Nickis Critters

215 CENTRAL AVE., Strawn, TX 76475 · Palo Pinto County

14cited violations

8serious

26inspections & investigations

0enforcement actions

Program

Type: Licensed center
Licensed capacity: 38
Ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours: 06:00 AM-06:00 PM
Director / administrator: Nichole Van Meter
Phone: (940) 452-8242
Regulated since: Jan 20, 2023
HHSC IDs: Operation 1412741 · number 1747198
Official record: HHSC Child Care Search

Violations by category

Supervision & ratios 2
Safety & premises 2
Records & paperwork 2
Other 8

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	10	8	Supervision & ratios (2), Records & paperwork (2), Other (6)
2023	4	0	Safety & premises (2), Other (2)

Inspections, investigations & assessments

Sep 28, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Sep 28, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 24, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 24, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Jan 23, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Jan 23, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Jan 23, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited
- Other Serious
  Director failed to operate in compliance with the standards by conducting prohibited punishment, failing to supervise children, and forcing children to sleep.
  
  HHSC 746.1003(1) — Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  Director left children unsupervised in a room.
  
  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 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Other Serious
  Caregiver yelled at a child to stop crying.
  
  HHSC 746.2805(5) — Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Other
  Director used weighted toys to force children to sleep.
  
  HHSC 746.2905(1) — Children Not Required to Sleep - May Not Force Child to Sleep
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Records & paperwork Serious
  Caregivers failed to report a situation that placed a child at risk.
  
  HHSC 746.305(a)(6) — Report Situation Placing Children at Risk
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Jan 23, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited
- Other Serious
  Director failed to operate in compliance with the standards by conducting prohibited punishment, failing to supervise children, and forcing children to sleep.
  
  HHSC 746.1003(1) — Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  Director left children unsupervised in a room.
  
  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 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Other Serious
  Caregiver yelled at a child to stop crying.
  
  HHSC 746.2805(5) — Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Other
  Director used weighted toys to force children to sleep.
  
  HHSC 746.2905(1) — Children Not Required to Sleep - May Not Force Child to Sleep
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
- Records & paperwork Serious
  Caregivers failed to report a situation that placed a child at risk.
  
  HHSC 746.305(a)(6) — Report Situation Placing Children at Risk
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-02-20. Correction verified 2026-02-24.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 14, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 14, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 23, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 23, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 22, 2024 Report · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 22, 2024 Report · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Dec 14, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Other
  Sanitation inspection was not completed annually.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-01-15. Correction verified 2024-01-10.
- Safety & premises
  Monthly fire drill were not conducted.
  
  HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-12-31. Correction verified 2024-01-10.
HHSC inspection history
Dec 14, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Other
  Sanitation inspection was not completed annually.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-01-15. Correction verified 2024-01-10.
- Safety & premises
  Monthly fire drill were not conducted.
  
  HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-12-31. Correction verified 2024-01-10.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
May 9, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
May 9, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Dec 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Dec 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Nov 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Nov 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 11, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 11, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Jul 25, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Jul 25, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here

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

Letter text

Dear Open Records Coordinator,

Under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, I request copies of the following Child Care Regulation records for Nickis Critters, 215 CENTRAL AVE., Strawn, TX 76475-5131 (operation ID 1412741, operation number 1747198), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every inspection, assessment and investigation report, including the deficiencies cited and the operation's corrective actions.
2. Every complaint and self-report intake and its finding.
3. Every corrective or adverse action (evaluation, probation, suspension, revocation, denial, administrative penalty) with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of action or correction the operation submitted, and HHSC's response.

I understand that information made confidential by law (for example the identities of children, families and reporters) may be redacted; please release the remainder. Please provide the records electronically by email. If the cost will exceed $40, please send me an itemized estimate first.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

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.