Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and River Crossing YMCA (formerly Greater Valley YMCA and YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon counties) officials have cut the ribbon at LVHN Childcare Center, Westgate Mall, Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem,

The facility will be independently operated by River Crossing YMCA for LVHN. The health network made an investment to create the facility to provide greater access to childcare services for its colleagues.

The center is part of the comprehensive health network at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

“LVHN surveys our colleagues annually to collect feedback about how we can make LVHN an even better place to work,” said Jim Miller, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, located adjacent to the center.

“In recent surveys, colleagues expressed the need for greater access to childcare, and we are proud to give our colleagues what they asked for,” Miller said. The ribbon-cutting was held July 22.

LVHN Childcare Center offers full-time programming, including breakfast, lunch and snacks. 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The 10,000-square-foot facility includes nine age-appropriate classrooms, a multipurpose room for indoor gross motor activities, a full kitchen and two outdoor playground areas.

The center also will provide enrollment spots for community members who are not LVHN colleagues. Tours of the facility are available upon request. River Crossing YMCA offers financial assistance and participates in Child Care Works, Pennsylvania’s subsidized childcare program for families that qualify.

River Crossing YMCA operates 13 early childhood education centers with six located in the Lehigh Valley. Most of these early childhood centers are Keystone STARs three or four certified, the highest quality level of certification possible in the state.

“Like our partners at LVHN asked their employees what they need, the Y seeks to understand what our community needs and be a solution partner where our expertise can best serve,” said Trish Feinthel, Chief Operations Officer, River Crossing YMCA.

“When this opportunity to bring our high-quality childcare to members of the LVHN team presented itself, we couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough,” Feinthel said.