Community Action Program Child Care
Community Action Program Child Care is a certified child care center in Lancaster, PA, with capacity for 147 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 9 times and confirmed violations in 2 complaint investigations. The state cited 61 violations, 13 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (16 of 61). 20 citations came in the last 12 months, including 4 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #54 of 73 centers in Lancaster and has more citations per inspection than 78% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
It was observed that there was not sufficient lighting to properly supervise the children during naptime in Rooms 1 and 7.
In Room #1, #4, #5 and #8, there were obstructions (class furniture) preventing proper supervision of the children during naptime (corrected during inspection).
It was observed that there were Lysol wipes accessible to children on a low shelf, in the bathroom, in Room 1 (corrected during inspection).
It was observed that the local hospital's telephone number was not posted in Rooms 1, 2, 3, and 6. (corrected during inspection).
It was observed on the nature outdoor play area, on the grassy area, that there was a pile of various items, partially covered by a torn tarp: wheelbarrow, shelving units, chicken wire, wooden lattice, and bamboo poles. These items had been in a shed which was destroyed by recent windy weather.
It was observed that there was peeling paint in Room 4, in the center of the right wall, approximately 4 inches up from the floor. Peeling paint was observed in Room 8, to the left of the furthest window on the left (both corrected during inspection)
The rest equipment in Room 2 was not labeled for the use of specified children (corrected during inspection).
The medication logs for children #8, #9, #10, #11, and #12 did not include the dates of administration. Child #9's medication log was not signed by the parent, providing written consent for administration of medication.
A staff person in the Infant room did not wash a child's hands after diapering and didn't clean the diaper changing surface with a sanitizing solution. (corrected during inspection).
In Room 6 (Infant room), there are no written statements from the parents giving the formula and feeding schedule for their infant children.
There is no proof of purchase of the fire detection system on record at the facility.
The agreements of child #1 and #4 did not specify the child's arrival and departure times (corrected during inspection).
The agreements of children #1, #4, and #6 did not specify the date of the child's admission (corrected during inspection)
The emergency contact information of child #7 did not include the telephone number of the child's physician.
Child #3's emergency contact information did not include written consent signed by a parent for emergency medical care.
The time between reviewing and updating child #5's financial agreement exceeded the permitted at least every 6 months' timeframe (10/30/25, 6/10/26). The time between reviewing and updating the financial agreement and the emergency contact information of child #7 exceeded the permitted at least every 6 months' timeframe (most current for both dated 12/1/25).
There was no initial agreement on file for child #2 (corrected during inspection).
Staff person #1 did not supervise child #1 when this staff person left this child alone in the bathroom for approximately 15 minutes after returning to the classroom with the 3 other children who had been using the bathroom (had been a group of 4 children using the bathroom, including child #1). Staff person #1 was unaware that child #1 was missing from the classroom for those 15 minutes.
Staff persons #1, #2, and #3 were caring for a group of 11 toddlers. Staff persons #1 and #2 each identified being responsible for 5 of the children. Staff person #3 did not have a group. Only 10 of the 11 children were accounted for in the primary care groups.
Staff person #1 was over child #1 (preschooler) and held the child down while the child was flat on their back. The child reportedly had ahold of staff person #1's lanyard and was pulling it towards the staff person's neck. Staff person #1 reported being worried the child was going to throw metal toys and was protecting both the staff and the other children in the room.
Show 41 older citations
The previous mandated reporter training on file for staff person #2 expired on 5/7/2025, and an updated training was not completed until 5/21/25. The child abuse clearance on file for staff person #3 was for "volunteer" purposes.
Staff person #1 was trained on the emergency plan in June of 2023 and subsequently more than 12 months later in March of 2025.
The first aid kit located in the backpack in room 8 did not contain bandages. (CORRECTED ON SITE)
The ceiling vents were dusty in rooms 1 and 2.
Peeling paint was observed on the doorway and wall of the bathroom in room 4. (CORRECTED ON SITE)
The health assessment on file for staff person #2 said "yes" to the question asking if the individual has any communicable diseases.
According to the log on file at the time of inspection, manual tests of the fire detection system took place on 5/30/25 and subsequently more than 30 days later on 6/30/25.
The emergency contact information on file for child #1 did not include a complete address for a listed release person.
Emergency contact forms in the following rooms had been updated in the master file, but not in the file present in the rooms: Room 2 (2 forms), room 5 (2 forms), and room 7 (1 form). (CORRECTED ON SITE)
Staff persons #3 and #4 were working with children unsupervised on the morning of June 6th, 2025. Staff persons #3 and #4 are currently under a supervision plan and may not work with children unsupervised at this time.
Staff persons #1 and #2 were present with a group of 12 children. When the staff were asked to identify which specific children they were each responsible for, only 10 of the children were accounted for.
Staff person #1 - The most recent child abuse clearance on file expired on 12/17/2024, and the most recent DHS FBI clearance on file expired on 1/31/2025. Staff person #2 transferred from another location within the legal entity. The facility person's record did not include her NSOR and a completed disclosure statement.
Staff person #2 transferred from another location within the legal entity. At the time of inspection, the staff person's record did not include documentation of education the result of the initial tuberculosis skin test.
Staff person 1 worked for a period of time with an expired clearance on file. The staff person's child abuse clearance expired on 8/9/23, but was not updated until 9/5/23. At the time of inspection, the record for staff person 2 did not include a current child abuse clearance. The previous clearance had expired on 7/17/24.
The facility was unable to provide documentation that staff person 4 had been trained on the emergency plan.
Boxwood shrubs were observed in a toddler play space.
