director, Alex Pepper. Appeal rights were provided. The Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Alexis Hollon	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5036
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5026
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/12/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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