Child Care
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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.
Please note that the providers, organizations, and programs listed here are independent and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Virginia Tech. We do not recommend, regulate, monitor, or guarantee the quality of any of the providers, organizations, or programs listed here. It is the responsibility of each family to carefully evaluate and select the option that best meets their needs. Parents are strongly encouraged to reach out, ask questions, and evaluate information before making decisions regarding their participation.
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
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.
Please note that the providers, organizations, and programs listed here are independent and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Virginia Tech. We do not recommend, regulate, monitor, or guarantee the quality of any of the providers, organizations, or programs listed here. It is the responsibility of each family to carefully evaluate and select the option that best meets their needs. Parents are strongly encouraged to reach out, ask questions, and evaluate information before making decisions regarding their participation.
Champion Early Learning Center
5342 Fallowater Lane, Roanoke (540-595-9010)
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)
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
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
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.
Backup Care Directories
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.
Out-of-School Child Care Programs
Out-of-school programs provide care for school-age children before-school, after-school, during school closures (such as inclement weather days or teacher work days), holidays, and school breaks. Most child care programs offer the option of out-of-school care. You can find more information and options visiting Child Care VA and Teacher Work Days Programs and Activities.
Summer Camps
There are many summer camp options offered in Virginia and neighboring states that give children the chance to develop lifelong skills and friendships.
For additional summer camps options across the U.S., visit the American Camp Association.
Kids' Night Out (KNO)
KNO is a free childcare program that takes place weekly at the VT Women’s Center at 206 Washington Street in Blacksburg, VA. 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. 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."
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. It is available to Virginia Tech employees from all locations.
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.
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.
Resources for Children with Disabilities and Their Families
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.
Parenting Workshops and Support Groups
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.
Women's Center's Working Parents Newsletter
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 at VT Facebook Group
Stay updated on Early Childhood Education Initiatives (ECEI) and join an online community of other working parents at Virginia Tech.
Family Friendly Spaces
Macaroni KID is a website listing local events, organization, and attractions for families and children. Click on “Find Your Community” to find things to do in your community.
Next Door has a section on “Things to do with kids” across the state by locality. Click on the link and look up your neighborhood to find kid friendly activities.
Next Three Days lists events and activities happening throughout the New River Valley. You can search the website by location or date.
Visit Roanoke, Roanoke Parks & Rec, Visit Pulaski
Local Parks and Rec and tourism sites (like Visit Roanoke, Roanoke Parks & Rec, and Visit Pulaski) have a mix of activities and places.
Yelp and Tripadvisor
Yelp and Tripadvisor have the option of finding places that are kid-friendly by locality using specific keywords, such as "Kids Activities” and “Things to Do in Radford with Kids".
National Level Resource Websites for Parents
The American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting Website
Offers evidence-based information and resources to support parents in all stages of their child's development. This website’s Parent Webinars section, which webinar that provide research-supported child health and safety information and immediately usable tips and suggestions
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard
Offers resources such as reports, videos, and interactive tools, designed to inform and support healthy development during pregnancy and the earliest years.
Provides data-driven insights on child development, family well-being, education, and health.
Offers age-based reviews of movies, games, apps, and books, along with research on digital well-being and advocacy for safer online environments.
Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse
Shares research-based and best-practice early intervention information with families.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Families can find research-based resources, tips and ideas for child development, literacy, science, music, math, and more for children birth to age 8.
Find useful lunch and learn seminars on a variety of caregiving topics for different age ranges.
Offers science-backed parenting advice across all stages of child-rearing.
Has educational kids’ activities and fun games for toddlers, preschoolers and children of all ages inspired by PBS KIDS programs.
Elevates early childhood professionals, faculty, and families’ competence and confidence in early STEM learning for young children with and without disabilities.
Supports babies, toddlers, and their families so that every child has the best possible start in life.
Hand-Me-Down Event
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.
Child Study Center (CSC) Circle
Child Study Center (CSC) Circle
The Child Study Center (CSC) Circle is a supportive resource for caregivers interested in local mental health treatment, resources, and research opportunities for their families. Caregivers can join the CSC Circle by completing a brief online form to share their resource preferences and contact information. The CSC Circle team—made up of researchers across several psychology labs at Virginia Tech—will then follow up with tailored, local resources and opportunities by email. Follow the link above to sign up.
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:
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
There are many lactation rooms and baby changing tables available across Virginia Tech campuses. 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.
Igniting Connections Parent Series
Join these conversations from any campus, facilitated in partnership with NRV CARES on a variety of topics. Upcoming topics include "Cultivating Emotional Intelligence in Children - Building Empathy and Emotional Regulation Skills" and "Crafting Calming Sleep Routines for Children - Creating Peaceful Bedtime Rituals."
Finding the Right Child Care for Your Family
Join this discussion-based seminar to support parents in choosing high quality early care and education that is a good fit for their family.
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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