BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A new child care option now is available to those who work at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
LVHN and River Crossing YMCA, formerly Greater Valley YMCA, on Monday cut the ribbon on the new LVHN Childcare Center in Bethlehem.
The facility recently was built at the site of Westgate Mall, directly across from the health network's Muhlenberg campus.
"Many of our colleagues travel from Northampton County over to Lehigh County, and this is a great stop for them, as well as the employees here at Muhlenberg," Lehigh Valley Health-Muhlenberg President Jim Miller said.
Miller said employees expressed a need for more child care options in the Lehigh Valley.
"We surveyed our colleagues every year, and consistently the feedback was, we need access to quality child care," he said.
"So LVHN made a $3 million investment in this facility and partnered with the River Crossing YMCA to deliver on that.”
Miller said there's space for about 100 LVHN families in the first phase, with room to grow and welcome families from the community, as well.
“We'll be able to serve well over 100 families, prioritizing LVHN employees, as well,” River Crossing YMCA Chief Executive Officer Tricia Feinthel said.
“It's almost like a full circle of care, care for our community, care for our families, and it rounds out all in this beautiful center.”Tricia Feinthel, CEO, River Crossing YMCA
“It's almost like a full circle of care — care for our community, care for our families, and it rounds out all in this beautiful center.”
The 10,000-square-foot facility will be independently operated by River Crossing YMCA, who operates 13 early childhood education centers. Six of those centers are in the Lehigh Valley.
'Help more kids and more families'
In addition to more access to child care, the center also will offer financial assistance to those who qualify.
“There was always state funding, which is known as ELRC, for families who meet the household income thresholds,” Feinthel said.
“But for families who exceed that, the YMCA then comes in and we offer financial assistance.”
“We're able to help more kids and help more families have child care so those parents can keep working, get back in the workforce, and kids get what they need before they start kindergarten."Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds
Feinthel also said her branch of the YMCA is giving away more than $12 million in community impact.
“That will come through financial assistance here at the center," she said. "We're also feeding our children, which is amazing, and then also working through the Pre K Counts program, which is free preschool for our littlest ones.”
Some funding for the project also came from money allotted to Bethlehem through the American Rescue Plan.
“We're able to help more kids and help more families have child care so those parents can keep working, get back in the workforce, and kids get what they need before they start kindergarten,” Bethlehem Mayor Willie Reynolds said.
“Accessibility and affordability of childcare is the number two thing we hear only after housing affordability. It is often the second biggest expense after housing for our families.
"So the fact that we could have LVHN and the Y come together for this announcement, with some support from us and Lehigh County, it's just huge.”
The mayor was joined at the ribbon cutting by state Rep. Steve Samuelson, along with representatives from both Sen. Bob Casey’s office and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild’s office.
The Westgate Mall location opens Aug. 5th to children 6 weeks to 5 years old. It will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Openings for enrollment still are available, but the center is expected to begin a wait list by the end of the year.
This is the second child care center offered to LVHN employees. The other is at LVHN Cedar Crest.
