California clears daycare, nursing home workers before conducting background checks

The California Department of Social Services cleared workers without the proper background checks, a KCRA 3 investigation found. The department allowed some with felony arrest records for crimes like elder and child abuse to work in nursing facilities, foster homes and daycares.

The state said officials have been issuing “criminal records clearance” letters to workers while investigating their charges. However, the department’s director denied the office had issued clearance letters to anyone with a conviction for a serious charge.