Steps to Hope Academy

A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.

“110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. Five (5) staff have not been assigned to the child care facility in the ABCMS provider portal.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.

“One (1) staff hired on 4/28/26 only had four (4) hours of new staff orientation training within the first two weeks of employment.”

Rule Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.

“Outdoor space #1 has multiple pieces of equipment with rust; cycles, drums, train, and xylophone.”

Rule Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The activity plan did not provide at least 4 different activities daily listed in GS 110-91(12): art/creative play; books; blocks; manipulatives; and family living and dramatic play, including one of which is outdoors if weather conditions permit.

“The activity plans throughout the facility did not provide at least 4 different activities daily.”

Rule The activity plan did not provide at least 4 different activities daily listed in GS 110-91(12): art/creative play; books; blocks; manipulatives; and family living and dramatic play, including one of which is outdoors if weather conditions permit.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.

“110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. No staff have been assigned to the child care facility in the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS) portal.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center.

“One (1) child file did not have a signed copy of the safe sleep policy on file. Refer to the children’s record worksheet.”

Rule A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month.

“The last visual check on infants was documented on 4/14/26. No documentation was completed on 4/15/26, 4/16/26, 4/17/26, or today during the walk-through while one child was sleeping.”

Rule Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.

“One (1) staff hired on 6/23/25 did not have a staff medical report on file. Refer to the staff and training worksheets.”

Rule Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 4, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics.

“One (1) staff hired on 11/10/14 had last completed all health and safety training topics on 5/10/18.”

Rule Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 4, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes.

“Three (3) children’s files did not have a signed acknowledgement on file that the operational policies were discussed on or before the child’s first day. Refer to the children’s record worksheet.”

Rule Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center.

“Three (3) children’s files did not have a signed acknowledgement on file that the operational policies, which includes the parent participation plan, were discussed on or before the child’s first day.”

Rule Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.

“Documentation of the last shelter-in-place or lockdown drill could not be located. A shelter-in-place or lockdown drill has not been practiced in 2026.”

Rule Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome Policy was changed and the center did not give in writing a notice of the change to the children’s parents 14 days prior to implementing the new policy and/or a statement from the parent acknowledging the receipt and explanation of the change in policy was not in the child’s file.

“One (1) child file did not have the policy acknowledgement on file. Refer to the children’s record worksheet.”

Rule The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome Policy was changed and the center did not give in writing a notice of the change to the children's parents 14 days prior to implementing the new policy and/or a statement from the parent acknowledging the receipt and explanation of the change in policy was not in the child's file.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 1, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.

“Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) staff hired on 4/7/15 had expired CPR training as of 1/13/25.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 13, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.

“Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) staff hired on 4/7/15 had expired First Aid training as of 1/13/25.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 13, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years.

“Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. One (1) staff hired on 4/7/15 had expired ITS-SIDS training as of 7/25/25.”

Rule Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 10, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.

“One (1) staff working in space #5, did not have a staff personnel record on-site.”

Rule All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 24, 2026. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

Daily records of arrival and departure times for children at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.

“March 2, 2026 through March 13, 2026 daily records of arrival and departure times for children were not on-site and available for review.”

Rule Daily records of arrival and departure times for children at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 24, 2026. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

The staff/child ratios for children, two years and older, during naptime were not maintained by having at least one person in each room, visually supervising all children and the total number of required staff on the premises within calling distance of each room occupied by children.

“During the walkthrough in space #3, there were twelve (12) children ages three through five years old, with one (1) staff. The other staff were off-site.”

Rule The staff/child ratios for children, two years and older, during naptime were not maintained by having at least one person in each room, visually supervising all children and the total number of required staff on the premises within calling distance of each room occupied by children.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 24, 2026. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.

“One (1) staff with a valid qualification letter dated 12/17/25 through 12/17/30 did not have the letter on file.”

Rule A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.. Corrected during the inspection.

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.

“Two (2) staff did not have an updated annual health questionnaire on file.”

Rule All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.. Corrected during the inspection.

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.

“One (1) staff hired on 1/6/25 and one (1) staff hired on 5/30/24, did not complete the administration of medication in child care training topic.”

Rule Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 19, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.