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Childcare center · Mercedes, TX
Tiny Steps Learning Center
A licensed child care center in Mercedes, Texas, with its state inspection history from Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC).
Program details
Program type: Licensed child care center
Address: 121 S GEORGIA AVE, Mercedes, TX 78570
County: Hidalgo County
Phone: (956) 684-5314
Licensed to serve: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Licensed capacity: 22 children
State ID (HHSC operation number): 1728893
Permit: Full Permit, issued December 22, 2022
On corrective action (HHSC): No
On adverse action (HHSC): No
Corrective action and adverse action are formal steps Texas HHSC can take on a permit. The official record explains any that apply.
View the official record on Texas HHSC's child care search (or search operation number 1728893 on the search page).
Inspection history
From November 12, 2023 to November 12, 2026
- 5 inspections
- 11 citations from these visits (risk level: High 2, Medium High 2, Medium 6, Medium Low 1)
A citation means an inspector found a rule wasn't met at the time of the visit; many are corrected the same day. Read the official record for details.
Below is every visit in the state's files from February 14, 2022 to September 16, 2026, newest first: 15 visits and 18 citations in all, so the totals can be higher than the 3-year counts above. An investigation is a visit to look into a report or complaint; many find no citations. Risk level is the level Texas HHSC assigns to each rule, from low to high, as published. Technical assistance means the inspector gave guidance on the rule. The state's file does not say whether the "correct-by" date is a deadline or the day the problem was fixed, so it can fall after the verified date or in the future.
September 16, 2026 · Inspection · No citations
October 2, 2025 · Inspection · 3 citations
746.901 - Required Personnel Records
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: October 10, 2025 · Correction verified: October 21, 2025 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
A caregivers file was not available for review during inspection.
746.501(a)(1) - Written Operational Policies - Operating Times
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: October 16, 2025 · Correction verified: October 21, 2025 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
The inspector's notes for this citation may name a person, so we don't show them here. They are in the official record.
746.603(a)(4) - Children's Records - Immunizations
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: October 17, 2025 · Correction verified: October 21, 2025 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Two children files are missing immunization records.
November 25, 2024 · Inspection · No citations
November 18, 2024 · Inspection · 4 citations
746.4135(b) - Children's Products- Annual Certification
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: November 25, 2024 · Correction verified: November 25, 2024 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Facility does not have a current annual certification regarding unsafe children's products.
746.5101(a) - Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months
Risk level: High · Correct-by date in the state file: December 2, 2024 · Correction verified: December 3, 2024 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
The inspector's notes for this citation may name a person, so we don't show them here. They are in the official record.
746.2415(b) - AP Cribs - Only Snug Fitting Sheet and Crib Mattress Cover Allowed if Infant Younger than 12 Months of Age
Risk level: High · Correct-by date in the state file: November 18, 2024 · Correction verified: November 25, 2024 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Observed a 10 month old infant asleep in a crib while covered with a blanket.
746.3401(a) - Annual Sanitation Inspection
Risk level: Medium High · Correct-by date in the state file: December 2, 2024 · Correction verified: December 2, 2024 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Facility does not have a current annual sanitation inspection.
December 15, 2023 · Inspection · 4 citations
746.4135(b) - Children's Products- Annual Certification
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: December 15, 2023 · Correction verified: December 15, 2023 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Facility is not current with children's products certification.
746.1309(d) - Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required
Risk level: Medium High · Correct-by date in the state file: December 22, 2023 · Correction verified: December 22, 2023 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
A caregiver has not obtained one hour of training in the following topics: recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma; understanding and using safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome and understanding early childhood brain development.
746.1329(a) - Documentation of Training Requirements - Original Training Certification Card or Letter in each Employee's personnel record
Risk level: Medium Low · Correct-by date in the state file: December 22, 2023 · Correction verified: December 22, 2023 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Staff files were reviewed and the following was not available for review: pre service for a caregiver and TB results; a second file was missing proof of education.
746.1309(c) - Documented Annual Training - 1 hour in Prevention, Recognition and Reporting of child maltreatment
Risk level: Medium · Correct-by date in the state file: December 22, 2023 · Correction verified: December 22, 2023 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
A caregiver has not obtained one hour of training in the following topic: prevention, recognition and reporting of child maltreatment.
June 23, 2023 · Inspection · No citations
November 22, 2022 · Inspection · 1 citation
745.641 - AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
Risk level: High · Corrected during the visit · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
In reviewing staff sign in/out logs it was found that there was a person working with no cleared background check. This person has been working since 11/1. (NOTE: The person has not been present this week)
September 23, 2022 · Inspection · 1 citation
746.613(a) - Required Immunizations
Risk level: High · Corrected during the visit · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
2 of the children's files reviewed were lacking immunizations. (NOTE: Corrected during inspection as immunizations were emailed to the director and she was able to print them)
September 2, 2022 · Inspection · No citations
August 15, 2022 · Inspection · 2 citations
746.3503(a) - Diaper Changing Equipment - Smooth, Non-absorbent, Easy to Clean Surface
Risk level: Medium High · Correct-by date in the state file: August 22, 2022 · Correction verified: September 2, 2022 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
The diaper changing mat in the infant room has several small tears that do not allow for proper sanitation.
746.3417(1) - Children Handwashing Before Eating
Risk level: Medium High · Corrected during the visit · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Not all children washed their hands prior to eating lunch. (NOTE: Corrected during inspection as the children were asked to wash their hands.)
June 1, 2022 · Inspection · No citations
May 12, 2022 · Inspection · 3 citations
746.5319 - Smoke Detectors Testing
Risk level: High · Correct-by date in the state file: May 20, 2022 · Correction verified: June 1, 2022 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
The electronic smoke detection system was not working properly when the button for a drill was activated. There was no alarm sound and the company did not call to verify a drill.
746.3407 - Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
Risk level: Medium High · Correct-by date in the state file: May 20, 2022 · Correction verified: June 1, 2022 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): Yes
Inspector's notes (as published)
Although the operation is not licensed for afterschool children, the room assigned for the age group is currently not set up and is not organized and children's items are on the tables. (Pictures on file)
746.5205(1) - Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
Risk level: Medium High · Correct-by date in the state file: May 31, 2022 · Correction verified: June 1, 2022 · Inspector gave guidance (technical assistance): No
Inspector's notes (as published)
There have been no fire drills done since February. (One was attempted however the fire system was not operating properly)
March 25, 2022 · Inspection · No citations
March 11, 2022 · Inspection · No citations
February 14, 2022 · Inspection · No citations
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More programs in Mercedes · Texas child care rules
Sources
- HHSC CCL Daycare and Residential Operations Data: program details.
- HHSC CCL Inspection Investigation Assessment Data: visit dates and types.
- HHSC CCL Non-Compliance Data: citations, risk levels, corrections and inspector's notes.
All three are published by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Licensing, on data.texas.gov under CC0 1.0. State files updated November 12, 2026. We show the state's text as published, except that we restore apostrophes the files print as "?". Program details last checked October 21, 2026.