Portland Headstart Center
518 ELM ST, Portland, TX 78374 · San Patricio County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 17
- Ages
- Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 07:30 AM-03:00 PM
- Director / administrator
- Sarita Juarez
- Phone
- (361) 704-3165
- Regulated since
- Jan 23, 2006
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 286635 · number 855973- 9871
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Staff background & training (1) |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (1), Other (1) |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | Supervision & ratios (4), Staff background & training (2), Other (2) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Nov 19, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Oct 21, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
A child was found unsupervised in the adult bathroom located behind two closed doors.
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 2025-11-21. Correction verified 2025-11-19.
-
Supervision & ratios
One out of the four children's records monitored did not have signed information to show the parents received the operation policies at enrollment.
HHSC 746.503 — Provide Parents With Copy of Policies
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-21. Correction verified 2025-11-19.
-
Staff background & training
One out of the three staff records monitored did not have their current training year of trainings available for review.
HHSC 746.801(3) — Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Personnel and Training Records
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-11-21. Correction verified 2025-11-19.
-
Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
-
Jan 22, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Oct 23, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 8, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 28, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 22, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 17, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios
For several weeks, there was not a director present at the operation. The director on file became the new director at another operation. Paperwork for the prospective director was sent on October 27, 2022 to the operations licensing inspector for evaluation of her credentials to becoming the operations new Director. This will be rectified by the Director on file being present at the operation until the perspective staff has received her Director's Certificate from Child Care Regulation.
HHSC 746.1011 — Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-11-17.
-
Other
The Staff List that was posted was not current. This was corrected when a current staff list was developed and posted.
HHSC 746.401(9) — Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last name
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-11-17.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Jan 5, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Dec 14, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Other
The director was not present during the follow up inspection. This is a re-cite.
HHSC 746.1011 — Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-01-03. Correction verified 2022-01-05.
-
Staff background & training
One out of two staff records read did not have the required 24 hours of annual training. The staff member was missing 4 1/2 hours of training and did not have training in emergency preparedness, building and premises safety, and medication administration. The corrections have not been submitted to Licensing within a timely manner. This is a re-cite.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-01-03. Correction verified 2021-12-17.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a current employee list at the operation. This is a re-cite.
HHSC 746.401(9) — Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last name
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2022-01-03. Correction verified 2022-01-05.
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Other
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Nov 29, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios
Inspector observed sign in and out sheets at the operation to provide that the director is not adequately present during hours of operation.
HHSC 746.1011 — Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-12-06. Correction verified 2021-12-14.
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
Inspector observed one classroom unsupervised while children were napping.
HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2021-11-29. Correction verified 2021-12-14.
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Other
Inspector observed one caregiver on their cell phone while children were napping.
HHSC 746.1203(6) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Free of other activities
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-11-29. Correction verified 2021-12-14.
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Staff background & training
One out of two staff records read did not have the required 24 hours of annual training. The staff member was missing 4 1/2 hours of training and did not have training in emergency preparedness, building and premises safety, and medication administration.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2021-12-06. Correction verified 2021-12-14.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a current employee list at the operation.
HHSC 746.401(9) — Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last name
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2021-12-06. Correction verified 2021-12-14.
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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.