Mountain Health Network opens two child care centers

Employees of Mountain Health Network (MHN), Marshall Health and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine now have access to child care services through a new partnership with Ridge Kids Academy.

Todd Gunter, representative of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito; Michael Browning, representative of Sen. Joe Manchin; and Nicholas Gray, representative of Rep. Carol Miller, received handmade "thank you" notes made by the children of the Mountain Health Network Child Care Center.

Two centers located near the Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center main campuses were made possible through federal funding secured by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Sen. Joe Manchin, Rep. Carol Miller, and the West Virginia State Legislature’s support on legislation to provide employer expanded child care site availability.

“We are grateful for this investment in child care services to better support our region’s health care employees,” said Susan Beth Robinson, chief human resources officer for MHN. “While our employees are caring for others, we want them to have the assurance that their children are taken care of as well. We are committed to providing families with access to child care options that improve their work/life balance, and ultimately, their overall well-being.”

Mountain Health Network Child Care Center - SMMC campus location.

The child care centers, in partnership with Ridge Kids Academy, offer services for children from six weeks to age 12 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., said Heather Blake, executive director of Ridge Kids Academy.

“Ridge Kids Academy utilizes structured classrooms and curriculum with developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for our students. We are proud to offer a space where children feel invited to think creatively, explore, ask questions, use their senses and form relationships.”

Blake said families will also have access to gymnastics and dance classes as well as therapy rooms and skilled professionals with special needs training.

The CHH Child Care Center is located at 3350 Woodville Drive in Huntington. The SMMC Child Care Center is located at 2788 Collis Avenue in Huntington. The centers are currently only open to children and grandchildren of MHN, Marshall Health, School of Medicine employees. Plans are underway to expand these child care services to other health care workers in the community. To learn more, visit www.ridgekidsacademy.com.