Pamela Brown
A family day home in Portsmouth, Virginia 23703
5909 Dunkirk Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23703. (757) 292-6639.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov.
The short answer
- 26 deficiencies in the last three years
- Mar 192026 the latest visit on record
- 12 children, its licensed capacity
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?
11 inspections on record, the latest on Mar 19, 2026.
26 violations cited in the last three years.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
When those deficiencies happened
26 deficiencies in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 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 deficiency, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Mar 19, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection2 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-4
“The family day home is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. The family day home did not request a search of the child abuse and neglect registry, sex offenders, or criminal history from one state for Staff #1 who has been employed for more than 3 months and was working with children at the time of the inspection.”
-
8VAC20-800-760-A-1
“The family day home is required to have a first aid kit that contains all mandatory items. The first aid kit did not contain adhesive tape.”
Oct 29, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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8VAC20-800-240-A
“Areas and furnishings of the family day home, inside and outside, shall be maintained in safe condition. There are two electrical cords dangling down within reach of children posing an entanglement hazard.”
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8VAC20-800-510-C
“Occupied cribs, cots, rest mats, and beds shall be at least 12 inches from each other. There were four occupied cots that have less than 12 inches of space between them.”
Feb 25, 2025: inspection6 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-3
“The center must request a search of the central registry prior to the employee’s first day of employment. Staff #1, who had been employed for an unknown length of time, did not have a central registry search requested. Staff #1 was working with children.”
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8VAC20-800-120-B
“Providers must maintain a record for each caregiver and shall contain all required information. The record for Staff #2, who was present, did not contain the following required information date of employment, references, documentation of the education and training.”
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8VAC20-800-60-B
“A child’s record shall contain the required documentation. The record for Child #2 did not include documented first date of attendance.”
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8VAC20-800-630-B
“When time out is used as a discipline technique it shall be used sparingly and shall not exceed one minute for each year of the child’s age. A two-year-old was left in time out for six minutes.”
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8VAC20-800-90-A
“Before attendance, documentation of immunizations is to be obtained for each child. There was no documentation of immunizations for Child #4, who was in care during the inspection and had been in care for 3 months.”
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8VAC20-800-900-B
“Children shall not be allowed to eat or drink while walking. Child #1 was observed walking around the child care room while drinking from a sippy cup.”
Jul 24, 2024: inspection3 deficiencies
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8VAC20-800-200-A
“Based on record review and interview the provided failed to orient the assistant by the end of their first week of assuming job responsibilities. Evidence: 1 - The record for the caregiver did not include documentation that orientation was completed by the end of their first week of assuming job responsibilities. 2 - The provider stated that she had not completed orientation with the caregiver.”
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8VAC20-800-240-A
“Based on observation and interview the provider failed to ensure that areas are maintained in safe condition. Evidence: 1 - There is a top loading freezer in the kitchen where children were observed eating snack, that does not have a child proof latch to prevent children from gaining access. 2 - The provider confirmed that there was not a child proof latch on the top loading freezer.”
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8VAC20-800-280
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that potentially poisonous substances are stored in areas inaccessible to children. Evidence: 1 - The bathroom used by children in care, there were unlocked chemicals stored in a cabinet under the sink. 2 - Children were observed going into the bathroom during the inspection. 3 - The provider confirmed that the cabinet under the sink was unlocked.”
Apr 9, 2024: inspection13 deficiencies
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8VAC20-800-240-A
“Based on observation and interview the provider did not ensure that areas of the family day home are maintained in a safe condition. Evidence: 1. A vertical plank on the wooden fence was broken, leaving an area of splitting, jagged edge accessible to children in care. 2. The provider confirmed that the vertical plank had an area of broken wood that was accessible to children.”
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8VAC20-800-390-A
“Based on observation and interview the provider failed to ensure that each child has access to an individual location to keep belongings. Evidence: There was a pile of coats and items stacked near the front door of the home. As children left the provider retrieved children’s personal items from the pile.”
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8VAC20-800-560-A
The inspectors’ words, 106 words
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that a caregiver is physically present, provide direct care, supervise, and be near, aware, and responsible for each child in care. Evidence: 1. Upon arrival the provider was outside the home getting car seats from the vehicle while seven children were inside the home alone. a. The provider was the only caregiver present during the entire inspection. 2. Child #1 began to climb out the high chair. The high chair tripped and fell over with the child hanging from the side of the chair. a. The provider was not present in the child care room when this occurred.”
