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 | C2 further reported licensee pinches and/or flicks children, keeps children restrained in the high chair for a long time, and took a child out of the high chair before LPA entered the home so LPA wouldn’t know the child was in the high chair. C3 also reported licensee hit them with the wooden spoon on the bottom of their feet.
The allegation was further corroborated by guardian and adult interviews. According to a guardian (G9) interview, their child reported that the licensee hit them on the bottom of their feet with a wooden spoon around November 2022. In addition, one day upon pick up of their child, this guardian heard the licensee say that another child was being bad and she couldn’t wait to ‘whip’ him. Guardian G8 reported their children were spanked, slapped, and hit with a spoon on their feet, hands, and butt. According to G4, their child had reported that the licensee would spank children and used the highchair to discipline children ‘for being bad’. A1 reported the licensee had pinched and flicked a child’s foot right before LPAs arrived at the facility on 02/01/2024. In addition, the licensee would hit children on the bottom of their feet and/or on the palms of the hands so the marks wouldn’t show and would use dinosaur toys with sharp tails to poke children.
During the course of the investigation, further interviews confirmed that the licensee would restrain children in the high chair as a form of discipline and/or punishment. G2’s interview stated that the licensee uses highchairs as a form of discipline and had seen children, including her own, over the age of two years in the highchair for ‘time out’. G5 reported their child stated when a child was in trouble, they had to sit in the highchair. Another child C5 reported licensee would put two and three-year-olds in the high chairs because they weren’t listening. Guardian G6 reported licensee placed their child in the high chair as form of discipline called “think about it”. Guardian (G9) also reported licensee used highchairs as a form of discipline.
The evidence obtained through the course of the investigation corroborated the allegation that the licensee hit children and restrained them in highchairs as a form of discipline. Therefore, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met and the above allegation is found to be substantiated. The California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12 & Chapter 1, Section 102423(a)(4) is being cited on attached LIC 9099D . Due to the extent of the personal rights violation and the evidence obtained showing the physical abuse of children in care, the licensee is being issued a Civil Penalty (CP) in the amount of $2000 in accordance with Health and Safety Code 1597.58. LPAs reviewed and provided the Licensee with a copy of this report and the Civil Penalty Assessment-Physical Abuse (LIC421D(CC) during the exit interview. The Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days. Appeal Rights were provided. continued on 9099-C
|