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Child Care

Caregiving Resources at Virginia Tech

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New River Valley Based Child Care Partnerships

To meet the growing demand for high-quality, affordable child care services for the children of university faculty, staff, and students that live in the New River Valley area, Virginia Tech entered into an agreement with four local child care programs. Parents who need early care and education are encouraged to contact our child care partners and follow their specific enrollment protocols. The following four child care partners will offer enrollment opportunities directly to Virginia Tech families based on the date enrollment information is finalized and documented by your child care program of choice.

Children’s Nest
1155 Draper Road SW Blacksburg (540-953-3945)

Giles Health & Family Center
701 Wenonah Avenue, Pearisburg (540-921-3024)

Rainbow Riders
307 N. Knollwood Drive, Blacksburg (540-951-3636)

Valley Interfaith Child Care Center
950 Heather Drive, Blacksburg (540-951-8101)

Roanoke Based Child Care Partnership

Champion Early Learning Center 
5342 Fallowater Lane, Roanoke (540-595-9010)

To meet the growing demand for high-quality, affordable child care services for the children of university faculty, staff, and students that live in the Roanoke area, Virginia Tech has partnered with Champion Early Learning Center in Roanoke. This child care center helps with infants and children aged from birth - 12 years 11 months. Parents who need early care and education are encouraged to contact the Learning Center and follow their specific enrollment protocols.

On Campus Preschool Program

Child Development Center for Learning and Research (CDCLR)

Located on campus, the CDCLR provides a nationally accredited preschool program for children aged infant - 5 years, as well as leadership for local, state, and national early childhood communities in teaching, learning, and research.

        +  Take a virtual tour of the CDCLR!

Child Care for Graduate Students

Little Hokie Hangout

A flexible, subsidized care program primarily for graduate student families. This program is designed to meet your specific needs, and is a parent-cooperative child care program open to Virginia Tech students and employees (faculty and staff pay an increased rate) for children ages 2-5.

Au Pairs

Cultural Care Au Pair

Virginia Tech has a relationship with Cultural Care Au Pair to offer another childcare option for employees. Au pairs provide a cultural experience for families while helping working parents pursue their professional goals. Among the many benefits to having a live-in care provider, au pairs can provide up to 45 hours of flexible care per week; schedule hours according to your needs including coverage for sick days; help with drop-off and pick-up; and provide the opportunity for better work/life integration for parents. Virginia Tech employees receive a $500 discount* as a new family.

*To qualify for this discount, families must be new to Cultural Care Au Pair and must be employed by or a member of the partner organization and sign up through the organization’s Cultural Care page. Offer cannot be applied retroactively and may not be combined with any other program fee discounts (excluding host family referral bonuses). Program fee discounts may only be applied to program terms of 26 weeks or more.

Virginia Child Care Programs and School Quality Profiles

Please visit these websites to find current child care availability and child care programs’ information on quality at the local, state, and national level:

Birth to 5 Hub (Southwest Virginia)
Smart 2 Start (Roanoke area)
VQB5 Quality Profiles (Virginia)
Child Care Aware of Virginia (Virginia)
Child Care Aware of America (National)

Out-of-School Child Care Programs

OST Programs 2024

This spreadsheet lists NRV and Roanoke area out of school care programs for school-age children. You can also search for child care and find further information on each facility at Child Care VA.

Kids' Night Out

Kids’ Night Out (KNO) Returns for the 22nd year!

KNO is a free childcare program that takes place weekly at the VT Women’s Center at 206 Washington Street. Every Thursday from 6:30-8pm sitters from the Chi Delta Alpha service sorority come to spend time with kids of VT students at the VT Women’s Center. We have toys, snacks, crafts, and games, and sometimes a movie!

Children from 2-10 are welcomed (must be toilet trained) and advance sign up is required. The link to sign up is published through the Graduate School newsletter or is available on the Women’s Center website each Monday afternoon.

Please use this opportunity to take a break, have a quite evening, or get some studying done. Contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu with any questions.

Backup Care Directories

Care.com

Virginia Tech full-time faculty/staff and non-student wage employees across all locations have unlimited, premium access to the Care.com network for finding child care, adult care, pet care, housekeeping, and tutoring. You can book short- and long-term care, with a wide range of provider types including those with experience assisting children and adults with special needs. 

Summer Camps

There are many summer camp options offered at Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg as well as throughout the New River Valley and the Roanoke area that give children the chance to develop lifelong skills and friendships.

