Hospital To Open New Child Care Center

June 1, 2008

Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw announces the newest addition to its comprehensive campus – a state-of-the-art building that will house the hospital’s childcare center – the TLC Learning Center. The hospital will host a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand opening on Tuesday June 3 at 11:00 am.

The new building replaces the hospital’s current childcare center, which opened in 1987 in a renovated building on the campus. At 9,000 square feet, the new facility offers greatly expanded space and capacity. It is licensed to care for 78 children and features two infant rooms, two toddler rooms and one pre-school room. TLC Learning Center serves children of hospital employees and is open to families in the local community.

Hospital management, in conjunction with the TLC staff, worked closely with the architects and builders to develop a unique and beautiful building. The spiral roof points to the sky and the expansive windows look out to the Hudson River’s vast horizon, signaling the joy of learning and exploration. Spacious outdoor play areas, including bike trails and kid-size gardens, are just a few of the amenities. Designed with a child’s comfort in mind, the building has radiant floor heating, child-friendly bathrooms and large windows at a child’s eye level. In addition, the building features numerous Green/LEED building concepts, such as the use of rapidly renewable resources and recycled materials, energy-saving occupancy sensor lighting and high efficiency heating and cooling systems.

“The ability to host an on-site childcare center is extremely beneficial in recruiting and retaining a quality work force,” explains Magdalena Ramirez, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer. “In turn, this contributes to providing the highest quality care to our patients. Our childcare facility has always been open to the community and we are confident that parents will find the new building spectacular and the childcare excellent.”

TLC Learning Center is a not-for-profit corporation licensed by the New York State Office of Family and Childrens Services.

The ribbon-cutting program on June 3 will include tours of the new facility, as well as brief opening remarks, a performance by the children and light refreshments