First Steps Academy & Daycare
10120 MONROE DR, Dallas, TX 75229 · Dallas County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 48
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 07:00 AM-06:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Lily Chidinma
- Phone
- (214) 350-8145
- Regulated since
- Dec 13, 2019
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1331285 · number 1691302
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (2), Safety & premises (1), Food & allergies (1), Staff background & training (3), Records & paperwork (4), Other (2) |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1) |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | Staff background & training (3), Records & paperwork (4) |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (1) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Nov 6, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 6, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
Staff files did not have annual required trainings completed.
HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-21. Correction verified 2025-12-05.
-
Records & paperwork
Children's records reviewed did not have health statements on file.
HHSC 746.611(b) — Health Statement on File within 1 Week of Admission
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-21. Correction verified 2025-12-05.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Staff background & training
-
Oct 20, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other
Caregivers were observed attending to admistrative duties such as answering the school phone and opening the doors to parents for pick-up while supervising children.
HHSC 746.1203(3)(A) — Administrative and clerical duties that take caregiver's attention away from children
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-21. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Staff background & training
Four of the four staff files reviewed did not have required trainings available for review.
HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-03. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Staff background & training
Three of the four staff files reviewed did not have current First-Aid training certificates available.
HHSC 746.1315(a) — Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking.
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-11-03. Correction verified 2025-10-30.
-
Food & allergies Serious
An infant was observed asleep in their assigned play yard with their bottle proped up for feeding. This was corrected at inspection when the caregiver removed the bottle.
HHSC 746.2419(3) — Requirements for Feeding Infants - Never Prop Bottles
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2025-10-20.
-
Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a current health inspection.
HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-11-07. Correction verified 2025-11-03.
-
Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have their drills documented.
HHSC 746.5205(4) — Documentation of Drills
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-31. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Safety & premises
Two children out of six records reviewed did not emergency contact information on file.
HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-22. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Records & paperwork Serious
One of the children's records reviewed did not have phone numbers for the release person.
HHSC 746.605(7) — Required Admission Information - Release Information
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-10-22. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Records & paperwork
Three of the six children's records reviewed did not have a health statement on file.
HHSC 746.611(b) — Health Statement on File within 1 Week of Admission
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-31. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Records & paperwork
There was not a record of the playground maintenance checklist.
HHSC 746.801(8) — Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Playground Maintenance Records
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-24. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Other
-
Oct 20, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other
Caregivers were observed attending to admistrative duties such as answering the school phone and opening the doors to parents for pick-up while supervising children.
HHSC 746.1203(3)(A) — Administrative and clerical duties that take caregiver's attention away from children
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-21. Correction verified 2025-11-06.
-
Other
-
Nov 4, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 4, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Nov 8, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
The center did not have a copy of their operational policy.
HHSC 746.201(1) — Policies Comply with Rules
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2023-11-15. Correction verified 2023-11-21.
-
Illness & medication
Two children out of six records reviewed did not have current immunizations on file.
HHSC 746.603(a)(4) — Children's Records - Immunizations
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-11-15. Correction verified 2023-11-21.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
-
Nov 8, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 14, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
Staff files reviewed did not have the required information.
HHSC 746.901(10) — Required Personnel Records- signed dated statement that employee attended abuse/neglect training
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-12-01.
-
Records & paperwork
Staff files reviewed did not have copy of staff identification.
HHSC 746.901(8) — Required Personnel Records- Photo Identification
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-11-28.
-
Staff background & training
-
Nov 14, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Records & paperwork
The director and one staff file was not available to review.
HHSC 746.901 — Required Personnel Records
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-12-01.
-
Staff background & training
Staff files reviewed did not have the required information.
HHSC 746.901(10) — Required Personnel Records- signed dated statement that employee attended abuse/neglect training
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-12-01.
-
Records & paperwork
Staff files reviewed did not have the required information.
HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-12-01.
-
Staff background & training
Staff files reviewed did not have documentation they have completed orientation
HHSC 746.901(6)(A) — Required Personnel Records-signed dated statement that employee received child care center's operational policies
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-11-28.
-
Records & paperwork
Staff files reviewed did not have copy of staff identification.
HHSC 746.901(8) — Required Personnel Records- Photo Identification
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-25. Correction verified 2022-11-28.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Records & paperwork
-
Nov 23, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 23, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a current inspection. Last inspection dated 10-19-2020.
HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-11-30. Correction verified 2021-12-08.
-
Safety & premises
Six children files reviewed did not have address for the emergency contact.
HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-11-30. Correction verified 2021-12-06.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
-
Supervision & ratios
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.