Approximately 300 new high-quality child care slots will be created in Tennessee and Virginia.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 29, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — Three new Ballard Health Centers for Early Learning across the Appalachian Plateau of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia open to serve young learners. now has a new place to grow and thrive.
As viewers and listeners tuned in to the first day of the annual Niswonger Children's Network Radiothon, Ballard Health announced a big move toward fulfilling its promise to open up to 2,000 child care slots across the region. announced a step. New Early Learning Center in Greenville, Tennessee. Lebanon, VA. and East Tennessee State University campuses are now open and can serve a combined total of approximately 300 children. Each center serves Ballard Health her team members and community members and accepts children eligible for state child care financial assistance in Tennessee and Virginia.
“When we launched the Ballard Health Niswonger Children's Network and the Strong Start Program, our goal was to integrate health care, education, and community support to make the Appalachian Plateau the nation's home to live, work, and raise families. It was about making it a great place to grow,” Ballard said. Alan Levine, Health Chairman and CEO; “Quality child care not only ensures that children are ready to learn by the time they enter school, but also that parents and other caregivers have the confidence to pursue their educational and career goals. This not only benefits team members, but also the larger community.”
In an internal review, Ballad Health team members emphasized that reliable child care is an important factor when choosing where to live and work. To support this need, Ballad Health's Board of Directors plans to open up to 11 new centers throughout the region in early 2022, in addition to the current programs Ballad Health operates in Johnson City and Johnson City. , resolved to invest up to $37 million to improve access to child care. Elizabethton, and the third was conducted by the Bristol YMCA at the Bristol Regional Medical Center campus.
“We are thrilled to open the first of our new child care centers to begin serving families in our community,” said Ballard Health's Director of Early Care and Education. said Dr. Amy Dolan. “We will work together to prepare children for kindergarten with a best-in-class curriculum that supports social and emotional development, as well as early literacy, numeracy and science skills.”
All Ballard Early Learning Health Centers are open five days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and are closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
“Children, especially infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, learn through play. It's key to their social, emotional, and critical thinking skills,” said Dr. Seth Brown, chief medical officer at Niswonger Children's Network. said. “Our nursery center curriculum is designed to ensure that children are not just cared for, but are prepared to learn and grow throughout their lives, helping to prepare them for a bright future of better health.”
Now open: Early Learning Centers in Greenville, Tennessee and Lebanon, Virginia
On the first day of the radiothon, Ballard Health held ribbon cuttings at its early learning centers in Greenville, Tennessee, and Lebanon, Virginia.
“It's been more than a decade since we opened the doors of the first and only children's hospital here in the Appalachian Plateau. This is a landmark moment for our region, and we continue to see benefits from that investment every day. ,” said Scott Niswonger, a Greenville resident and principal benefactor of Niswonger Children's Hospital and Niswonger Children's Network.
“Investing in the well-being of children beyond the hospital is another groundbreaking moment. The Ballad Health Strong Starts program, which supports families from birth to age five, has thousands of children across the region. And our Strong Futures program here in Greenville supports hundreds of mothers and their children in recovery from addiction. By adding quality local child care, we We are excited about Ballard Health's continued commitment to providing families with the support they need to learn and grow.”
The Greenville Early Learning Center on Tusculum University's campus includes six classrooms adjacent to common areas and a playground with innovative equipment that promotes imaginative play. When full, it can accommodate her 92 children, ranging from infants to her five years of age.
The Lebanon Early Learning Center is located less than five miles from Russell County Hospital, making it especially convenient for Ballard Health team members and their families. When fully booked, it can accommodate 70 children from infants to 5 years old.
“People with young families are a huge part of our team, and they are critical to our ability to provide care,” said Greta, Russell County Hospital Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer.・Morrison said. “The child care crisis is directly impacting the shortage of health care workers and qualified professionals across the country, and access to quality child care is critical for everyone.”
Ballad Health and East Tennessee State University announce partnership to expand access to child care and develop future educators
The partnership between Ballard Health and East Tennessee State University (ETSU) allows students to complete required observation hours at Ballard Health's Early Learning Center while gaining hands-on experience under licensed, experienced guidance. ETSU's current early childhood development curriculum will be enhanced. Childcare expert.
“ETSU and Ballard Health continue to partner to create positive generational change,” said East Tennessee State University President Dr. Brian Noland. “From the Strong Brain Institute, which fosters recognition of best practices and empirical research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), to this state-of-the-art child care center on campus that trains the next generation of early childhood development professionals to educate children. , our commitment to the community is constantly increasing.”
Once the license transfer is complete, ETSU's current child care center will become part of the Ballard Early Learning Health Center and will be expanded to accommodate significantly more children. The expanded center will continue to house current students from Little Bucks and Head Start, while providing even more child care for members of Ballard Health and his ETSU team and community members. At maximum capacity, she can serve at least 133 children, ranging from infants to her five years of age.
“Even considering the addition of these centers, new centers scheduled to open later this year in Norton, Kingsport, and Abingdon, and Ballard Health's future expansion efforts, the region is facing a complete shortage of high-quality medical personnel. We still have a long way to go in terms of addressing child care,” Levine said. “We believe this initiative is a model for how employers, governments and community organizations can work together to tackle this challenge.”
Registration information
If you are a family interested in enrolling your child in Ballad Health's Early Learning Center or have questions, please fill out this form: https://redcap.link/ChildcareInterestForm or call 423-430- Please call us at 7632.
Radiothon continues to support local child care
The Niswonger Children's Network Radiothon, which supports the expansion of Niswonger Children's Hospital and other children's network services, continues on Friday, March 1, starting at 7 a.m. on 98.5 WTFM, 95.9 The Hog WRZK, Classic Hits 102.7 WVEK, and ESPN It will be broadcast in the Tri-Cities. News Channel 11 anchors will also broadcast live from the event, which will take place in the lobby of the children's hospital.
Interested donors can call 855-611-KIDS (5437) to make a pledge. Donations can be accepted at any time by visiting www.niswongerchildrensradiothon.org or by texting KITE to her number 24365.
For more information about the 2024 Niswonger Children's Hospital Radiothon, visit www.niswongerchildrensradiothon.org or email tiffany.willis@balladhealth.org.
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About Ballard Health:
Ballad Health is an integrated regional health improvement organization serving 29 counties in the Appalachian Plateau of northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, northwestern North Carolina, and southeastern Kentucky. Our system of 20 hospitals, post-acute care and behavioral health services, and a large multispecialty physician practice works closely with an active independent medical community and local stakeholders. We work together to improve the health and well-being of nearly 1 million people. By leading the implementation of value-based payments, addressing health-related social needs, funding clinical and health systems research, and committing to long-term investments in strong children and families in our region, Ballard Health strives to be a national model for healthcare. Rural health and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.BalladHealth.org.
About Ballad Health Niswonger Children's Network:
Ballad Health Niswonger Children's Network is a regional system of health care and community services that represents a new level of high standards of care and well-being for children, no matter where they live in the Appalachian Plateau. Ballad Health Niswonger Children's Network is comprised of physical assets, such as hospital and clinic locations, and community support programs and partnerships that promote child health. This also reflects efforts by Ballad Health and East Tennessee State University to expand pediatric services and specialties, and a region-wide collaborative effort to expand services for children beyond sick and hospital care. It represents a great effort.
CONTACT: Ashlea Ramey Ballad Health 423-863-2383 ashlea.ramey@balladhealth.org
