Early Learning Center

Employers, Add a YMCA Early Learning Center at

Your Business

Let experienced YMCA Child Care Professionals operate DHS-regulated Child Care Centers, on-site, at your business, to recruit and retain employees.

Contact Us

We’re looking to expand! Our nation is facing a childcare crisis, and these Early Learning Centers are an innovative partnership between the United Way of Greater Knoxville, the YMCA of East Tennessee, and local employers looking to create childcare solutions for their employees. Click below to contact Lori Humphreys, our VP of Child Care Services, and learn about adding a YMCA Early Learning Center at your business.

Childcare Needs in Tennessee

• Childcare is vital infrastructure for Tennessee’s long-term economic success.
• More than 80% of Tennessee working parents surveyed in 2022 reported employment disruptions due to inadequate childcare. (TQEE)
• Nationally, one in four parents of children under 3 have been fired from or quit a job because of childcare challenges. (Bishop)

YMCA Early Learning Centers

• YMCA Early Learning Centers provide licensed childcare for infants and preschoolers six weeks to five years old. An Early Learning Center could be a single room for no more than twelve children, as large as an entire wing of your facility for 100+ children, or even a nearby off-site space shared among multiple businesses or an industrial complex.More than 80% of Tennessee working parents surveyed in 2022 reported employment disruptions due to inadequate childcare. (TQEE)

• “Employer-Sponsored” Child Care doesn’t mean you have to pay all – or even a portion – of your employees’ child care costs. You could provide facility space, fund renovation costs to retrofit workspace into classroom space, cover utilities and maintenance costs, or fund food or program supply costs. Let’s discuss!

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY ADD A YMCA EARLY LEARNING CENTER AT MY BUSINESS?

Onsite childcare programs have proven to be an effective recruitment and retention tool, offering high-quality convenient care that minimizes commute time, aligns childcare service with your business hours and holidays, and improves work-life balance for your employees.

WHAT SORT OF LIABILITY WILL I INCUR IF I HAVE CHILDREN ONSITE?

The YMCA as the childcare provider will carry the liability insurance for operating the childcare program.

CAN MY BUSINESS HOST A YMCA EARLY LEARNING CENTER?

Licensed child care spaces must meet the following requirements:

• be on the ground floor or have ramp access
• have 30 sq ft of usable indoor space per child
• have enclosed playground or outdoor grassy space with at least 50 sq ft of usable play space per child
• have toilet and child-sized sink in the classroom or within safe proximity
• have adult-height sinks in the classroom
• have two accessible exits within 75 ft of the classroom in case of fire or other emergency

DO I HAVE TO STAFF THE CENTER OR MANAGE OPERATIONS?

The YMCA has run licensed child care in our community for decades, currently operating 20 After School Child Care sites and Early Learning Centers in Knox County. The Y will hire, train, and manage teachers, enroll children and collect tuition payments, oversee all operations and administrative tasks, and ensure licensing compliance and inspections.

IS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE?

For Businesses: Establishment Grants from the Tennessee Department of Human Services can help provide startup program supplies including toys, books, and furniture. The grants are $1,000 per child and will go to the childcare provider.

For Families: Assistance is available to those who qualify based on a sliding scale through DHS child care certificates, United Way grants, and internal fundraising

See It In Action

Learn about our 12-child “Microcenter”, a YMCA Early Learning Center that has helped recruit and retain teachers and staff at Sarah Moore Greene Elementary School.