Deficiencies Revealed at Some San Angelo Child Care Facilities

In a detailed report, the Department of Family and Protective Services revealed deficiencies of child care facilities in San Angelo. Out of the 73 child care facilities reviewed, there were four that totaled 155 deficiencies within the past year.

The Department of Family and Protective Services maintains records of all licensed child care facilities (both in home child care to public child care) inspections, violations, operation details, assessments, self-reported incidents and whether or not the violations have been corrected. Licensed and certified facilities are inspected at least once a year, whereas registered child care homes are inspected at least every two years. Listed Family homes are only inspected if there is a report of abuse/neglect or if the Department of Family and Protective Services receives a report that the home is caring for too many children. For more information on Child Care Licensing, visit the Department of Family and Protective Services website.

Overall, each facility is provided with a list of requirements and what happens when there is a violation; these standards are also found on the Department of Family and Protective Services website under the Standards and Regulations tab.

When these facilities have serious deficiencies or a significant number of deficiencies, repeat deficiencies, or fail to make corrections timely, they are inspected more frequently by licensing staff. Each standard has a specific “weight” it is assigned which represents the potential impact a deficiency may have on the children. The weights are as follows: High, Medium-High, Medium, Medium-Low, and Low.

They are listed below from the most to the least along with their break downs:

Little Angels Child Care Center

• The deficiencies for this facility were reported from Feb. 12, 2014 through Oct. 15, 2015.
• There were 15 inspections, 3 assessments, 1 report, and a total of 74 deficiencies.
• 15 were weighted as High.
• 31 were weighted as Medium-High.
• 20 were weighted as Medium.
• 3 were weighted as Medium-Low.
• 5 were weighted as Low.

High deficiencies reported caregivers not having fingerprints or background checks being complete and in file after hire and before having access to the children, issues with caregivers not having completed the required training, and administrative paperwork not being completed to the fullest. Most of these deficiencies have been corrected, but there are a few that have been cited more than once such as training and background checks.

Medium – High deficiencies reported the caregiver to child ratio being unbalanced, children not being signed in or out properly, complying with Laws and Rules and issues with permits. Most of these deficiencies have been corrected but are repeat violations. The Co-Director Vaness stated when asked about the issues with the caregivers not being informed of the children they are supervising, she said, "The Director keeps everything in her personal office, but everything has been fixed to where it’s all posted on the walls. The names, ages, and how many we have.”

As for the Medium deficiencies listed, those included the facility not having fire inspections or proper documentation, not having proper sleeping arrangements for children, or current immunizations on file for some children. Most of these deficiencies have been corrected but are also repeat violations.

Reoccurring deficiencies are a concern and Vanessa ensured that each violation is addressed when brought to their attention. She also admitted the process has been frustrating.

“When [inspectors] come, we have everything ready the way it’s supposed to be," the Co-Director explained. "She’ll throw us another roll, like this can’t work. But [the inspector] said this was okay last time but now it’s not? Sometimes, we don’t understand. It’s okay the last time you were here and now it’s not.”  Vanessa did confirm that the staff has the regulations in which the inspectors require the facility to follow.

First Baptist Church Child Development

• The deficiencies for this facility were reported from Feb. 28, 2014 through Oct. 6, 2015.
• There were 35 inspections, 1 assessment, 16 self-reported incidents, 8 Reports for a total of 41 deficiencies.
• 16 were weighted as High
• 18 were weighted as Medium – High
• 6 were weighted as Medium
• 1 was weighted as Low

The High deficiencies included cleaning supplies and toxic materials not being kept inaccessible from children, caregivers having access to children without fingerprints on file and irresponsible supervision of children. There have been repeat offenses of caregivers not conducting head counts or being aware that a child was left behind or unsupervised. One instance included a child being found in a building by a maintenance worker. In another instance, a child was left in the classroom unsupervised while the caregiver and the rest of the class transitioned outside to the playground. The child was then found by another parent and taken to the caregiver at the playground with the rest of the class. There was one more incident like this where a child was left unsupervised at the playground while the caregiver and rest of the class returned to the classroom. The child was playing in a playhouse when found again by the caregiver and returned to the class unharmed. The caregiver admitted to not doing a headcount prior to returning the children inside.

The Medium – High deficiencies were reported as diapering procedures not being followed, areas not free from hazards, which the report explained as poor building maintenance. The facility was cited at least 6 times within time frame. Other issues included improper sign in and out procedures and caregiver to child ratio.