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8VAC20-800-60-B
“Based on record review the provider did not ensure children’s records contained all the required information. Evidence: 1. The record for Child #1 did not contain one of two required emergency contacts information. 2. The record for Child #2 did not contain one parent work number, medical insurance number, one of two required emergency contacts or documentation of annual update. 3. The record for Child #3 did not contain the telephone number and address of the child’s physician or persons authorized to pick-up.”
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8VAC20-800-680-B
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that children wash their hands when their hands are dirty. Evidence: Children did not wash their hands after eating finger food for snack and were observed using their fingers to self-feed cling peaches during snack.”
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8VAC20-800-690-D
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that the diapering surface is a nonabsorbent surface. Evidence: The provider used absorbent quilted under pads to change each child’s diaper on the floor of the bathroom.”
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8VAC20-800-70-A
“Based on record review, the provider did not ensure that parents are provided all required written information before the child’s first day of attendance. Evidence: 1. The record for Child #1 did not contain any documentation that any of the required written parent information was provided to the parent. 2. The record for Child #3 did not contain documentation of policies for medication administration.”
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8VAC20-800-870-G
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that tables and high chair trays are cleaned after each use. Evidence: The tables and high chair trays were not cleaned after p.m. snack. Immediately following the snack, children engaged in play activities on the tables. The tables and trays were never cleaned during the inspection.”
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8VAC20-800-880
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that children were allowed second helpings of food listed in the child care food program patterns. Evidence: 1. Children were offered one additional cling peach section when they finished their first helping and requested a second helping. A single cling peach section does not equal a helping in the child care food program patterns.”
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8VAC20-800-90-A
“Based on record review the provider did not obtain required immunization documentation prior to the child’s first day of attendance. Evidence: 1.Child #3 (enrollment date 4/4/24) did not have immunization documentation in their record. a.The child was in care during the inspection.”
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8VAC20-800-920
“Based on observation and interview the provider did not ensure that when snacks are provided the menu list any substituted food. Evidence: 1. The children were served pretzels and peaches for pm snack. However, the posted menu listed American cheese and wheat crackers for the pm snack. 2. The provider confirmed that the pm snack given was not listed as a substitution on the menu provided to parents.”
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8VAC20-800-960-C
“Based on observation the provider failed to ensure that high chairs are used for children under 12 months and the safety straps are fastened when in use. Evidence: 1. Three two-year-old children were sitting in high chairs without the safety straps fastened. a. The label on the back of the three high chairs used for children in care today clearly states ?stay near and watch child during use.?”
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8VAC20-800-980-A
“Based on record review the provider failed to obtain general written permission to take children off the premises of the family day home. Evidence: 1. The records for Child #2 and Child #3 did not contain written general permission to take children off the premises of the family day home. 2. The provider stated that she does transport children regularly.”
All 11 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 2026 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Inspection | 6 violations cited |
| Jul 24, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 24, 2024 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 9, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 9, 2024 | Inspection | 13 violations cited |
| Dec 19, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Aug 22, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Family Day Home: Two Year license, expires Apr 16, 2028.
- A current subsidy provider.
- Ages: 3 months - 10 years.
- Capacity: 12 children.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Has Virginia acted against it?
- 0 complaint inspections on record.
- No complaint allegations published with findings.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations and Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Who does the caring?
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t show a quality rating.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 88 child care providers in the City of Portsmouth, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 12; this one had 26.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Pamela Brown This child care provider | 26 |
| La Petite Academy #7139 | 20 |
| Mrs. Sheran Oliver | 12 |
| Christopher Academy | 4 |
| Dana Harris | 15 |
| LaShama Porter | 10 |
| Small Voices’ Academy | 15 |
| Raquel Owens | 42 |
| Sweethaven Baptist Church | 0 |
| Ms. Sonitha Blizzard | 5 |
| Scharlese Hicks | 12 |
| YMCA Child Care at Portsmouth YMCA | 47 |
| Ms. Clara Robinson | 5 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Virginia doesn’t grade how serious a violation is, so no severity is shown.
- Virginia publishes a complaint’s allegations and findings only when its inspection found a violation and the records are linked.
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- A plan of correction sent late, or not at all, isn’t online: Virginia says to ask the inspector.
- Virginia’s pages show about the last five years of inspections; for older ones, Virginia says to contact the licensing inspector.
- Virginia says this information may not be accurate, up to date or complete, and shouldn’t be the only source in choosing care.
Sources
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Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
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Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Virginia Department of Education. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.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 5, 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.