Ben Richey Boys Ranch
501 BEN RICHEY DR, Abilene, TX 79602 · Taylor County
Program
- Type
- General residential operation
- Licensed capacity
- 34
- Ages
- 0-17
- Hours
- 12:00 AM-
- Director / administrator
- Mashelle Ancell
- Phone
- (325) 692-2500
- Regulated since
- Dec 29, 1985
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 94151 · number 5570
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 | Cleanliness & sanitation (2), Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (1), Records & paperwork (1), Other (3) |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | Records & paperwork (1), Other (1) |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (1) |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (1) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
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Sep 8, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Safety & premises
1 employee had an expired driver license
HHSC 748.363(12) — Personnel records-For each person who transports a child, include copy of valid driver's license or DPS driver's license check done in last 12 months.
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-09-22. Correction verified 2026-09-21.
-
Staff background & training
2 employee files missing qualifications, missing verified employment history, reference checks not conducted. Adding these here as well, unable to pull up 748.363 (3)(A) and (B)
HHSC 748.363(2) — Personnel records-Include documentation showing that the person meets minimum age and qualifications for the position
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-09-22. Correction verified 2026-09-21.
-
Records & paperwork
2 files missing job description
HHSC 748.363(4) — Personnel records-Personnel records-Include current job description.
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-09-22. Correction verified 2026-09-21.
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Safety & premises
-
Jun 9, 2026 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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May 21, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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May 19, 2026 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 23, 2026 Inspection
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 19, 2026 Inspection
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 18, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Other
Multiple children and collateral adults stated a child was being treated unfairly and singled out from other children in care.
HHSC 748.1101(b)(1)(C) — Children's rights-Adhere to the child's right to receive fair treatment
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-06-04.
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Other
Multiple children in care and collateral adults stated children were denied family visitation as a punishment.
HHSC 748.2307(2) — Other Prohibited Punishments-denial of mail or visits with family as discipline or punishment
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-06-04.
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Other
Multiple children and collateral adults all stated staff yell at children in care.
HHSC 748.2307(8) — Other Prohibited Punishments-humiliating, shaming, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-06-04.
-
Cleanliness & sanitation
A threat to the operation was not reported to Licensing.
HHSC 748.303(e)(1)(A) — Serious Incident-Report to Licensing no later than 24 hours after the incident if all or part of operation rendered unsafe or unsanitary
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-06-04.
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Cleanliness & sanitation
A threat to the operation was not reported to parents of children in care.
HHSC 748.303(e)(1)(B) — Serious Incident-Report to parents no later than 24 hours after the incident if all or part of operation rendered unsafe or unsanitary
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-06-04.
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Other
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Apr 10, 2026 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Sep 15, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Other
HHSC 748.1225(b) — Admission-Dental exam for child 3 years old or older scheduled in 30 days and done in 90 days unless documentation of one within past year on file
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2025-10-06. Correction verified 2025-10-06.
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Records & paperwork
several of the childrens' records did not include documentation that they had a hearing examination.
HHSC 748.1545(a) — Vision and hearing screening-must ensure that each child is screened; must have professional exam if problems are detected
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-06. Correction verified 2025-10-06.
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Other
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Jul 24, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jan 4, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Sep 20, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios
Child's Right Policy has missing documentation.
HHSC 748.151(3) — Operational responsibilities - Maintain current, true, accurate, and complete records
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-10-04. Correction verified 2024-10-04.
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Supervision & ratios
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Dec 14, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios
No formal performance review is conducted for operation staff.
HHSC 748.363(13) — Personnel records - Include any documentation of the person's performance with the operation.
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2023-12-28. Correction verified 2024-01-04.
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Supervision & ratios
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Aug 26, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Mar 6, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jul 18, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
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.