The health report update for child 3 was not obtained timely during the previous year. As the child was a young toddler at the time of the lapse, an updated health report was due in July of 2023, but was not obtained until February of 2024.
The operator was unable to provide documentation that they had written consent for administration of a Epi-pen that was located in room 4.
The health assessment paperwork on file for staff person 3 did not indicate if a physical examination had been performed, and did not include the physician's or CRNP's assessment of the person's suitability to provide child care.
At the time of inspection, the operator was unable to provide documentation that they had a current copy of the liability insurance policy on file at the facility.
Updates of the emergency contact information and financial agreements during the previous year were not completed timely. Child 1 - Emergency contact information signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in February of 2024. The financial agreement was signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in May of 2024. Child 2 and 3 - Emergency contact information and financial agreements signed in May of 2023 and subsequently more than 6 months later in January of 2024. Child 4 - Emergency contact information signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in December of 2023. The financial agreement was signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in January of 2024. Child 5 - Emergency contact information signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in January of 2024. The financial agreement was signed in May of 2023, and subsequently more than 6 months later in December of 2023.
The bottom of a young toddler's feet were burnt/blistered after the child was brought outside for water play without having shoes on. The rubber surfacing on the toddler playground was hot enough to burn the child's feet.
On the morning of 10/13/23, two young toddlers (child 1 and child 2) were able to leave the childcare space and enter into the attached office. The toddlers closed the door to the office and were unsupervised in the space from 9:03am to 9:13am. Prior to the incident, staff person 1 was observed on video leaving the office door open before exiting the room at 9:01am. Upon exiting the room, the staff person did not transfer the supervision cards to staff person 2 (who was responsible for the toddlers). During the supervision lapse, staff person 2 was observed conversing with the other staff in the room and was not actively supervising the children in the room. Staff person 3 discovered the children were not in the room after stepping into the room to cover a bathroom break.
The facility self-reported ratio non-compliance that took place on the morning of 10/2/23. From 8:49 am until 9:10 am, staff persons 1 and 2 were caring for more than 8 infant and toddlers in room 2. From 8:49-9:03, two staff were caring for 9 children. From 9:03-9:07, two staff were caring for 10 children. From 9:07-9:10, two staff were caring for 11 children.
The complete disclosure statement on file for staff person 3 was dated 5 days after start date. An incomplete disclosure was on file at start date.
One of the toilets in room 1 was not in working order. A training chair present in the bathroom of room 2 was visibly soiled. A stepping stool at the sink in the toddler bathroom was visibly soiled.
An uncovered trash can was observed in the bathroom of room 2. The trash can contained soiled diapers. (CORRECTED ON SITE) An uncovered trash can was observed in the toddler bathroom. The trash can contained soiled diapers.
The health assessments on file for staff person 1 were dated 3/6/21 and subsequently more than 24 months later on 6/29/23. The health assessments on file for staff person 2 were dated 11/23/20 and subsequently more than 24 months later on 4/4/23.
The previous pediatric first aid and CRP training on file for staff person 2 expired in March of 2023. The updated training was obtained 7/6/23.
Three of the emergency contact forms in room 8 were past due to be updated (most recent parent signatures were more than 6 months old).
A facility staff person placed an infant on their stomach to sleep.
Children were observed sleeping on rest equipment that had less than 2 feet of space around three sides.
Backpacks that contained hand-sanitizer and first aid kits were observed in an area accessible to the children on the toddler playground. (CORRECTED ON SITE)
A wooden fence post on the nature playground was broken/cracked, creating sharp edges. A carpet / area rug in room 4 was visibly soiled.
Areas of peeling paint were observed in the bathroom in room 4. (CORRECTED ON SITE)
Pieces of mulch were observed on the toddler playground. The mulch appears to have washed over the retaining wall. Mulch was also observed along the edge of the toddler area (within reach) on the nature playground.
The diaper trash can located in room 5 was not "hands free". (CORRECTED ON SITE)
Staff person 2's most recent health assessment on file was completed in February of 2020, and is no longer valid.
Unlabeled bottles were observed in the fridge in room 2.
According to the log on file at the time of inspection, more than 60 days lapsed between the following fire drills: 9/6/21 to 11/9/21, and 1/5/22 to 3/14/22.
The record for staff person 1 did not include documentation of education.
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
Complaint investigations and reported incidents
Pennsylvania’s search lists complaint investigations in which the state found at least one violation (“verified complaints”). It does not say what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it. Incident investigations look into something that happened at the center; self-reported violations are ones the center reported to the state itself.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (Under 6 Weeks) | $56.40 | $56.40 |
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $56.40 | $56.40 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $51.80 | $51.80 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $49.00 | $49.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $44.40 | $35.40 |
The daily price the center lists in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search for families paying privately. The state notes that rates are subject to change and programs don’t have to share them, so confirm with the center. See what daycare costs in Pennsylvania.
About this center
Common questions
Has Community Action Program Child Care had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 13 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on Jul 16, 2026 (supervision): “It was observed that there was not sufficient lighting to properly supervise the children during naptime in Rooms 1 and 7.” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Community Action Program Child Care?
Pennsylvania lists 2 complaint investigations since 2021 in which it found at least one violation; the violations are listed above. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Community Action Program Child Care’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Nov 7, 2025. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Community Action Program Child Care compare with other daycares in Lancaster?
It is #54 of 73 centers in Lancaster by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 78% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Community Action Program Child Care last inspected?
Jul 16, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does Community Action Program Child Care cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $56.40 for newborn, $56.40 for infant, $51.80 for young toddler, $49.00 for older toddler in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Community Action Program Child Care?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is CAP of Lancaster County.
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Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
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