San Jose, California – A tragic incident at a child care facility in San Jose has brought to light a history of violations and concerns regarding the safety of the premises. The Happy Happy Home Daycare, operated by Nina Fathizadeh and Shanin Shenas, was the site of a devastating accident where two children drowned in the backyard pool.
State licensing records revealed that the facility had been cited for staffing and monitoring violations, as well as concerns about the accessibility of the backyard pool to the children in its care. Inspectors found gaps in the pool fence and noted that the pool area needed to be made inaccessible to the children. Despite these initial concerns, the operators were issued a license to run the daycare center in January 2021.
However, since being licensed, the facility has been cited six times by state inspectors, including two serious Type A citations related to immediate health or safety concerns. One citation was issued when an adult assistant in the daycare did not undergo the required criminal record clearance, while another was given when the facility exceeded the allowed number of infants being cared for at one time.
In a tragic turn of events, two children, identified as 1-year-old Payton Cobb and 1-year-old Lillian Hanan, lost their lives in the backyard pool. A third child was fortunately rescued with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident has prompted an investigation by the California Department of Social Services, and the owners of the daycare have not responded to requests for comment. This heartbreaking event serves as a reminder of the critical importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children in childcare facilities.