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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 340300163
Report Date: 07/08/2025
Date Signed: 07/08/2025 04:39:24 PM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO CRP RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
03/19/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Chad Cabigon
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 23-CR-20250319144321
FACILITY NAME:HELEN E. COWELL CHILDREN'S CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
340300163
ADMINISTRATOR:ANNETTE JUMPERFACILITY TYPE:
733
ADDRESS:TELEPHONE:
CITY:STATE: ZIP CODE:
CAPACITY:8CENSUS: 8DATE:
07/08/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
03:45 PM
MET WITH:Amanda DrumhellerTIME COMPLETED:
04:30 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff handled minor roughly.
Staff used inappropriate discipline.
Due to lack of supervision, minor punched another minor.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 07/08/2025 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Chad Cabigon conducted an unannounced inspection of this STRTP (Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program) to close the complaint investigation and deliver the findings; LPA met with Clinical Residential Program Manager Amanda Drumheller to whom the following was reported:

On 03/27/2025 LPA initiated the investigation at the STRTP during which time a tour of the facility’s physical plant was conducted as well as interviews with staff and youth. LPA investigated allegations that 1) Staff handled minor roughly, 2) Staff used inappropriate discipline, and 3) Due to lack of supervision, minor punched another minor. Throughout the course of the investigation, a total of seven clients, nine staff, and two family members of clients were interviewed; records were also obtained as part of the investigation.
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE, 9099-C)
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rosa Rodriguez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Chad Cabigon
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/08/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/08/2025
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 2
Control Number 23-CR-20250319144321
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO CRP RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827
FACILITY NAME: HELEN E. COWELL CHILDREN'S CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 340300163
VISIT DATE: 07/08/2025
NARRATIVE
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Of the nine interviewed staff, no one corroborated that a client had ever been kept in the protective separation room (Behavioral Management Center or BMC) for more than 45 minutes; out of seven confidential client interviews, only one other client (apart from the alleged victim) stated that youth have been kept in the separation room for one and a half hours or more—this client described having been kept in the separation room for as long as five hours but that the usual amount of time that a youth is in the BMC is five minutes.

Six out of seven youths interviewed did not confirm experiencing, or having witnessed or heard of, any client being lifted, dragged, or otherwise forcibly taken by staff to the BMC. All nine staff interviewed were consistent in describing the protocol for utilization of the BMC, including which actions by staff are allowed and which are prohibited in trying to get youth to the separation room—particularly, staff were in corroboration that when a client drops their weight staff can only wait for that client to get back up, and that no kind of lifting is ever allowed.

Regarding a youth being hit by another peer, three of the seven clients interviewed corroborated this but described it only within the context of peer-to-peer fighting involving the client in question, with one of the other clients characterizing the said youth as the actual aggressor.

Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur; therefore, the allegations are Unsubstantiated.

Exit interview conducted; a copy of this report is being provided to the facility along with the Appeal Rights.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rosa Rodriguez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Chad Cabigon
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/08/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/08/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 2