Alvarez Head Start
2606 GUMWOOD AVE, Mcallen, TX 78501 · Hidalgo County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 138
- Ages
- Pre-Kindergarten
- Hours
- 07:00 AM-04:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Janette Mecalco
- Phone
- (956) 661-4446
- Regulated since
- Dec 9, 2021
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1380023 · number 1722748
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 3 | Supervision & ratios (2), Discipline & child guidance (1), Other (1) |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | Staff background & training (1) |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (1) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Sep 1, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 2, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Oct 23, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 11, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Aug 29, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
May 22, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Apr 26, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 7, 2024 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
Based on the information obtained during DFPS investigation it was determined that staff did not use good judgement when a child was assigned the task of handing out hand sanitizer to the children and staff did not assist in providing immediate first aid when a child's eye came in contact with the hand sanitizer.
HHSC 746.1201(1) — Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-04-16. Correction verified 2024-04-26.
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
Based on the information obtained during DFPS investigation it was determined a child was involved in an incident that raised to the level of neglect under the care of the operation.
HHSC 746.1201(4) — AP Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Ensure No Child Abused, Neglected, or Exploited
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-04-16. Correction verified 2024-04-26.
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
Based on the information obtained during DFPS investigation it was determined that while two caregivers were present in the room, both caregivers were preoccupied serving lunch and facing away from the children. During this time, a child was injured and required medical attention.
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 2024-04-16. Correction verified 2024-04-26.
-
Supervision & ratios
Based on the information obtained during DFPS investigation it was determined that children utilized hand sanitizer without adult supervision and the hand sanitizer remained on a table and accessible to children.
HHSC 746.3420(4) — Hand Sanitizer - Use by Children Supervised by Adult
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-04-16. Correction verified 2024-04-26.
-
Other Serious
-
Oct 25, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
Two out of ten staff training records reviewed are missing trainings on the following topics: -Food Allergies -Emergency Preparness -Communicable Diseases
HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-11-08. Correction verified 2023-11-09.
-
Staff background & training
-
Nov 28, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Oct 18, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 16, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 14, 2022 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Supervision & ratios
Based on information obtained during the course of the investigation, operation did not notify parent after a child exited fenced area of operation which led child directly to the street.
HHSC 746.307(b)(4) — Parental Communication - Situation that Placed a Child at Risk
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-10-13. Correction verified 2022-10-18.
-
Safety & premises
Based on the information obtained during investigation, driveway area was used for daily walks and exercises. The driveway is unlicensed space and has a gate with an 8.5in gap.
HHSC 746.3701 — Safety - Areas Free From Hazards
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-10-13. Correction verified 2022-10-18.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Aug 31, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Aug 26, 2022 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
May 9, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Dec 1, 2021 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 30, 2021 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 14, 2021 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
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, 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.