The Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA and Hospital for Special Care have announced a new approach to providing child care on the hospital’s campus. The hospital’s Early Learning Center, located at 2150 Corbin Avenue, has become the New Britain YMCA Little Scholars Child Care.
“The YMCA Little Scholars Child Care program provides the highest quality care for infants, toddlers and preschool age children available,” said Nancy Martone, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Hospital for Special Care. “We value their expertise immensely and are excited to see these services flourish. Having nurturing, affordable child care focused on early learning and development on site is a key benefit for our employees and our community.”
The program, which serves up to 52 children in 5 classrooms, will be operated by the YMCA under a lease agreement. YMCA Little Scholars opened on September 3rd and is accepting new students for the toddler and preschool programs. YMCA Little Scholars offers sliding scale fees for the preschool program for families who qualify.
“This is a great example of community non-profits working together to maximize each organization’s core expertise,” said John Benigni, CEO of the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA. “The YMCA offers our years of experience providing safe, nurturing child care for local families in state licensed child care programs, while Hospital for Special Care focuses on the growing needs of patients with complex and chronic medical challenges.”
Hospital for Special Care has partnered with several area non-profits including Good Cause Gifts, a Berlin based nonprofit that operates a gift store on the hospital campus. Good Cause Gifts Berlin store has also helped raise funds for YMCA summer camp scholarships.
“We look for alignment of mission and values,” said Martone. “Collaborations like these reflect a thoughtful, responsible use of resources that benefit everyone in the community.”
Update: To learn more about the New Britain YMCA Little Scholars please contact Allyson Miller at (203) 800-7925 or visit www.nbbymca.org.
About Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care (HSC) is the fourth largest, free-standing long-term acute care hospital in the U.S. and one of only two in the nation serving adults and children. HSC is recognized for advanced care and rehabilitation in pulmonary care, acquired brain injury, medically-complex pediatrics, neuromuscular disorders including ALS research, spinal cord injury, comprehensive heart failure and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Located in New Britain and Hartford, CT, HSC operates inpatient and outpatient facilities serving Southern New England and the Tri-State area on a not-for-profit basis. For the latest news and information, please visit www.hfsc.org, and follow us on Facebook @HospitalforSpecialCare and Twitter @HospSpecialCare.
About the Y
At the Y, we believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success. That’s why our child care programs are staffed with people who understand the cognitive, physical and social development of kids, the need children have to feel connected and supported in trying new things, and the caring and reinforcement parents and families need to help each other. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.
The New Britain-Berlin YMCA has served our community for 161 years. We formed an association with the Meriden YMCA which is the largest child care provider in Meriden serving over 900 children. Together our YMCAs have the in depth expertise and years of experience providing safe, nurturing child care in state licensed quality child care programs.
In addition to Little Scholars, the New Britain YMCA offers child care throughout our community including: the New Britain YMCA School Readiness Preschool at 50 High Street; New Britain YMCA Child Care Academy at 111 Hart Street; and before and after school, school vacation and summer camp programs.
For additional information about New Britain YMCA child care programs, please contact Senior Program Director Leisa Pasquariello at 860.828.6559 or lpasquariello@nbbymca.org. For information about all of our programs for youth and adults, please visit www.nbbymca.org or follow us on Facebook facebook.com/nbbymca, and Twitter @nbbymca.