The Salvation Army · Philadelphia
The Salvation Army is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 78 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 6 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 10 violations, 3 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for health & medication (3 of 10). 5 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #267 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has fewer citations per inspection than 77% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
On 3/31/26 child #1 was napping at the facility with a weighted blanket. Documentation for the prescribed use of the adaptive equipment/weighted blanket was not on file for the child at the facility. On 3/31/26 child #1 chewed a hole in the blanket and ingested beads from the inside of the blanket.
On 3/31/26 child #1 chewed a hole in their weighted blanket and ingested beads from the inside of the blanket. Staff persons at the facility did not contact the parent immediately (who was on the facility campus) that beads were discovered in the child's mouth. The Child was later treated at the hospital for ingesting beads.
During the inspection on 4/10/26 the health assessment observed on file for staff person #1 was expired.
During the renewal inspection on 1/9/2026 Staff person #1 has completed the health and safety course but has not completed the required health and safety update course titled Pennsylvania Health and Safety Update 2022 (1 hour) training.
During the renewal inspection on 1/9/2026 staff person #2 has completed Pediatric first aid and CPR training, however (the training was not completed through a Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) approved curriculum.
On 9/9/2025 a review of classroom video footage revealed that on 9/2/25, staff person #1 pulled child #1 by the left wrist (while child was laying on a naptime cot) aggressively to the top of the cot. Staff person #1 then covered child #1 with a blanket including his face.
During the renewal inspection on 1/15/25 the operator did not have a current fire alarm inspection report. The report on file was dated 1/10/24.
On 4/19/24 the operator reported to OCDEL that staff person #1 accidentally gave yogurt made with milk versus the required soy yogurt to child #1. Child #1 has a known allergy to milk and required emergency treatment.
During the renewal inspection on 1/30/24 the file for staff person #1 did not include the required out of state clearance information.
During a renewal inspection on 01/11/22, the most recent fire inspection was more than one year old, dated 1/5/21.
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $63.00 | $63.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $58.00 | $58.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $55.00 | $55.00 |
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 The Salvation Army had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 3 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 Apr 10, 2026 (supervision): “On 3/31/26 child #1 was napping at the facility with a weighted blanket. Documentation for the prescribed use of the adaptive equipment/weighted blanket was not on file for the child at the facility. On 3/31/26 child #1…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about The Salvation Army?
Pennsylvania lists 1 complaint investigation 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 The Salvation Army’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Nov 13, 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 The Salvation Army compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #267 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 77% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Salvation Army last inspected?
Apr 10, 2026 (allocated unannounced monitoring). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does The Salvation Army cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $63.00 for infant, $60.00 for young toddler, $58.00 for older toddler, $55.00 for preschool in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs The Salvation Army?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is The Salvation Army.
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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.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.