Bixby Oaks Children Center

Bixby Oaks Children Center has had many documented health and safety violations and complaints filed against it, including child endangerment and neglect, violation of child and parent handbook rights, failure to correct violations and failure to implement disciplinary measures for its staff and ownership. A collection of accounts from multiple families with children at the center (between 2011 and 2016) confirmed multiple complaints and concerns were filed with the licensing division regarding insect and cockroach infestations, lack of air conditioning, negligence of infants (for example, being left asleep face down in cribs or left to sleep with their heads propped downward in swings), driving children around in a worn-down transportation van (in dirty, poorly condition car seats) and passive-aggressiveness treatment (and retaliation) from teachers, the manager and owner. There is also a history of harassment complaints involving the maintenance man, who happens to be the owner’s husband. Harassment complaints have also been filed regarding the maintenance man for second-hand intimidation of children and visual ogling of mothers and other female visitors.

What is most alarming is that when violations were cited to the center, at that time, the extent of punishment to the center was only to pay a $100.00 fine, post the disciplinary notice given to the center for parents to see, and have families sign an acknowledgment that they were aware of the notice. Unfortunately, the general public is unaware of this data because the State of California Health and Human Services (specifically the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division) fails to make this information conspicuously public. Specifically, be aware that the center changed its license numbers in 2017 due to a reported “change in ownership.” When the new licenses were issued in 2017, due to a licensing loophole, all of the exiting complaints, violations, etc. associated with the old licenses were archived and closed – and conveniently, with the new licenses, the center was provided a “clean” public profile.

The center has two licenses, which are available for public inspection at the licensing division located at: CCLD Regional Office, 1000 Corporate Center Dr. #200-B, Monterey Park, California 91754. The CCLD office telephone number is: (323) 981-3350. An appointment and fee is required to review records. For reference, the center’s prior (old) license numbers were: #192000056 for the preschool (license closed June 2017) and #192000060 for the infant center (license closed sometime between May and September 2017). The new/current license numbers are: #198018409 for the preschool and #198018410 for the infant center. Both current licenses were applied for in 2016 and issued in 2017.

Regarding “change of ownership,” there was no true change of (or transfer of) ownership. Both the old and new licenses are registered to the same California Corporation name Bixby Oaks, Inc., corporation number C2775386 (issued on 10-24-2005), and the principal officer/owner is Gloria Soto, who was the same director/owner registered to the old licenses (note: public information can be viewed on the California Secretary of State’s website https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/ ).

Yes, you will find positive (even five star) reviews for this center on Google or Yelp, but these reviews were provided by parents who are either police officers, city employees or other similar type professionals, whose children were unlikely to be harassed or mistreated simply because of their parent’s professional influence in the local community. That said, from the collective perspective of parents whose children were unfairly mistreated and endangered by the center, you are urged to confirm the above licensing and violations information with the CCLD Regional Office before you consider trusting this center with your children.

This facility has everything we were looking for in a day program for our child. Unfortunately Bixby Oaks closes at 5:00pm so it did not fit our needs. IF ONLY THEY STAYED OPEN UNTIL 6.
In light of that, we had to choose a less desirable child care center. :(
If 5:00pm works for you, I'm jealous already. We saw a very caring and safe environment for the babies along with the pre-school students (in a separate classroom/building) engaging in fun learning activities. You will love this center, no doubt about it.