The Salvation Army · Harrisburg
The Salvation Army is a certified child care center in Harrisburg, PA, with capacity for 240 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 8 times. The state cited 32 violations, 3 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for records & paperwork (16 of 32). 4 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #20 of 75 centers in Harrisburg and has fewer citations per inspection than 59% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Pick up and drop off procedures were not available. Corrected on site by posting the document.
Documentation showed that an emergency drill had been conducted on 4/15/25. Documentation showed that the previous drill had been conducted on 2.15.24, which exceeds the requirement that emergency drills be conducted every 12 months.
Documentation showed a fire drill was conducted on 1/13/25 and again on 3/25/25, which exceeds the requirement that fire drills be conducted at least every 60 days.
The name of the medical provider was not available for child #1 and child #2. The phone number of the medical provider was not available for child #2.
At the time of the inspection, dated disclosure statements for staff #1, staff #2 and staff #3 were not available.
At the time of inspection, documentation of how the program would contact families when emergency situations arise was not available. A method for contacting parents that the emergency has ended and to provide instruction as to how parents can safely be reunited with their children was not available in the emergency plan.
At the time of the inspection, documentation of completed emergency plan training was not available for Staff #1 and Staff #4
At the time of inspection, a statement that the child is able to participate in child care and appears to be free from contagious or communicable disease was not available on the health assessment form for child #4.
At the time of inspection, scissors, soap and water were not available in the vehicle first aid kit. CORRECTED ON SITE.
At the time of inspection, documentation that the emergency plan and subsequent plan updates had been sent to the local municipality and to the county emergency management agency was not available.
Show 22 older citations
At the time of inspection, a policy to address the recognition of potential signs/symptoms of abusive head trauma, strategies for coping with a crying, fussing, or distraught child, and the prevention and identification of child maltreatment was not available.
Staff person # 1 has not completed the following required pre- service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see LIS code sheet): Pediatric First Aid and CPR.
At the time of inspection, the date of admission was not available for child #3. This was CORRECTED ON SITE.
At the time of inspection, documentation of consent for emergency medical care signed by the parent was not available on the emergency contact form for child #3. Initials were used to indicate consent for emergency medical care on the emergency contact form for child # 4.
At the time of inspection, emergency contact forms were not present in the child care space for children receiving care in the space.
At the time of inspection, documentation of a 6-month update of the emergency contact information was not available for child #1 and child #4. At the time of inspection, documentation of a 6-month update of the financial agreement was not available for child #1 and child #4.
At the time of inspection, the emergency contact form for child #4 contained initials to indicate consent for the administration of medications or special dietary needs and for transportation, walking excursions, swimming and wading. At the time of inspection, the emergency contact form for child #2 contained initials to indicate consent for transportation, walking excursions, swimming and wading.
At the time of inspection, consent for minor first aid was not available on the emergency contact form for child #3.
At the time of inspection, documentation of 12 hours of annual training was not available for Staff #4.
Staff #2 was documented to have resided in Maryland within the past 5 years. Staff #2 did not have Maryland clearances on file. Staff #2 may not work in a child care position until clearances are obtained.
Staff person #1 had a health assessment dated 2/23/21 and updated on 1/8/24, which is greater than 24 months Staff person #3 had a health assessment dated 8/24/21 and updated on 1/5/24, which is greater than 24 months.
There was no record of an emergency drill completed within the past 12 months.
Emergency contact form for child number 4 did not include a complete parent home address, address listed is a PO Box number, which is not accepted. Work address on file is not complete, address on emergency contact form is missing city, and state
Emergency contact form for Child number 4 did not include a complete address for persons whom the child may be released. One release person address missing the city and state, the other release person address had a PO Box number, which is not accepted.
Staff person #1 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff person #1 has not completed the following pre-service training required prior to caring for children unsupervised: Pediatric CPR/First Aid
Agreement form for child number 3 was not signed by the parent. Agreement form for child number 4 was not signed by the parent. Agreement form for child number 5 was not signed by the parent.
Agreement form for child number 1 did not include persons to whom the child may be released. Agreement form for child number 2 did not include persons to whom the child may be released. Agreement form for child number 3 did not include persons to whom the child may be released. Agreement form for child number 4 did not include persons to whom the child may be released. Agreement form for child number 5 did not include persons to whom the child may be released.
Emergency Form for child number 1 did not include the physician's name or phone number. Emergency Form for child number 2 did not include the physician's name, address, or phone number. Emergency Form for child number 3 did not include the physician's name, address, or phone number Emergency Form for child number 4 did not include the physician's name, address, or phone number Emergency Form for child number 5 did not include the physician's name, address, or phone number
Emergency contact form for child number 4 did not include a complete parent home address, address listed is a PO Box number, which is not accepted. Work address on file is not complete, address on emergency contact form is missing city, and state
Emergency Contact form for child number 1 did not include the child's health insurance policy number. Emergency Contact form for child number 2 did not include the child's health insurance policy number. Emergency Contact form for child number 3 did not include the child's health insurance policy number. Emergency Contact form for child number 4 did not include the child's health insurance policy number. Emergency Contact form for child number 5 did not include the child's health insurance policy number.
Emergency contact form for Child number 4 did not include a complete address for persons whom the child may be released. One release person address missing the city and state, the other release person address had a PO Box number, which is not accepted.
Staff person #1 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire: Pediatric CPR/First Aid Staff person #2 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire: Pediatric CPR/First Aid
“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.
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 Jan 22, 2025 (background checks): “At the time of the inspection, dated disclosure statements for staff #1, staff #2 and staff #3 were not available.” 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 no complaint investigation that found a violation at The Salvation Army since 2021. 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 1, effective Apr 29, 2022. 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 Harrisburg?
It is #20 of 75 centers in Harrisburg by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 59% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Salvation Army last inspected?
Dec 15, 2025 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
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.