East Palo Alto · Licensed family home

Stephanie Ward Family Child Care

What these mean, and where they come from

Full-size means licensed for 14 children, the most any Bay Area family home holds; 442 of Bay Area’s 466 licensed family homes are. Small is 10 to 13.

Source for who runs it

ccld.dss.ca.gov

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 2 of 5 cited something

Bay Area family homes: the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits.

From California CDSS Community Care Licensing’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — California CDSS Community Care Licensing

Last visit
November 19, 2025
On file
5 visits since February 2022 — 3 cited nothing · 3 complaint investigations
Most serious
Type A — 102370(d): Criminal Record Clearance: All individuals subject to a criminal record review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871 shall prior to working, residing or volunteering in a licensed facility: This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation, interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as there is one adult (A1) working in the home that did not have criminal background clearance or associated, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. · March 26, 2025

California CDSS publishes the full investigation narrative for a complaint, including its disposition, and classifies a citation Type A — an immediate risk to a child — or Type B.

Aug 2025 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · August 29, 2025

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): Provider hit daycare child. INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On November 19th, 2025 at approximately 9:25am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tapia-Mandujano conducted an unannounced complaint investigation and met with assistant, Monet Ward. Per assistant, licensee is out for an appointment. LPA explained the purpose of the visit to assistant was to conclude the complaint investigation. LPA and assistant toured the home for health and safety hazards. Complaint was received by the Department on 08/29/25. Present in the facility is assistant that is caring for 3 preschool age children. All adults working and living in the facility have fingerprint clearance. During the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with licensee, assistant, children, and pertinent individuals. LPA also gathered relevant documents and information. Based on the information gathered through interviews and documents, there is not enough information to prove that provider hit daycare child. Page 2 Continued... Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion:

State report

Jun 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · June 4, 2025

HSC 1596.8662(b)(1) · Type B

(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as both licensee and assistant have not completed the Mandated Reporter Training which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.

State report

Mar 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · March 26, 2025

CCR 102370(d) · Type A

102370(d): Criminal Record Clearance: All individuals subject to a criminal record review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871 shall prior to working, residing or volunteering in a licensed facility: This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation, interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as there is one adult (A1) working in the home that did not have criminal background clearance or associated, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.

State report

Mar 2025 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · March 21, 2025

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): Licensee allows infant to sleep in a car seat Licensee did not report injury to authorized representative Licensee does not allow parents/guardians to enter the home INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On June 4th, 2025 at approximately 9:30am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tapia-Mandujano conducted an unannounced, complaint investigation and met with licensee, Stephanie Ward regarding above allegations and explained the purpose of the visit. LPA and licensee toured the home for health and safety hazards. Complaint was received by the Department on 03/21/25. Present in the facility are licensee and assistant caring for 8 children (1 infant and 7 preschool age). All adults in the facility have fingerprint clearance. During the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with licensee, assistants, parents, and relevant documents were gathered. Based on the information gathered through interviews and documents gathered, there is not enough information to prove: Licensee allows infant to sleep in a car seat, Licensee did not report injury to authorized representative, and Licensee does not allow parents/guardians to enter the home. Although the allegation above may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore, the above allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED. After today’s visit, an exit interview was conducted with licensee, Stephanie Ward. A copy of this report was reviewed and provided to licensee. Upon receipt of this report, Licensee shall post the Notice of Site Visit. The report and the Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to maintain postings as required, will result in an immediate $100 civil penalty. This report is public and can be reviewed. Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion:

State report

May 2024 Licensing visit nothing cited
Feb 2023 Licensing visit nothing cited
Feb 2022 Licensing visit nothing cited

How the comparison is built

Routine visits: across Bay Area family homes, the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits (2,008 visits).

Details

(650) 329-8517

Area
East Palo Alto, 94303
License
410517962, active

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State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

The state’s licensing transparency data reports 2 complaint-related visit(s) to this facility, while 2 complaint investigation report(s) are published on the transparency portal. State complaint counts: substantiated=0, inconclusive=0, unsubstantiated=4, unfounded=CONFIDENTIAL, Type A citations=0, Type B citations=0. The state publishes no further detail for the difference.

Details