Helping Hands Society

301 Rocky Rd, Hazleton, PA 18201 · Luzerne County

Keystone STAR 1

Helping Hands Society is a certified child care center in Hazleton, PA, with capacity for 46 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it twice. The state cited 16 violations, none of them core-safety, most often for records & paperwork (5 of 16). All 16 came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #10 of 10 centers in Hazleton and has more citations per inspection than 75% of Pennsylvania certified centers.

Inspection record

More citations than 75% of 4,789 Pennsylvania certified centers, per inspection, weighted by topic. More citations than most

#10 of 10 centers in Hazleton

0 Core-safety citations

16 Other citations

2 Inspections

0 Complaint investigations that found violations

16 citations from 2 state visits since Aug 16, 2021 · 16 in the last 12 months · last inspected Apr 7, 2026

Every state visit

Violation found No violation Top row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations, self-reported incidents and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Records & paperwork 5

Emergency preparedness 4

Health & medication 3

Building & playground safety 2

Training & qualifications 2

Citations, newest first

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Emergency preparedness

Training regarding plan 55 Pa. Code §3270.27(c)

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed that staff person #1, #2, #3, and #4's files did not include training regarding the emergency plan at the time of initial employment.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, May 11, 2026): “While the facility had trained and reviewed the emergency plan with staff, there was no visible proof of the training. The facility will create a document stating the date of emergency plan training. Each employee will sign the document which will be placed in their employee file.”

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Building & playground safety

Outside Walkways 55 Pa. Code §3270.64

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed the walkways located in the outside play space had large cracks across them.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Jun 29, 2026): “All large cracks on walkways in the playground will be filled to meet regulation requiring outside walkway being free from hazards.”

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Building & playground safety

Building Surfaces 55 Pa. Code §3270.76

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed the fence post links on the far-right side of the fence were in need of repair. There was broken glass on a window on the shed and there were materials such as doors propped up on the shed. Also observed, there was peeled paint on the gazebo.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Jun 29, 2026): “The facility has contacted our landscaping company and board members to arrange to fix the issues on the playground. The fence will be fixed so there are no sharp pieces protruding outward. The broken glass will be removed. The window will either be replaced or boarded up. All debris from behind…”

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Health & medication

Original label 55 Pa. Code §3270.133(5)

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed child #5's EpiPen did not have a date on it. Child #6's medication expired as of 6/9/2025. Child #7's medication expired as of 9/30/2025.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, May 11, 2026): “Parents of child #5, #6 and #7 will be contacted immediately. Child # 5's EpiPen was in date. The parent explained how to take off cover to check the date. Issue resolved for Child #5. Child # 6 and #7 were asked to send new medication and/or EpiPen in that is in date. (child #7 has sent in new…”

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Health & medication

12 months prior to service and every 24 months thereafter/Health assessment, TB test 55 Pa. Code §3270.151(a)/3270.192(3)

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed staff person #4's health assessment was not dated.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, May 22, 2026): “Staff person #4 will contact their physician. The physician will add the date to the original physical form and initial next to the date. Physical will be placed on file.”

Citation Apr 7, 2026 Inspection Training & qualifications

HS/GED + 2 yrs/Exp, educ., training prior to facility 55 Pa. Code §3270.36(b)(5)/3270.192(2)(ii)

During the renewal inspection conducted on 4/7/2026 observed staff persons #3 and #4's records did not include verification of education and training prior to service at the facility.

Center’s plan of correction (implemented, May 22, 2026): “Staff person #3 and #4 will provide verification of highest level of education. This form of verification (diploma or transcript) will be placed in the staff person's employee file.”