Welcome to Miller County Care Academy

This center is currently open and enrolling.

The center will be open Monday through Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. It will remain open year-round; closing only on the days Miller County Hospital is closed.

Yes, the center will have a dedicated STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Lab as well as a Movement Matters Zone. 

Miller County Hospital employees are eligible for enrollment—employee eligibility include full-time, foster parents, grandparents with legal guardianship, and domestic partners. At this time, enrollment is not open to contractors or the community.

The center has capacity for 52 children and will serve children ages 6 weeks through 12 years.

The ratios at the center are designed to support one-on-one interactions between the teachers and children, an in- depth understanding by the teachers of the individual needs of each child, and the formulation of consistent care- giving routines based on the teachers’ knowledge of the individual children. These teacher-to-child ratios also support enhanced development, particularly language development.

Part-time care is not provided at this time.

Families will be required to provide notice of intent to withdraw 30 days in advance of the last day of attendance.

If you are no longer employed at Miller County Hospital, your child can continue to use the center for a period of 60 days after the last day of employment.

Bright Horizons core business is employer-sponsored care. They were founded more than 30 years ago and now partner with more than 1,000 employers across the U.S., as well as in Europe, Canada, and India. Their client list includes more than three-fourths of the companies on Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best” list. In addition, their client list includes more than half of those named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” It should be noted that Bright Horizons has also been named to the FORTUNE list 19 times. Bright Horizons is an organization recognized for ethics, collaboration, community service, and excellence in the child care industry. They have extensive experience with opening new centers from the ground up and creating wonderful places for childhood.

Bright Horizons’ successful core curriculum World at Their Fingertips, will be used at the center. To learn more about the Bright Horizons curriculum, please visit brighthorizons.com/early-education-preschool/proven-approach. 

Bright Horizons works to recruit and hire the highest quality teachers. Their staff are nurturers as well as educators who encourage learning through exploration and partnership with parents. They’re trained to deliver the highest standard of care. All candidates undergo a thorough screening, including a Bright Horizons enhanced background check and state-required background checks. All teachers must meet state educational licensing and additional center requirements.

Bright Horizons has established a specific center website, which offers updated communications and an overview of the curriculum and parent resources. www.brighthorizons.com/millercounty 

Bright Horizons offers many resources to support families’ efforts to nurture children’s development, be actively involved in their education, and balance work/life demands. See www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources for more details on these tools.

Bright Horizons plans to launch the initial interest period July, 2023. If you are interested in enrolling your child(ren), you will need to complete the registration through the Family Information Center and submit a $150 registration fee per child.  After the initial interest period ends, families will be contacted by a Bright Horizons representative to discuss pre-enrollment or wait list status. More information about the enrollment process will be available at the family information sessions.

There will be an open enrollment window of time and families who register during this time period will receive priority enrollment. Enrollment will be offered to families in the order that their registration is received on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about the enrollment process will be available at the family information sessions.

The length of time will vary depending on the size of the waitlist and the ages of the children. Bright Horizons will send periodic communications to keep you informed of your status on the waitlist and will do everything they can to ensure you are offered a space as soon as it becomes available. Families may decline an offer and maintain their current position on the waitlist once. After the second decline, their name will be moved to the bottom of the waitlist.

Morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner will be provided each day and are included in the tuition.

In addition to the tuition, you will be required to pay the following:

• Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $150 per child is due upon submission of the enrollment interest form.  After the enrollment interest period ends, families will be contacted by a Bright Horizons representative to discuss enrollment or wait list status.

• Enrollment Deposit: An enrollment deposit equal to one month’s tuition will be due when the enrollment offer is accepted. The enrollment deposit will be applied to the first month of tuition. If a family chooses not to enroll their child after accepting the enrollment offer, the enrollment deposit will be forfeited.

• Annual Re-Registration Fee: A $100 fee per child will be required each subsequent year to cover annual administrative and licensing fees.

No sibling discount is offered at this time.

The center will not offer vacation credits.

