WNCsource Columbus Children’s Center
A child care center in Columbus, North Carolina 28722
11 Hope Valley Lane, Columbus, North Carolina 28722. (828) 393-0559.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.
The short answer
- 10 violations in the last three years
- May 202026 the latest visit on record
- 50 children, its licensed capacity
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- 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.
- Quality rating
- Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
- 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?
6 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on May 20, 2026.
10 violations cited in the last three years, 10 of them marked corrected.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
10 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Jan 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
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.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Jan 16, 2026: unannounced5 violations
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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. The facility did not have an established provider portal facility roster in the ABCMS system.”
-
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 staff member employed November 8, 2023 had CPR certification that expired December 12, 2025. The new certification on file was completed January 13, 2026.”
-
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 staff member employed November 8, 2023 had First Aid certification that expired December 12, 2025. The new certification on file was completed January 13, 2026.”
-
Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.
“Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The fire inspection completed September 9, 2025 was not submitted to DCDEE.”
-
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.
“One staff member employed August 6, 2025 had verification of completed Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training dated January 2, 2026.”
Jul 8, 2025: unannounced2 violations
-
Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container.
The inspectors’ words, 333 words
“The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored in the unlocked bookbag hanging on the hook on playground #1, two (2) individual sized Alcohol Antiseptic Pads. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored in the unlocked bookbag hanging on the hook on playground #2, fifty-one (51) individual sized Alcohol Antiseptic Pads, two (2) individual sized First Aid/Burn Cream packets, and one (1) individual sized packet of Neomycin Antibiotic Ointment. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored in the unlocked bookbag hanging on the hook on playground #3, forty-eight (48) individual sized packets of Alcohol Antiseptic Pads, three (3) individual sized packets of First Aid/Burn Cream, and two (2) individual sized packets of Neomycin Antibiotic Ointment. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored on the top shelf of the unlocked cabinet to the right of the sink in space #1, fifty (50) individual sized packets of Alcohol Antiseptic Pads, one (1) individual sized packet of First Aid/Burn Cream, two (2) individual sized packet of Triple Antibiotic Ointment, and two (2) individual sized packets of Neomycin Antibiotic Ointment. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored on the top shelf of the unlocked cabinet to the right of the sink in space #2, one (1) individual sized packet of Ibuprofen, and three (3) individual sized packets of BZK Antiseptic Towelette. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored on the top shelf of the unlocked cabinet to the right of the sink in space #2, one (1) individual sized packet of Ibuprofen, and three (3) individual sized packets of BZK Antiseptic Towelette. The following medications were observed in an unlocked first aid kit stored on the top shelf of the unlocked cabinet to the right of the sink in space #3, one (1) individual sized packet of Ibuprofen, and three (3) individual sized packets of BZK Antiseptic Towelette.”
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The safe sleep policy did not contain the required information.
“The safe sleep policy posted in space #1, did not specify that nothing shall be placed over the head or face of an infant aged 12 months or younger when the infant is laid down to sleep.”
Mar 12, 2025: unannounced3 violations
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Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy.
“The center’s safe sleep policy that was posted required staff to record the position of the infant that was sleeping on the Sleep Chart. On March 10, 2025, the initial position was not documented at 12:30pm for one infant, ten months of age. On March 11, 2025, the initial position was not documented at 12:15pm, and the sleep position was not documented at 1pm, 1:15pm, and 1:30pm, for one infant, ten months of age.”
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Meals/snacks did not comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs.
“The breakfast and lunch menu did comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. The breakfast and lunch menu that was posted for March 14, 2025, listed “Manager’s Choice.””
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Menus for all meals and snacks were not planned at least 1 week ahead and dated.
“Each day was not dated for the monthly snack menu that was posted for March 2025.”
All 6 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2026 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Jul 8, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 2 violations cited |
| May 7, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Mar 12, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Jan 8, 2025 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Jul 28, 2025.
- Licensed for 50 children, ages 0 through 3.
- Not enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 75000062.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Has North Carolina acted against it?
- DCDEE says it has taken no action against this facility, for its current licence and location, in the last three years.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.
Who owns it?
- Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Western Carolina Community Action, Inc..
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How is it rated?
- Star Rated License: 5 stars of five.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 6 child care providers in Polk County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 8; this one had 10.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| WNCsource Columbus Children’s Center This child care provider | 10 |
| Polk Central School Pre-K | 19 |
| Tryon Elementary/Forbes Pre-K | 10 |
| Sunny View School Pre K | 6 |
| Saluda School Pre K | 5 |
| Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center-Tryon | 5 |
What the record doesn’t say
- North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
- DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
- North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.
Sources
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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations.
Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily. nc.gov terms: copying and distribution for non-commercial use, without alteration, citing the source. Shown free and never sold; DCDEE’s own words are quoted.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 3, 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.