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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 364846139
Report Date: 01/18/2022
Date Signed: 01/19/2022 07:56:13 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN ST., SUITE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
01/13/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Destinee Hogue
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 09-CC-20220113090214
FACILITY NAME:KNOX FAMILY CHILD CAREFACILITY NUMBER:
364846139
ADMINISTRATOR:KNOX, KARENFACILITY TYPE:
810
ADDRESS:TELEPHONE:
(909) 800-9749
CITY:MENTONESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92359
CAPACITY:14CENSUS: 0DATE:
01/18/2022
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:48 AM
MET WITH:Karen KnoxTIME COMPLETED:
12:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Unlicensed Care-Unlicensed care is being provided
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 01/18/2022 at 08:48am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Destinee Hogue and Blanca Ruiz-Silva arrived at the residence to conduct an investigation on the above allegation. LPAs were granted access to the residence by Karen Knox. Present at the time of this inspection were Karen Knox and Zachary Deuel (adult resident). LPAs conducted census and there were no children in care, at the time of this inspection. Ms. Knox has admitted to caring for approximately seven children which are from different families.

It is reported, on more than one occasion during the months of November 2021 through January 2022, Ms. Knox provided care to more than one family prior to obtaining an approved license by the Department. According to reported information, approximately six children were observed leaving the facility and entering approximately five different vehicles, at different times of the day. It is also reported that between four to six children were observed playing in Ms. Knox's front and backyard.

Ms. Knox submitted an application for a Large Family Child Care Home and the application is currently pending due to required documents that are missing and incomplete from the packet and needed to be completed prior to scheduling and conducting a prelicensing inspection.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kimberly Williams
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Destinee Hogue
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
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 09-CC-20220113090214
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN ST., SUITE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: KNOX FAMILY CHILD CARE
FACILITY NUMBER: 364846139
VISIT DATE: 01/18/2022
NARRATIVE
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On 10/21/2021, LPA Hogue spoke with Ms. Knox and discussed missing and incomplete documents from pending family child care home application, including a criminal record clearance/criminal record exemption for an adult residing in the home. During this phone call, LPA Hogue explained to Ms. Knox, once missing and incomplete items are submitted and the pending fingerprints has an Eligible-Clearance or Eligible-Exemption, then an appointment will be made to schedule a prelicensing inspection.

On 12/22/2021 and 12/23/2021, LPA Hogue and Licensing Program Manager (LPM) Kimberly Williams contacted Ms. Knox and reviewed exempt care requirements, unlicensed penalties, and discussed the pending fingerprint status. LPA Hogue and LPM Williams reminded Ms. Knox, a prelicensing inspection could not be scheduled until the pending fingerprints received an Eligible-Clearance or Eligible-Exemption. LPA Hogue and LPM Williams informed Ms. Knox that she is not licensed and she is not allowed to provide care to more than one family that is not related. During phone calls, Ms. Knox admitted she "sometimes cares for more than one family at a time," and informed LPA Hogue and LPM Williams that she would be providing care for one family. Ms. Knox stated she understands Title 22 Regulations for exemption care and understands there is a civil penalty for providing unlicensed care.

During this inspection, LPAs reiterated to Ms. Knox that providing care for more than one family that is not related is a violation of Health & Safety Code 1596.80. Ms. Knox understands that Health and Safety Code Sections 1596.80, and 1597.54 require that you have a license to provide family child care.

Based on Ms. Knox's misconduct to continue to operate unlicensed after being advised by LPA Hogue and LPM Williams not to provide unlicensed care, along with reported information, interviews with pertinent parties, and Ms. Knox's admission to providing care for more than one unrelated family, the Department has determined the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

Ms. Knox stated she agrees to cease illegal unlicensed Family Child Care operation for two weeks. Ms. Knox has agreed to attend an office conference in the Regional Office which will be scheduled in the near future.

See LIC 9099D for cited deficiency. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided to Ms. Karen Knox on this date.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kimberly Williams
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Destinee Hogue
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3
Control Number 09-CC-20220113090214
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 3737 MAIN ST., SUITE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: KNOX FAMILY CHILD CARE
FACILITY NUMBER: 364846139
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 01/18/2022
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
01/19/2022
Section Cited
HSC
1596.80
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Health & Safety Code-1596.80. No person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation shall operate, establish, manage, conduct, or maintain a child day care facility in this state without a current valid license, therefore as provided in this act.
This requirement is not met as evidence by:
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Applicant has submitted an application and application is pending licensure. Ms. Knox agrees to immediately cease illegal unlicensed Family Child Care operation for two weeks and agrees to attend an office conference in the Regional Office which will be scheduled in the near future. Office conference will be held to discuss substantial compliance with
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Based on Ms. Knox's misconduct to continue to operate unlicensed, along with reported information, interviews with pertinent parties, and Ms. Knox admitting to providing unlicensed care and failing to cease unlicensed operation this poses an immediate Health, Safety, or Personal Rights risk to persons in care.
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Title 22 Regulations prior to licensure.
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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: Kimberly Williams
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Destinee Hogue
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/18/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3