Virginia Tech Summer Camps 2024

New River Valley Summer Camps 2024

Roanoke Area Summer Camps 2024

Teacher Work Days Programs and Activities

This list has available resources of programs and activities children can attend when schools have teacher work days.

Teacher Work Days Programs and Activities

One-on-One  Virtual Discussions

Early Childhood Education Initiatives (ECEI) Office Hours

This is a confidential, no-cost, elective opportunity to ask questions of fellow Virginia Tech colleagues about their experiences as parents while employed by the university.

Virtual sessions are scheduled in 30-minute blocks and specific ECEI working group members will be assigned based on their experiences and availability for office hour sessions. Employees who are expecting or currently have children are invited to participate including mothers, fathers, non-birth parents, foster, and adoptive parents. Discussion topics could include caregiving benefits, leave, financial support, work-life policies, as well as sharing resources available to parents. Office hours also allow unique and specific inquiries to be addressed. 

To schedule an office hours appointment, complete a digital form by clicking on the link above and a representative will follow up with you within five business days.

Hand-Me-Down Event

Little Hokie Hand-me-Down

A Virginia Tech tradition, the Little Hokie™ Hand-Me-Down event brings together faculty, staff, and students who either wish to give away or to receive gently used goods for their babies and children.

Parenting Workshops and Support Group

NRV CARES

NRV CARES offers courses in Parenting Young Children and Parenting Through Separation and Divorce. They also facilitate Circle of Parents, a free weekly support group that gives parents the opportunity to share in each other’s challenges and successes. Services are available to all citizens living in the Virginia counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski and the City of Radford. 

Working Parents Newsletter

Women's Center

The Women’s Center is keenly aware of the disproportionate impact caregiving has on women and wants to provide support to all caregivers. Visit the link above for information on resources including the Working Parents Listserv.

Working Parents Facebook Group

Working Parents at VT Facebook Group

Stay updated on Early Childhood Education Initiatives (ECEI) and join an online community of other working parents at Virginia Tech.

Resources for Children with Disabilities and Their Families

Disability Resources

View a list of resources for children with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

Tools to Help Choose a Child Care Program

Child Care Program Information and Tools

We have put together a list of resources for families to help choose a quality early care or school age care program that is right for you.

Tools to Help Pay for Child Care

Child Care Financial Assistance Tools

Virginia Tech employees and students may be eligible for one or more of these programs to assist with the cost of child care.

Virginia Tech Caregiving Policies

All Virginia Tech policies are available on the policy website. Following are specific university and state policies that reference caregiving, including child and adult care:

Virginia Tech policies:

University Policy No. 4300: Hours of Work for University and Classified Staff
University Policy No. 4325: Alternate Work Site and Telework Policy

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management policies: 

DHRM Policy 1.61: Teleworking

Faculty Work-Life Programs and Resources

Faculty Affairs: Work-Life Resources

The university has developed policies to assist faculty with the challenges of balancing professional and personal life.

Lactation Spaces and Changing Tables

Interactive Campus Map

There are many spaces across campus with lactation rooms and baby changing tables available. To see these locations highlighted on the campus map, click the "Layer List" on the side panel and check the box beside "Lactation Spaces" and "Baby Changing Tables".

Information to request access to lactation rooms and other supporting information can be found on the Hokie Wellness Lactation Support page.

Featured

Office Hours

Early Childhood Education Initiatives Office Hours is a confidential, no-cost, elective opportunity for university employees to ask questions of fellow Virginia Tech colleagues about their experiences as parents while employed by the university.

Lunch & Learn Conversations

On the 4th Wednesday of the month, noon- 1p.m., Early Childhood Education Initiatives will host a "lunch & learn" on a variety of topics. These conversations will be facilitated in partnership with NRV CARES.

VT Working Parents Meet-up

The meet-ups are informal gatherings to bring Virginia Tech working parents together to meet, chat, and learn more about child care resources and information. The next one will be at Wonder Universe Children’s Museum (Uptown Mall in Christiansburg) - free entry and free food. Come when you can and leave when you need to!

Community Engagement

Early Care and Education professionals and local community leaders can find additional resources to support their careers, businesses, and ultimately, have a positive impact on the New River Valley.

The list of resources, programs, and organizations, external and not affiliated with the university, are for informational purposes and are not endorsed by Virginia Tech. Please consult the necessary professionals, including medical and financial, to determine what is most suitable for your particular needs.

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