Childcare Options to Expand for UVM Health Network Employees with Opening of Early Learning Center

Burlington, VT – An early learning center providing high-quality childcare and play-based learning for infants, toddlers and preschoolers is slated to open its doors to new and existing employees of University of Vermont Health Network in June. The center’s opening is the latest in a years-long push by the health system, which is investing heavily in resources critical to the recruitment and retention of health care workers amid a highly competitive nationwide job market. 

The ONE Arts Community Schools Early Learning Center will be operated in partnership with ONE Arts, a community focused, arts-based nonprofit focused on creating nurturing, inclusive and dynamic learning environments with the goal of responding to each child’s unique needs. It will accept children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, with classrooms divided into infant, toddler and preschool age groups to ensure age-appropriate learning and care. 

The center’s operations have been designed to meet the specific needs of health care workers by offering longer operating hours each day and options for parents to flex into before- and after-hours care. The program builds upon the understanding gained through a decades-long partnership between University of Vermont Medical Center and the Burlington YMCA to provide employees access to childcare.  

ONE Arts will offer a play-based curriculum focused on creativity, inclusivity and hands-on exploratory learning that emphasizes social-emotional development as well as arts-based learning for self-expression and critical thinking. As a licensed childcare center, it follows Vermont state licensing regulations for teacher-to-child ratios: one-to-four for infants, one-to-five for toddlers and one-to-10 for preschool age children. 

“At ONE Arts, we honor each and every child and believe every child can thrive in an environment where they are valued and we are meeting their needs,” said Emily Stewart, program director at ONE Arts “We want to nurture their curiosity and independence because learning is joyful. The arts are at the heart of our program, and we know that play is the foundation of meaningful growth for a child’s emotional and cognitive skills.” 

Located on the ground floor of the apartment building at 112 Garden Street, South Burlington, the center will serve up to 68 children and is positioned near the heart of the city, with City Center Park and South Burlington Library nearby. ONE Arts is in talks with city officials about creating a pedestrian pathway to the park and exploring opportunities for collaboration with the library, said Stewart. 

“ONE Arts lays a foundation of art and creativity for children,” said Margaret Coleman, a co-founder of ONE Arts. “We are committed to offering our children access to explore possibilities.” 

The center builds on the health system’s previous efforts to expand access to childcare for employees, such as the early childcare partnership between University of Vermont Medical Center and the Burlington YMCA. That program, which provides childcare to families of employees at UVM Medical Center, has earned the state’s highest quality rating and is NAEYC-accredited. It has been in operation for more than two decades. A portion of the openings at the new center will be prioritized for families currently on the YMCA waitlist for childcare.

Investment reflects ongoing effort to recruit and retain employees

The early learning center is UVM Health Network’s latest major investment in critical resources for new and existing employees, amid longstanding challenges like a lack of affordable housing and access to high quality, affordable childcare. 

Since 2023 the health system has opened 181 apartment units in two buildings on Market Street in South Burlington, offering a range of apartment sizes and amenities, as well as income-based subsidies for households earning below 80 percent of Chittenden County’s median income. The subsidy program was expanded last year after the opening of the first apartment building generated significant interest. 

"We know how important it is for people to find safe, affordable housing and quality childcare in our region—it’s what allows families to thrive and our communities to grow stronger. These challenges affect the well-being of our neighbors and colleagues, and we are committed to making a meaningful difference for our employees and the people we serve," said Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, president and chief executive officer of UVM Health Network. “We are proud to partner with ONE Arts and thankful for their dedication to embodying our shared values of inclusivity and creating supportive and engaged environments where learning is a lifelong passion.”

Investment and subsidies recognize Vermont’s childcare challenges

Access to high-quality, affordable childcare continues to be a longstanding and critical challenge in Vermont, according to a bi-annual report published by the nonprofit organization Let’s Grow Kids. 

The passage of Act 76 in the fall of 2023 kick-started significant public investment in the state’s childcare system, but the organization said a variety of challenges remain, including lingering COVID-era impacts, the end of federal funding for childcare programs from the American Rescue Plan Act, local and regional impacts from last summer’s catastrophic flooding, and a significant increase in the number of young children likely to need access to childcare. 

Affordability is another crucial childcare challenge in Vermont. The new center will accept several subsidies to support families seeking access to care, including the income-based Child Care Financial Assistance Program and Act 166, which offers up to 10 hours per week of publicly-funded pre-kindergarten education. 

The health system expects about 80% of families enrolled at the center will qualify for one or more subsidies. More than 100 applications to enroll a child at the center had been received as of Monday morning, according to the health system.  

“Assuring prospective employees that we are taking action to expand access to high-quality childcare is a crucial boost to our recruitment efforts,” said Jerald Novak, chief people officer for UVM Health Network. “Offering subsidies and ensuring equitable access to childcare for our employees underscores our commitment to supporting our teams’ wellbeing and work-life balance, which also supports them in providing the highest quality care to our patients.”