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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 364846139
Report Date: 03/24/2022
Date Signed: 03/24/2022 09:49:41 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
02/01/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Destinee Hogue
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 09-CC-20220201133319
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:
03/24/2022
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:20 AM
MET WITH:Karen KnoxTIME COMPLETED:
10:05 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Unlicensed Care-Unlicensed care is being provided
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 03/24/2022, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Destinee Hogue and Eileen Corral arrived at the residence to conclude an investigation on the above allegation. LPAs were granted access to the residence by Karen Knox. Present at the time of this inspection was Karen Knox and Ms. Knox's minor children. LPAs conducted census and there were no children in care, at the time of this inspection. The following was discussed with Ms. Knox:

It is reported, on more than one occasion during the months of January 2022 through March 2022, Ms. Knox continued to provide unlicensed care to approximately nine children after being informed by the Department on January 18, 2022, January 25, 2022 and January 26, 2022 to cease illegal unlicensed operation.

Ms. Knox submitted an application for a Large Family Child Care Home on September 29, 2021 and the application was denied on January 27, 2022 due to Ms. Knox unwillingness to comply with the Health and Safety Code concerning unlicensed care while the application for licensure was pending.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kimberly Williams
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Destinee Hogue
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/24/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/24/2022
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-20220201133319
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: 03/24/2022
NARRATIVE
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During initial complaint inspection on February 04, 2022, LPAs Hogue and Laura Mejorado interviewed Ms. Knox. During interview, Ms. Knox admitted she has made arrangements with parents to operate as a parent cooperative along with providing care to one family who is not participating in parent cooperative and money is being exchanged for child care services.

LPA Hogue interviewed pertinent parties and it was disclosed that eight parents agreed to participate in a parent cooperative arrangement; however, seven out of the eight parents shared the same responsibility of rotating as the responsible caregiver with respect to all the children in the cooperative and one parent did not share the same responsibility of rotating care. Interviews with pertinent parties disclose that in addition to the parent cooperative, Ms. Knox provided child care services for one family who does not participate in parent cooperative and money is exchanged for child care services.

During this inspection, LPAs reiterated to Ms. Knox that providing care for more than one family that is not related and making arrangements with parents to operate as a parent cooperative 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. On January 26, 2022, a Notice of Operation in Violation of Law (LIC195) was issued to Ms. Knox. On January 26, 2022, Ms. Knox was informed the continuance to provide unlicensed care will result in a civil penalty assessment of $200 per day.

Based on reported information, interviews with pertinent parties, review of documentation and Ms. Knox's admission to operating as a parent cooperative but also exchanging money for child care services with one family who does not participate in the parent cooperative and/or rotate as a responsible caregiver in the cooperative. The Department has determined the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

In accordance with Title 22 Regulation 102393(b)(2)(A), a civil penalty has been assessed during this inspection. “…(b) The $200 per day penalty shall be assessed for the continued operation of an unlicensed facility as follows: (2) Within 10 calendar days of the mailing of the notice of denial, whichever occurs first. (A) The $200 per day penalty shall continue until the operator ceases operation.”

See LIC809D for cited deficiency. Payment is due when billed and the check(s) or money orders shall be made payable to the “California Department of Social Services”. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INVOICE IN THE MAIL. DO NOT SEND MONEY UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR INVOICE. DO NOT SEND CASH. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report and appeal rights (LIC9058) was provided to Karen Knox on this date.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kimberly Williams
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Destinee Hogue
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/24/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/24/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3
Control Number 09-CC-20220201133319
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: 03/24/2022
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
03/24/2022
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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Per Ms. Knox, she ceased parent cooperative agreement on March 04, 2022 which was in violation of the H&S Code due to monetary exchanges and non-participation of one family, who did not act as a responsible caregiver in the cooperative and she is currently only caring for one family’s children, outside of her own family.
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Based on reported information, interviews with pertinent parties, and Ms. Knox's admission to operating as a parent cooperative, in addition to exchanging money for child care services with one family who does not participate in the parent cooperative poses an immediate Health, Safety, or Personal Rights risk to persons in care.
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During this inspection, Ms. Knox stated she understands she cannot operate as a parent cooperative and exchange money for child care services from one family who does not participate in the parent cooperative. A civil penalty has been assessed during this inspection.
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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: 03/24/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/24/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3