December 2015 Department Discovery-Early Childhood Center

The December Department Discovery shines a light on Campbell County Health's Early Childhood Center—or the Childcare department, as it's known throughout the organization.

For those who don't know, the Early Childhood Center provides childcare for the kiddos of CCH employees when they are at work—currently, the Center is only open to CCH employees.

The Center uses Creative Curriculum.net, an online curriculum-based system for ages birth to five that integrates ongoing assessment of children's development with reporting, program planning and parent communication tools. The program director, Noamie Niemitalo, has a Masters of Science Degree in Human Services and is certified to provide staff training to meet Department of Family Services (DFS) requirements and the National Child Development Associate (CDA) program. Noamie has also been appointed by Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead to be on the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council.

Noamie says she and her staff get to come to work each day knowing that they provide a huge role to the organization by providing services to take care of the hospital's employees' children. The Center's staff works very hard on establishing strong relationships with other staff members, as well as the employees who bring their children to the Center. "We hope that they are better employees knowing that they have a safe place to bring their children," she says.

The experience and knowledge at the Center is really one to brag about as well. "Employees at CCH's Early Childhood Center are well educated—many of them have their CDA's, a child development associate certification, or if they don't they are taking classes to work toward receiving one," says Noamie. "Staff also receive at least 30 hours of additional training each year centered around providing quality services to children at the Center." Noamie also mentioned that many of the staff have 10 or more years of experience in working with children, and the Center has a very minimal turnover, so the children are with consistent caregivers.

Every year, the 51-team department develops committees to tackle needs within the Center and the organization. Noamie mentioned that the Center has supported United Way of Campbell County for many years—in fact, they have had a 100% participation in giving to United Way for over the past five years! This year, the Center's United Way Committee has decided that they want to involve the organization with some different opportunities to support our community through United Way. "As a department, we know that you can have fun and raise money and support those around us," says Noamie. "The committee is hoping to share that experience with other departments. They are having their first event at the upcoming awards banquet—a chance for CCH employees to cut off an Administrators tie—and they have some other ones planned throughout the year."

A big round of applause to the Early Childhood Center staff! Thank you for all that you do for CCH and for helping to keep our community healthy.