The Valley Child Development Center offers high-quality childcare and education services to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. We are licensed for 80 children and participate in the Step Up to Quality, Sixpence, and Beyond School Bells programs. We also participate in the Child and Family Food Program and we accept Child Care Subsidy. We are a part of the Communities for Kids program.
HOW WE GOT STARTED: Red Cloud is a community of just under 1,000 residents located in south-central Nebraska at the crossroads of Highways 136 and 281. Despite a recent surge in the return of young families, this rural and vibrant community had just one in-home licensed childcare provider and a few small in-home unlicensed providers. While there is an all-inclusive preschool for children ages three to four operated by the school district, there was a need for before and after school education and care, as well during summers and on Fridays when preschool was not in session. Existing child care options were not able to meet community's growing demand for care of ages six weeks to three years, as well as during out-of-school seasons for students ages three to twelve.
Community Action Planning was done in December of 2012 by the Red Cloud Community Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, which identified this community driven need for quality childcare services. A Community Needs Assessment was done in November 2013 and a Market Analysis via Survey Monkey in June 2015, which both determined that there continued to be a strong need for childcare in the Red Cloud Community. Initially four patrons began the process of creating The Valley Child Development Center which later grew into the Board of Directors. A steering committee was formed and funds were raised before the construction of the building began. The Valley Child Development Center opened its doors on January 6th, 2018.
