Licensed Center
✓ Licensed
Happy Days of Merrillville South
Merrillville, IN
· Lake County
86 East 70th Avenue,
Merrillville, IN 46410
Quick Facts
Capacity
82 children
Age Range
Toddler-Twelve
Subsidized Program
Does not participate
PTQ Level
1
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Licensed Licensed Center
Active License
License Issued
Jan 1, 2026
Active Through
Dec 31, 2028
Issued By
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
District Office
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration - Bureau of Child Care
Reviews
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About the Provider
Happy Days of Merrillville South is a Licensed Center in Merrillville IN, with a maximum capacity of 82 children. This child care center helps with children in the age range of Toddler-Twelve. It is open Monday - Thursday, 6:00 AM-6:30 PM; Friday, 6:00 PM-6:30 PM. The provider does not participate in a subsidized child care program.
Additional Information:
PTQ 1; PTQ 1; PTQ 1; PTQ 1;
Hours of Operation
- Monday6:00 AM-6:30 PM
- Tuesday6:00 AM-6:30 PM
- Wednesday6:00 AM-6:30 PM
- Thursday6:00 AM-6:30 PM
- Friday6:00 PM-6:30 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Inspection/Report History
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Inspection Type/Date | Action needed to correct issue | Date Resolved |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Poisons, chemicals, and hazardous items | 2021-10-12 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-100 In the kindergarten room, there are small bottles of hand sanitizer located in the grey unlocked cabinet on the bottom shelf. It states "keep out of reach of children"In the Kindergarten room, there is a container of Floor Finish by the door leading out to the playground. It states "keep out of reach of children" |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Records, kept at the child care center, shall document the following for all current staff, substitutes, and volunteers: A statewide limited criminal history check completed by the Indiana state police | 2021-10-19 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-41(a)(3) One caregiver does not have evidence of a current consent form on file with the division allowing for a criminal history check. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Prior to having direct contact with children or food, the following training or information shall be provided to all staff and volunteers according to the specific responsibilities assigned to that particular staff member or volunteer: Training in universal precautions. A person trained annually in universal precautions shall repeat this training annually for all child care staff and include the following topics: Blood borne diseases and their transmission, work practice controls, and the use of personal protective equipment as required by the OSHA and ISDH | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-32(a)(7)(a) One caregiver does not have evidence of current universal precautions traning. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Director responsibilities | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-22 Staff records are out of compliance, missing several trainings for 2 of the 3 caregivers. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Subject to section 3.3 of this chapter, the applicant must, at no expense to the state, do the following: Require an employee or volunteer of the applicant who may be present on the premises of the child care center during operating hours of the child care center to submit fingerprints for a national criminal history background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. | 2021-10-22 |
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Type of correction needed: IC 12-17.2-4-3(e)(1) One caregiver does not have a current consent form on file with the division allowing the division to access the fingerprint database to complete a National Criminal History Check |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Kitchen and food preparation areas | 2021-10-12 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-116 In the kitchen, the following items are opened but are not labeled with the date opened: hot dog buns, bag of chips (also needs sealed), ziplock bag of chips (needs labeled with name of item and date opened). In the freezer, a bag of fruit needs to be labeled with the name of item and date opened. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
All caregivers and other persons counted in child/staff ratios shall have training in basic first aid as follows: Except as stated in subdivision (1), training for all other staff shall be completed within six (6) months of employment and at least every three (3) years thereafter | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-33(2) Two caregivers do not have evidence of current basic first aid training. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Records, kept at the child care center, shall document the following for all current staff, substitutes, and volunteers: Verification that staff is free of tuberculosis within thirty (30) days of employment and annually thereafter | 2021-10-20 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-41(a)(7) Three caregivers do not have evidence of a current/annual tuberculosis test. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
During the first two (2) weeks of employment, all staff shall receive documented training in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. The director shall update this training annually | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-13(b) Two caregivers do not have current child abuse and neglect training within the last year. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Within thirty (30) days of employment, newly employed staff, volunteers, substitutes, student aides, and any other personnel having direct contact with the children or providing food service shall have the following: Written verification of a physical examination by a physician or nurse practitioner that provides evidence that there is no known communicable disease in an infectious state or physical or mental conditions which could affect their ability to perform assigned duties in the child care center | 2021-10-29 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-85(1) Two caregivers do not have evidence of a physical on file. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Records, kept at the child care center, shall document the following for all current staff, substitutes, and volunteers: In-service training | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-41(a)(8) Two caregivers do not have evidence of 12 inservice hours in the last year. At the time of file review, one caregiver had 5 hours of training in 2021 and the rest of the trainings in the file were completed in Aug. 2020. The other caregiver only had trainings in Aug. 2020. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
Staff shall have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as follows: At least one (1) caregiver must be trained annually in pediatric CPR and shall be present within the licensed area of the child care center during all hours of operation and with children on field trips | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-34(1) Two caregivers do not have evidence of CPR. One caregiver does not have evidence of annual CPR training. There must be one person in the building at all times with current CPR. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