Bright Horizons will hold a space for up to one month. After one month, you must enroll your child, or the space will be offered to another family on the waitlist.

Tuition will be billed and collected monthly. 

Tuition is paid through ACH and is due on 25th day of the prior month. Example: September monthly tuition  will be due on August 25. 

As guardians of your children, there is nothing more important to Bright Horizons than their safety and protection while they are at the center. Bright Horizons has a series of security protocols and procedures to help guard against any threat to the safety of children and staff and performs safety drills on a regular basis. They do everything they can to make centers safe and secure, and to ensure that their teachers and staff are well-trained to protect children in the case of emergency.

• Employees and guardians will receive restricted access badge for entry into the child care center. Families are not allowed to share access badges, even with people who are pre-authorized to pick up their children.
  
• Center policies prohibit families and staff from holding the door open for others they do not know.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for physically checking their child into and out of the center each day. This ensures that each child is safe and supervised at all times and encourages daily communication between families and staff. 
  
• A written notice is required before releasing a child to someone other than those authorized at enrollment.

• The center will conduct monthly evacuation drills, regular lockdown drills, and “shelter in place” exercises.
• Emergency supplies are purchased and stored in an area accessible to staff with the ability to relocate if needed.
  
• All Bright Horizons staff are trained regularly in CPR, even if not required by the state. First Aid is taught as required by state licensing agency/regulations so that you can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best possible care.
• All Bright Horizons teachers are trained and well-prepared in the event of an emergency. In addition to safety drills, Bright Horizons regularly reviews their safety policies and procedures.

• In the event of a center emergency, severe weather closure/delayed opening, or an emergency in the community near the center, you will receive updates through the My Bright Day® app. 
• As new information is available, the center administration team will continue to provide updates through the notification system.
  
• In certain instances where the center administration team is unable to provide ongoing updates, families will be asked to call the Emergency Hotline number (1-877-276-7113) to speak with a centrally located Bright Horizons team member. 

• Teachers for each age group are responsible for daily safety inspections of their assigned areas and equipment. Defective equipment is removed or repaired to prevent injury. Small toy pieces or other objects that could pose a choking hazard to infants and toddlers are not allowed in areas designated for children under age three.
  
• For the same reason, children’s personal items such as barrettes, hair ties, earrings, necklaces, and beaded jewelry are strongly discouraged in these areas.
• Due to the risk of choking, the following clothing and accessories are prohibited:
  o Outerwear with neck strings, including scarves
  o Pants with drawstrings on the waist or bottom that extend more than three inches when tied
  o Bibs, pacifiers and teethers with ties or strings of any kind
  o Teething beads, including Amber beads
  
   

Firearms, explosive devices, and other weapons are not permitted on Bright Horizons premises, regardless of any valid permit to carry such weapons.

For job listings and to complete the application process, please visit www.brighthorizons.com/careers.

Bright Horizons will follow the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) recommendations for staff-to-student ratios at the facility and also plans to pursue NAEYC accreditation for the center. NAEYC has developed standards to define and recognize quality child care programs. In order to be accredited, a child care program must meet a variety of strict criteria, including having a well-trained faculty, good staff-child ratios, and group sizes and a comprehensive curriculum, as well as meet stringent health and safety standards. The program must also provide meaningful opportunities for family involvement.

Click here to read more information about this relationship.

• Start by selecting the Find a Center link on this page.
• Under the center you’re interested in, click the Request Details button.
• Then, select Schedule Your Visit and fill out the form.

This depends on your child’s age, temperament, and level of maturity. General tips for preparing for the first day of child care include:  

Please submit an inquiry to your center(s) of interest with a request for tuition information. We recommend scheduling a visit at the same time (this can be done on the same form).

Safety is our top priority, and it’s part of our everyday routine. All of our centers follow expert-informed health, safety, and security policies and allergy protocols. Additionally, health, safety, and wellness are built right into our curriculum, and our classrooms and spaces are safely designed for learning and exploration.