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Contra Costa Head Start cited for safety-practice deficiency; county launches corrective plan
Summary
Federal Head Start auditors found a safety-practices deficiency after four incidents; county officials say staff involved were removed, corrective actions are underway and a 30-day remediation period is in effect with a likely 30-day extension request.
Contra Costa County officials told the Board of Supervisors on May 20 that the county’s Head Start program has received a deficiency finding from the Office of Head Start after auditors identified multiple incidents “with the potential to maltreat and endanger the health and safety of children.”
The nut graf: County officials said four brief incidents, three at county-run sites and one at a partner site, were substantiated; all four classroom staff were removed from the classroom and have been separated from employment. County leaders said they have launched a seven-category corrective action program and asked for extra time to finish work on partner-site video camera requirements.
Marla Stewart, director of the Employment and Human Services Department, told supervisors that the deficiency notice followed a risk assessment and a review on April 24. “A deficiency is a systematic or substantial material failure of an agency in the area of performance,” Stewart said. The performance area cited was “safety practices.”
Stewart said Head Start’s review identified four specific incidents during the 12-month review period. She listed them to the board: in September 2024 a nap-mat incident in which a child rolled off a mat and a blanket was tossed over the child’s head; in December 2024 a teacher grabbed a child by the arm; in March 2025 a teacher grabbed a child by the shirt collar; and a fourth reported incident at a partner site. Stewart said none of the children were injured. “All four teachers were removed from the classroom during the investigation and based on the investigations which substantiated the events all four teachers were separated from employment,” Stewart said.
Stewart outlined seven corrective-action areas the county has started: board policy review; internal Head Start procedures; hiring and background-check reviews; stronger staff affirmations of prohibited conduct (including wording taken from Head Start program performance standards); expanded child-safety training for county and partner staff; requiring video cameras at partner sites and access for county investigators; and stepped-up monitoring, including random video review and daily assessments of staff knowledge of prohibited behaviors.
Stewart told the board the program’s 30-day corrective period began May 4 and ends June 3. “Tomorrow, we do plan, unless we hear differently from you, we do plan to submit a request for a 30 day extension,” she said, adding that if the extension is approved the county would complete camera installations and any needed board-policy edits during that additional window.
Sarah Reich, Head Start division manager, summarized monitoring and enrollment figures and confirmed there had been additional partner-site incidents reported during the corrective period; two of those reports remain under investigation, she said. Reich said county-run classrooms do have video cameras in place and that the county will require partner agencies to install and maintain cameras and to give county staff access for investigations.
Supervisors pressed for clarity about reporting and for a tangible timetable. Supervisor John Gioia noted staff had “self-reported” incidents and said the county must guard against discouraging staff from reporting safety concerns. Stewart said video and daily checks will be part of the steps to verify progress.
The board accepted the monthly Head Start update by motion, 5-0. Stewart said Head Start had accepted technical assistance from federal staff and would be working closely with county counsel and the county administrator on contract changes to require partner cameras and other measures.
Ending: County officials said they will return with progress updates after the corrective period and that the board will be informed of any follow-up federal review. If the deficiency is not corrected, program rules allow for further federal action up to grant cancellation; health officials told the board they are working to avoid that outcome.