A child care center shall, at no expense to the state, maintain and make available to the division upon request a copy of drug testing results for an individual who: volunteers; as a caregiver at the child care center. The drug testing results required under this subsection must be obtained before the individual is employed or allowed to volunteer as a caregiver | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: IC 12-17.2-4-3.5(a)(2) Two caregivers do not have evidence of a drug screen on file. |
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| Licensing 2021-10-12 |
All caregivers counted in child/staff ratios shall meet the following qualifications: They shall have a high school diploma or shall have passed an equivalency test | 2021-10-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-24(2) One caregiver does not have evidence of a high school diploma or equivalency test in her file. |
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| Licensing 2021-03-02 |
Director qualifications | 2021-03-20 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-21 Director does not have the education requirement to be qualified director. |
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| Licensing 2021-03-02 |
An applicant shall, at no expense to the state, submit:(1) the necessary information, forms, or consents; and(2) the applicant fingerprints;for a national criminal history background check by the FederalBureau of Investigation. | 2021-03-04 |
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Type of correction needed: IC 12-17.2-4-3(d) Staff have not submitted consent forms to the division allowing for background checks. The division does not have fingerprint dates on file due to lack of consent forms giving permission for a national criminal history check. |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Child grouping policies | 2020-12-16 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-49 No NonCompliances Cited |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Infant/toddler room furnishings; general | |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-128 No NonCompliances Cited |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Kitchen and food preparation areas | 2020-12-16 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-116 The refrigerator is missing the thermometer. |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Playground and Outdoor Safety | 2021-01-15 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-66 The shed doors are bent and off track leaving gaps in the doorway. The aluminum trim on the building is bent with sharp edges. A grill is on the outdoor lawn. |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Poisons, chemicals, and hazardous items | 2020-12-17 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-100 The staff bathroom has cleaning products, hand lotion, and toothpaste in the cabinet with the door unlocked. The teachers desk in teh 5's has hand lotion and cleaning wet wipes in the drawer accessible to children. Upstairs has off bug spray, disinfectant spray, and cleaning products accessible to children. An extension cord is in the 5's room, plugged in near the staff bathroom door. Floorboards in the 5's restroom are popped out from the wall. |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Educational equipment and materials | 2020-12-16 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-63 The 5's classroom is missing an art easel, wooden blocks, dramatic play area, and a shatter proof mirror. |
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| Licensing 2020-12-16 |
Child/staff ratios and supervision | 2020-12-16 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-48 A child left the 5's classroom and walked down to the school age classroom unsupervised. |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Poisons, chemicals, and hazardous items | 2019-12-20 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-100 Cords hanging in classrooms from tvs and radio a stragnulation hazard |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Bathrooms | 2020-01-17 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-113 Bathroom stalls have rust on them and are not sanitizableBathroom tiles are in need of repair or replacing. |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Childrens admission records | 2019-12-24 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-36 2 children missing child developmental information3 children missing complete dentist and doctor information 1 child missing complete name, address and phone number of person authorized to remove child and emergency contact 4 children missing date of admission |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Written program plans | 2019-12-17 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-60 Lesson plans not posted in classrooms |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Within thirty (30) days of a childs enrollment, the childs health record shall contain the following: Current and complete record of immunization history showing month, day, and year of each immunization. | 2020-01-01 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-38(2) two children missing evidence of up to date immunizations |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Staff, substitutes, and volunteer records | 2019-12-17 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-41 One employee missing up to date in service training |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Staff orientation | 2020-01-15 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-32 One staff missing up dated universal precautions training. |
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| Licensing 2019-12-17 |
Water Supply and Plumbing | 2019-12-19 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-114 Water temperature reading at 82 degeres and should be between 100-120 degrees |
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| Licensing 2019-03-18 |
Child/staff ratios and supervision | 2019-03-18 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-48 Supervision: One child 10 years of age left child care facility without caregiver knowledge through a door in the classroom. |
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| Complaints 2019-03-01 |
2019-04-10 | |
| Type of correction needed: supervision not maintained when child left facility alone | ||
| Licensing 2018-11-27 |
Poisons, chemicals, and hazardous items | 2018-11-27 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-100 Multiple sunscreens and Rit fabric Dye that states Keep out of reach of children in an unlocked cabinet. |
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| Licensing 2018-11-27 |
Bathrooms | 2018-12-21 |
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Type of correction needed: 470 IAC 3-4.7-113 Sink and toilet in the bathroom not sealed to the wall/floor. Ventilation in bathroom not working. |
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