Little Bear Child Care Center, Inc.
A licensed child care center in La Vernia, Texas 78121
12992 Us Highway 87 W, La Vernia, Texas 78121. (830) 253-1166.
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The short answer
Record last released by Texas HHSC on Oct 30, 2026.
- 15 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in Wilson County: 7
- 5 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
- 13 inspections on record
- 3-Star Texas Rising Star rating
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.
- Texas’s risk levels
- Texas gives each child care deficiency a risk level, by how likely it is to harm a child: Low, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High or High. High is its most serious. Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation.
- 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?
15 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 24 child care providers in Wilson County had 7.
13 inspections on record. The latest, on Oct 8, 2026: 1 deficiency cited.
Rated High by Texas: Infants sleep in Designated Crib, Cot, Bed, or Mat, at the inspection on Feb 5, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children, at the inspection on Oct 16, 2025
Rated High by Texas: Storage of Medication - Inaccessible to Children, at the inspection on Oct 16, 2025
2 more rated High; all are listed below.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
When those deficiencies happened
15 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Oct 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Oct 30, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | 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 |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, in Texas’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the risk level Texas gave it, from Low to High.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Oct 8, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Children’s Records - Immunizations
“One of five children’s files evaluated did not have current immunization records available for review.”
Feb 5, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Infants sleep in Designated Crib, Cot, Bed, or Mat
“Two infants were observed to be asleep in places other than their crib. One infant was asleep in a swing and the other was asleep in a Boppy pillow on the floor. Note: This was corrected at inspection when the caregivers placed them in their cribs.”
Oct 16, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children
“Cleaning supplies were stored under the hand washing sink accessible to children in the toddler room. Note: This was corrected at inspection when director removed the chemicals.”
-
Storage of Medication - Inaccessible to Children
“A bottle of cough syrup was stored in a child’s personal cubby. Note: This was corrected at inspection when the director removed the medication from the cubby.”
Mar 5, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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Safety Requirements for Active Play Equipment - No Pinch, Crush, or Shear Points
“The piece of lumbar at the platform of the car metal equipment play is broken and did not hold on weight. Note: This was corrected when a caregiver removed the play equipment from the playground.”
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Medication No Longer Used
“There were nine medications that were expired in the medicine box. Note: This was corrected when the director dispose the expired medication.”
Aug 8, 2024: inspection7 deficiencies
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Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months
“Fire inspection was last conducted on 7.3.23.”
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Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children’s names and ages
“The caregiver in the PreK classroom stated there were 14 children when it was verified there were 15 children in care.”
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Electronic or Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Detector-Document Test Date, Battery Installation Date, and Staff Name Testing and Installation
“No documentation for the carbon monoxide was available at the time of inspection. NOTE: This was corrected at inspection.”
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Medication No Longer Used
“Two medications stored in the office were expired.”
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Children’s Records - Immunizations
“Five of the ten children files were missing updated immunization records. Four of the ten children records were missing healthcare statements.”
-
Required Admission Information - School Information for School-age Child
“One of the ten children files was missing school-age information. One of the ten children files was missing food allergy information. Five of the ten children files were missing special care statements.”
-
Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit
“One of the ten staff records were missing an affidavit and photo ID. NOTE: Corrected at inspection.”
Jan 12, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
-
Fire Extinguishers Serviced
“Four fire extinguishers in the operation had not been serviced in over one year.”
Jan 10, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
-
Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
“The emergency practices log reflects that there has been no fire drill done since July/2023. Only two severe weather/lockdown drills were conducted during the last calendar year.”
14 deficiencies older than three years
Jan 13, 2023: inspection7 deficiencies
-
Garbage Inaccessible to Children; Maintained in Sanitary Manner
“Several trash cans in the operation containing food scraps did not have lids”
-
Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
“A child with an allergy did not have an allergy action plan readily available for review in their file.”
-
Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
“The last fire drill documented was in July 2022.”
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Emergency Evacuation and Relocation Diagram - Posted in Each Room
“The emergecny evacuation diagrams were not posted in each classroom.”
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Children’s Records - Health Statement
“Two of the ten children’s files reviewed did not have the health statement signed by a physican within twelve months of enrollment.”
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Children’s Records - Immunizations
“Four of the ten children’s files reviewed did not contain updated immunization records”
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Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit
“Eight of the ten personnel files reviewed did not have a notarized affidavit.”
Aug 17, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies
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Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months
“The previous fire inspection occurred on 10/27/2020 which is past the required annual timeframe.”
-
Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment -Use of Safety Straps
“In the infant room, there were two children seated in a toddler table and the safety straps were not secured. This was corrected at inspection when the children were removed from the toddler table.”
-
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
“In the outdoor play area, there was one board missing in the fence which left a gap large enough that a child could become entangled or escape through the fence.”
Jul 14, 2022: report to the state4 deficiencies
-
AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
“During the investigation an individual was observed in direct care of children without receiving background check eligibility notification. This was corrected when the employee was removed.”
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Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control
“Prescription medication was placed in a caregivers pocket that was unsecured which caused the medication to fall onto the floor making it accessible to children.”
-
AP Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Ensure No Child Abused, Neglected, or Exploited
“Neglect occurred when a child found a pill on the floor that was prescribed for an adult, and put it in their mouth.”
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Responsibilities of Caregivers - Supervision of Children
“A child found a pill on the floor that was prescribed for an adult, and put it in their mouth.”
All 15 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Mar 5, 2025 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Aug 14, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 8, 2024 | Inspection | 7 deficiencies cited |
| Jan 12, 2024 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jan 10, 2024 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Nov 1, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| May 16, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jan 13, 2023 | Inspection | 7 deficiencies cited |
| Jan 5, 2023 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Aug 17, 2022 | Inspection | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Jul 14, 2022 | Report to the state | 4 deficiencies cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, permit issued Mar 29, 2017.
- Accepts state child care subsidies.
- Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
- Capacity: 129 children.
Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Texas acted against it?
- No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
- 2 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were A complaint allegation the state investigated and found true: the evidence showed it more likely than not happened. Inconclusive means the evidence couldn’t show it either way. Neither inconclusive nor unsubstantiated proves it didn’t happen. Source: California Department of Social Services, complaint findings; each state’s licensing agency..
Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Texas’s open data doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Texas Rising Star: 3-Star (the middle of three levels).
Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 24 child care providers in Wilson County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 7; this one had 15.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Y School Age @ La Vernia | 15 |
| Little Bear Child Care Center, Inc. This child care provider | 15 |
| Lv Learning Academy | 3 |
| Brilliant Star Child Learning Center | 19 |
| Bear Cave Learning Center | 10 |
| La Vernia United Methodist Church Child Care | 16 |
| Los Ninos | 7 |
| Priscilla Soto | 1 |
| Giggles and Smiles Learning Center | 22 |
| Starlings Darlings Learning Center | 7 |
| The Sonshine Ark | 27 |
| Janie Mora | 3 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Texas doesn’t publish whether a complaint was substantiated.
- Texas rates some paperwork slips as High risk, so read what was actually cited.
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
Sources
-
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child care operations (bc5r-88dy).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Inspections and investigations (m5q4-3y3d).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Deficiencies (non-compliance data) (tqgd-mf4x).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Workforce Commission, Subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star.
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Texas HHSC or Texas Workforce Commission. Texas’s own record is on its child care search. 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 Oct 30, 2026.
From the provider
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Replies
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Paid listing
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