Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward
2902 JENSEN DR, Houston, TX 77026 · Harris County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 189
- Ages
- Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 08:00 AM-05:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Nadia Ellis
- Phone
- (713) 236-0330
- Regulated since
- Dec 20, 2006
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 302500 · number 864420
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3 | Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (1), Other (1) |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | Illness & medication (2), Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (1) |
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (2), Staff background & training (1) |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (1), Staff background & training (1) |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 | Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Supervision & ratios (2) |
Enforcement actions
- Seen Oct 1, 2026 — Conditions on permit (HHSC operation record)
HHSC publishes these as current flags on the operation, not as dated actions. The date shown is when this site first saw the flag. The HHSC Child Care Search has the details.
Inspections, investigations & assessments
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Sep 10, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Aug 31, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Aug 25, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Illness & medication Serious
2 children with a diagsnosed food allergy were missing medication that the health care provider says needs to be part of the plan.
HHSC 746.3819 — Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-08-28. Correction verified 2026-08-28.
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Safety & premises Serious
12 children transported were missing the Emergency Medical Authorization forms in the van.
HHSC 746.5617(a)(2) — Required Equipment in Vehicles - Emergency Medical Information
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-08-28. Correction verified 2026-08-31.
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Illness & medication Serious
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May 20, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Other
The policy on file that was documented on 10/16/24 had expired on 9/19/25. Note: this was corrected at inspection when the director entered the updated policy in the on line provider portal account.
HHSC 746.203(2) — Liability Insurance Requirements - Provide Proof of Coverage Annually by Anniversary Date of Issuance
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-05-22. Correction verified 2026-05-22.
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Other
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Apr 8, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 2, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 1, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Supervision & ratios Serious
A self-report by the operation was made that a child was left unsupervised in the hallway for a minute.
HHSC 746.1205(a)(4) — Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-04-02. Correction verified 2026-04-08.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Dec 3, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Nov 19, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Nov 12, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Illness & medication
The operation did not complete an incident report or share the report with the parent within 48 hours of the incident.
HHSC 746.707 — Incident/Illness Report Form Shared with Parent
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-14. Correction verified 2025-11-14.
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Illness & medication
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Nov 10, 2025 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Supervision & ratios Serious
One child was left unsupervised in the classroom for several minutes.
HHSC 746.1205(a)(4) — Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-12-01. Correction verified 2025-12-03.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Oct 22, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Safety & premises Serious
Two tv monitors in 2 classrooms were unfastended to the children's bookshelf, posing as a tipping hazard.
HHSC 746.3701(10) — Safety - Televisions Anchored to Prevent Tip Over
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-29. Correction verified 2025-10-29.
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Illness & medication Serious
4 out of 6 children with diagnosed food allergies did not have a complete and current food allergy emergency plan. 1 kid is missing Benadryl, 2 kids had expired epi-pens, 1 kid missing medication and authorization form.
HHSC 746.3819 — Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-11-07. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
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Safety & premises Serious
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Nov 13, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Illness & medication Serious
8 medications did not have the date received written on the container. Note; this was corrected at inspection when the director wrote on each medication the date it was received from the parent.
HHSC 746.3805(b)(1) — Administering Medication - Original Container with Child's Name, Date
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2024-11-13.
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Safety & premises Serious
The Emergency Prepardeness Plan is missing the address of the alternate shelter away from the center.
HHSC 746.5202(1) — Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-11-20. Correction verified 2024-11-18.
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Safety & premises Serious
The transportation binder is missing Emergency medical transport and treatment authorization forms for 3 children being transported.
HHSC 746.5617(a)(2) — Required Equipment in Vehicles - Emergency Medical Information
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-11-20. Correction verified 2024-11-18.
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Illness & medication Serious
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Oct 16, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training Serious
2 student volunteers, 1 caregiver and 1 contract vendor were with children without approved background checks.
HHSC 745.641 — AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-10-16. Correction verified 2024-10-22.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Oct 14, 2024 Report · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
HHSC 746.1205(a)(4) — Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-11-08. Correction verified 2024-11-13.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Aug 26, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Dec 5, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training Serious
The director did not have current transportation training, the last training was taken in 2021.
HHSC 746.1316(a) — Transportation Safety Training -Director and Employee Complete 2 Hours Annually
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-12-12. Correction verified 2023-12-05.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Nov 15, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Oct 18, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Oct 12, 2023 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Supervision & ratios Serious
It was determined that a child was left alone for approximately five minutes.
HHSC 746.1205(a)(4) — Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2023-12-05. Correction verified 2023-12-05.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Dec 8, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Oct 28, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Oct 4, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Sep 30, 2022 Report · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
Caregivers left a child on the outside patio of the classroom.
HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Supervision of Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2022-10-04. Correction verified 2022-10-28.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Jan 6, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
During the walkthrough I observed four buckets of disinfectant wipes and spray bottles with cleaning solution in the reach of children. This was corrected when the director removed the buckets and placed the bottles out of reach.
HHSC 746.3407(12) — Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-01-06.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
During review of transportation the operation was found to not have emergency medical information on van used to transport children. This was corrected when the director updated the transportation binder.
HHSC 746.5617(a)(2) — Required Equipment in Vehicles - Emergency Medical Information
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-01-06.
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
Get the full file
HHSC publishes inspections, investigations and assessments from October 2017 onward, with each cited deficiency and its risk weight. Investigation narratives, complaint files and older history require a public information request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.
Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)
- Send to
- HHSC Open Records Coordinator, MC-1070 · OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.texas.gov · fax 512-424-6586 · 4601 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146 · agency instructions
Show the letter text
If something is happening now, report a concern to HHSC Child Care Regulation. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.
Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, via Child Care Regulation datasets on data.texas.gov. Last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is HHSC's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.