Hearth Record

Crystal Stephens

A family child care home in Higganum, Connecticut 06441

293 Pokorny Rd, Higganum, Connecticut 06441. (860) 912-1202.

Connecticut’s own record, on elicense.ct.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Connecticut’s own record is on elicense.ct.gov.

The short answer

Record last released by Connecticut Office of Early Childhood on Oct 24, 2026.

The last 24 months 18 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Aug 2026. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean4
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
Licence status
Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
Capacity
The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

4 inspections in the last three years, the latest on Aug 21, 2026.

18 violations cited in the last three years.

Source:

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Inspections, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Investigations and Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Violations. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

18 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Aug 2026. The last 3 years, to Oct 24, 2026.

18 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 NovDec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each violation, in its source’s words

Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.

Source:

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Violations. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Aug 21, 2026: unannounced inspection (full)12 violations
  • Child Health Record: The provider shall have a complete and current general health record on file when the child begins attending the family child care home, signed and dated by a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse. These records shall be returned to the parent when the child is withdrawn from the family child care home.

    Rule 19a-87b-10(b)(2).

  • Immunizations: For each child enrolled, the provider shall maintain on file a complete immunization record.

    Rule 19a-87b-10(b)(2)(A)(v) and/or 19a-87b-10(l).

  • Flexible and Balanced Schedule: The provider shall develop and implement a written schedule that is flexible, with time for free choice play, outdoor play, snacks, meals and a rest period.

    Rule 19a-87b-10(c)(4).

  • Individual Plan of Care: The provider shall maintain in the family child care home a written individual plan of care for each child with disabilities or special health care needs who requires special care be taken or provided while the child is at the family child care home. Such plan shall be developed with the child’s parent(s) and health care provider at intake, implemented and updated as necessary. Such plan shall include appropriate care of the child in the event of a medical or other emergency and shall be signed by the provider, parent(s) and any approved staff members responsible for the care of the child.

    Rule 19a-87b-10(d)(3).

  • Background Check: The applicant, provider, prospective employees, assistants, substitutes and each household member shall submit to a comprehensive background check. Such persons shall not have record that the Commissioner reasonably believes renders such person ineligible. The provider shall not employ program staff who have a record the commissioner reasonably believes renders such staff ineligible. The provider shall maintain at the family child care home evidence of compliance with the comprehensive background check requirements. The provider shall make available to the OEC any information obtained concerning comprehensive background checks upon request.

    Rule 19a-87b-8a(a)-(f).

  • Electrical Safety: Electrical cords and appliances shall be secured and in good repair. Electrical cords shall not hang within reach of children. Protective covers or approved safety outlets shall be provided for all electrical receptacles in all areas accessible to children.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(3).

  • Stairways: Protected/Handrails: Every stairway shall have a sturdy handrail with no areas in which a child may fall through, shall provide safe passageway and be maintained free of obstructions. There shall be a gate or other structure in place that may be hung, drawn or lowered at the entry of stairways accessible to children to prevent falls.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(4)(D).

  • Emergency Evacuation Drills-Quarterly: The provider and staff shall be periodically instructed and kept informed of their duties under the plan and shall practice at least quarterly an emergency evacuation drill. A written log of the practiced drills shall be maintained at the family child care home for one year.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(5).

  • Smoke Detectors: The provider shall have smoke detectors, in operating condition, placed in the home so as to protect day care children’s sleeping areas, play areas and the basement. There shall be at least one smoke detector on each level of the facility.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(6).

  • Carbon Monoxide Detector: Family child care homes that utilize combustible fuel shall be equipped with at least one operable carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each occupied level of the home. CO detectors shall comply with the Underwriters Laboratories Standards for Safety and shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(7).

  • Fire Extinguisher: The provider shall have easily accessible to the area of child care a minimum of one ABC multi-purpose fire extinguisher in operating condition that contains at least five pounds of fire extinguishing agent and shall have knowledge of its use and the ability to manage its use. Each fire extinguisher shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, at a height not to exceed five (5) feet above the floor. Extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured in order to allow for immediate access.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(8).

  • First Aid Supplies: The provider shall have at least one portable, readily accessible first aid kit where children are in care, including field trips. Each kit shall be a closed container for storing first aid supplies, accessible to the provider and substitute at all times but out of the reach of children. First aid kits shall contain required supplies and shall be restocked after use.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(m) and/or 19a-87b-9(n).

Oct 9, 2025: unannounced inspection (full)4 violations
  • Medical Statement: The provider shall be physically, emotionally and mentally able to handle child care responsibilities and emergencies and shall be free from any mental, emotional or physical health problems which may impair such ability or otherwise adversely affect the children in care. The provider shall furnish to the Office of Early Childhood, medical information and documentation as requested.

    Rule 19a-87b-6(b).

  • First Aid Certificate: The provider shall maintain a current certificate from an approved course in basic first aid appropriate for child care providers and shall maintain verification of such training on file at the family child care home.

    Rule 19a-87b-6(c)(1).

  • CPR Certificate: The provider shall maintain a current certificate from an approved course in CPR for child care providers and shall maintain verification of such training on file at the family child care home.

    Rule 19a-87b-6(c)(2).

  • Stairways: Protected/Handrails: Every stairway shall have a sturdy handrail with no areas in which a child may fall through, shall provide safe passageway and be maintained free of obstructions. There shall be a gate or other structure in place that may be hung, drawn or lowered at the entry of stairways accessible to children to prevent falls.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(4)(D).

Nov 20, 2023: unannounced inspection (full)2 violations
  • Smoke Detectors: The provider shall have smoke detectors, in operating condition, placed in the home so as to protect day care children’s sleeping areas, play areas and the basement. There shall be at least one smoke detector on each level of the facility.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(6).

  • Carbon Monoxide Detector: Family child care homes that utilize combustible fuel shall be equipped with at least one operable carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each occupied level of the home. CO detectors shall comply with the Underwriters Laboratories Standards for Safety and shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer�s instructions.

    Rule 19a-87b-9(d)(7).

All 4 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Aug 21, 2026Unannounced inspection (full)12 violations cited
Oct 9, 2025Unannounced inspection (full)4 violations cited
Oct 15, 2024Unannounced inspection (full)No violations cited
Nov 20, 2023Unannounced inspection (full)2 violations cited

Is it licensed?

  • Family Child Care Home, first licensed Jul 25, 2012.
  • Licence DCFH.56169, valid Aug 1, 2024 to Jul 31, 2028.
  • Capacity: 6 children, plus 3 of school age.
Source:

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Program Data. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Has Connecticut acted against it?

  • No investigations in the last three years.
Source:

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Investigations and Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Inspections. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Who does the caring?

  • Connecticut doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers.

Who owns it?

  • Connecticut’s open data doesn’t list owners.

How is it rated?

  • Connecticut’s licensing data has no quality rating.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 125 child care providers in Middlesex County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 10; this one had 18.
Source:

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Violations. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • Connecticut doesn’t grade violations by severity, so read what was cited.
  • Connecticut’s open data gives the rule behind each violation, not what the inspector saw.
  • Connecticut doesn’t publish whether a complaint was substantiated, only how each investigation was resolved.
  • Connecticut doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
  • This page shows Connecticut’s records from the last three years; its open data goes back to 2005.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. Connecticut’s own record is on elicense.ct.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Oct 24, 2026.

From the provider

The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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