# Dewitt-Lavaca Early Headstart Dewitt-Lavaca Early Headstart is a licensed child care program (child care center) in Yoakum, TX serving ages Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, with 48 licensed seats. It is regulated by TX HHSC. ## Key facts - Status: Full Permit · Operating - Address: 813 Culpepper St., Yoakum, TX 77995 - Ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten - Capacity: 48 - License/permit: 1665634- 11191 - Operator: not published - Phone: (361) 879-8415 - Website: https://exploreink.org/ - Hours: 07:45 AM-03:15 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri) - Accepts child care subsidies: no - Official regulator profile: https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/OperationDetails?operationId=1294623 ## Inspection record 14 findings across 18 Texas HHSC inspections (2022-03-01 to 2026-04-15); 8 rated serious; 0 open at last record. - 2026-04-15 — Food & nutrition, Medium risk, Correction verified 2026-04-15: Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional: One infant lacked an infant feeding instructions. (§746.2421(a); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2421-a)) - 2025-10-14 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-10-27: Safety - Areas Free From Hazards: There is an opening on the playground between the ground and the lattice in which children may crawl through. In addition, one board on the walk way is detached and lifted up, posing a hazard. (§746.3701; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3701)) - 2025-10-14 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-10-15: Children's Products- Annual Certification: The children's product safety recall list had not been certified within the past year. (§746.4135(b); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4135-b)) - 2025-10-14 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-low risk, Correction verified 2025-10-15: Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2912): Three out of six employee files evaluated lacked a pre employment affidavit on file. (§746.901(5); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-901-5)) - 2025-10-14 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-10-15: Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required: Four out of six employee files evaluated lacked current SIDS/Shaken Baby training. (§746.1309(d); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-1309-d)) - 2025-10-14 — Supervision & ratios, High risk, Correction verified 2025-10-23: Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months: The operation did not have a current fire inspection on file. (§746.5101(a); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5101-a)) - 2025-07-18 — Other, High risk, Correction verified 2025-08-19: Prohibited Punishments - No Harsh, Cruel or Unusual: Based upon preponderance of evidence gathered it was determined that a caregiver used inappropriate discipline, by throwing a tablet, which resulted in a child being struck. (§746.2805; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2805)) - 2025-02-28 — Supervision & ratios, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-02-28: Report Change in Director: The operation failed to notify Child Care Regulation there was a change in director. (§746.303(a)(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-303-a-4)) - 2025-02-28 — Supervision & ratios, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-02-28: Background Check Validation - Every 3 months each operation, other than a licensed, registered, or listed home, must validate current list: The employee list was last validated 9-3-24. (§745.651(2)(A); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-745-651-2-a)) - 2025-02-28 — Food & nutrition, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-03-13: Nutrition and Food Service - Drinking water available at every snack, mealtime, and during and after active play: Children did not have drinking water available during outdoor play. (§746.3301(f)(1); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3301-f-1)) - 2024-04-23 — Supervision & ratios, Medium risk, Correction verified 2024-05-02: Written Operational Policies - Support inclusive services: The operational policies lacked information regarding children with special needs. (§746.501(a)(30); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-501-a-30)) - 2024-04-23 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2024-05-02: Safety - Areas Free From Hazards: The gate on the playground had an opening large enough for a small child to fit through. (§746.3701; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3701)) - 2024-04-23 — Supervision & ratios, Medium risk, Correction verified 2024-05-02: Written Operational Policies - Criteria for Extreme Weather: The operational policies lacked the criteria that will be used to determine if weather is appropriate for outdoor play. (§746.501(a)(18)(F); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-501-a-18-f)) - 2024-04-23 — Safety hazards, High risk, Corrected at inspection: Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children: Purell sanitation wipes were observed on the ground in two bathrooms. Note: This was corrected when the wipes were stored out of the reach of the children. (§746.3407(12); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3407-12)) ## Nearby programs - [The Learning Tree](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-916173) — 1 km, capacity 89 - [Meme's and Meia's Loves](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1433405) — 1.89 km, capacity 21 ## Sources - tx_hhsc_operations record 1294623 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://data.texas.gov/resource/bc5r-88dy.json?operation_id=1294623 - us_census_geocoder record 813 CULPEPPER ST.|YOAKUM|TX|77995 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/ --- Source page: https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1294623 · Kinfield — Childcare Intelligence. Facts come from public regulator records; historical inspection data is labelled. Missing data never means no issue exists.