Greg Malcom, the new Director of First Baptist Church Development Center since July 2015, said he's choosing to take more of a proactive stance in correcting the deficiencies of this facility, especially since it was placed on a 6 month probation on Nov. 23, 2015. Malcom stated he understands what has happened in the past and knows there is nothing he can do about it other than ensure that these are not repeated in the future.

“My time is now and what is going on. We were notified and met with the [Department of Family and Protective Services] on Nov. 19 and on Nov. 23. In that meeting, we had met with our area licensing inspector; her name is Stacy Winders. She and her supervisor from Brownwood met with myself, my Assistant Director, the Governing Agent, Kevin Ray, who is my boss within the church. The head of our child development center has a committee… all 4 of us met on the 19th to discuss the 'terms' of probation."

Based on this meeting, DFPS have implemented a Corrective Action Plan that contains 8 categories in which the facility must focus on to correct issues, such as training of employees and child supervision.

The facility is currently being monitored through their progress and Malcom stated that the parents are notified of the inspections.

“We have put information packets together; all of that includes the exact letter that we got and are required to post," he explained. "Every time Licensing comes in and does an inspection, they will do a written report and we will print that out. They will give us a copy before they leave that day, and then we are required to post that in a public way. We have a bulletin board with all of our information, all of our inspections. We are required to do that on every visit.”

Little Coconuts Learning Center

• The deficiencies for this facility were reported from Feb. 20, 2014 through May 7, 2015.
• There were 12 inspections, 1 self-reported incident, 3 reports.
• 8 were weighted as High.
• 8 were weighted as Medium.
• High/6 were weighted as Medium.

Most of these deficiencies included staff members not having fingerprints and/or background checks completed or on file before having access to children. The Medium – High deficiencies included the play area not being void of hazards such as loose screws and screws protruding from playground fence along with PVC piping exposed, caregivers using cell phones while supervising children and improper sign in and out procedures.

However, all of these deficiencies have been corrected and there haven’t been any further inspections or violations since May 2015.

Gingerbread House

• The deficiencies for this facility were reported from Jan. 16, 2015 through March 10, 2015.
• There were 6 inspections, 1 self-reported incident  and a total of 18 deficiencies.
• 3 were weighted as High
• 7 were weighted as Medium - High
• 4 were weighted as Medium
• 4 were weighted as Low

Deficiencies included staff witnessing a child with questionable injuries and not reporting it immediately as required by law, administrative paperwork not being completed, areas not being free of hazards and electrical outlets not being covered, and improper sign-in and -out procedures.

According to the report, all of these deficiencies have been corrected. There haven’t been any further inspections or violations since March 2015.

On the flip side, there were many facilities that had little to zero deficiencies reported. They complied with the rules and regulations of what is required by the state of Texas. They include the following:

• Adelmira Price
• Amy Lambert
• Ann Johnson
• Around The Clock
• Blackshear Early Childhood Center
• Catherine Roberts
• CBC After School Care
• Christine Unger
• Claudias Creative Childcare
• Concho Valley Council of Governments Christoval Head Start
• Day Head Start
• Debbie Simpson
• Denise R Nadeau
• Dora Hendricks
• Fairview Daycare
• Grace Temple Child Development
• Grape Creek Children's Ministry
• Harris Avenue Baptist Church Day Care
• J O Y School
• Jo Elda Hernandez
• Juanita Menchaca
• Kathleen M Scott
• Kathy’s Babies
• Kidz Are Us
• Little Bears Family Child Care
• Little Folks Dude Ranch
• Little Rascal's Clubhouse
• Little Sprouts
• Miss Janes
• Mosaic Redwine Child Care Center
• Pam Salas
• Paulette Ann Hill
• Pumpkin Patch Preschool
• Rhonda Clark
• Rio Vista Head Start
• S A I S D Tiny Texans Child Care Center
• Salas Family Day Care Home
• San Angelo Early Childhood Center
• San Angelo YMCA
• Sierra Vista Methodist CDC
• Southwest Childrens Academy
• St. Luke Christian Child Development Center
• Tamara Jean Kinyon
• Teri Dozier
• Tessie Ellis Yarbrough
• TLC Preschool
• Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Center
• Wendy Gale Hoyle
• Young Scholars Academy
• Young Scholars Too