We nurture and educate children and their families.

For nearly 40 years, the Children’s Center has helped children and families in Western Tidewater learn, grow, and thrive. As a nonprofit organization, we offer a continuum of care, from pregnancy through preschool, to support our families during the crucial early childhood years. We view our role as partnering with parents to support the healthy development of their children.

Each year, our programs serve hundreds of children and their families at our childcare centers and through in-home care. Our centers provide inclusive settings where children of all abilities play and learn together. We celebrate the diversity of our Western Tidewater community, knowing that we are stronger together.

By the numbers

1983

Year established

0 +

Families served annually

0

locations

0 +

Community partners

13 %

Annual return on investment*

How We Help Families

We believe parents are their child’s best first teachers. And we know strong early development helps children thrive later in life. So we support families with a holistic range of services, from prenatal care for pregnant moms to comprehensive child care and preschool.

Our Programs

We offer family-centered care to further the health and education of children from infancy to preschool at our centers, in our families’ homes, and in our community. We also provide early intervention and pediatric therapy services for children with developmental delays or disabilities. Some programs are available at no- or low-cost to eligible families.

Educational Childcare

Educational Childcare

Our educational childcare centers focus on developing the “whole child”—socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Our low child-teacher ratios allow our qualified staff to help each individual child explore and grow. Available to children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Early Head Start

Early Head Start

Our Early Head Start program promotes children’s development by supporting pregnant moms and young children through center-based or home-based care. Available at no cost to qualifying pregnant women and families with children under the age of 3.

Head Start

Head Start

Our Head Start program promotes children’s school readiness by offering center-based preschool that fosters early learning and family well-being. Available at no cost to children ages 3 to 5 from qualifying families.

Early Intervention & Pediatric Therapy

Early Intervention & Pediatric Therapy

We offer early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and pediatric therapy services up to age 21. Services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and more.

From investment to impact

We know that investing in quality early childhood education can lead to life-changing advantages for children, particularly ones from lower-income families: increased graduation rates, decreased rates of depression and cardiovascular disease, increased rates of employment, among others.

It can also have major implications beyond the individual. Recent research shows that every dollar we put into high-quality birth-to-five programs for disadvantaged children yields an average return of $13 a year (based on increased school and career achievement and a decreased reliance on social and health interventions later in life). Quality early childhood education doesn’t impact children alone—it impacts our society as a whole for generations.

Leadership

As a nonprofit, we’re guided by a dedicated team of board members and staff who work tirelessly on behalf of the families we serve.

Our Board

Jennifer Spencer

Jennifer Spencer

President
Chris Tsitsera

Chris Tsitsera

Vice President
Tameka Lawrence

Tameka Lawrence

Vice President II
Lorraine Greene

Lorraine Greene

Secretary
Donald Robertson

Donald Robertson

Treasurer
Kirsten Ericksen

Kirsten Ericksen

Board Member
Gail Harrison

Gail Harrison

Board Member
Holly Lane

Holly Lane

Board Member
Deborah Goodwyn

Deborah Goodwyn

Board Member
Lauren Harper

Lauren Harper

Board Member
Deanneen Goodrich

Deanneen Goodrich

Board Member
Darnell Lee, Jr.

Darnell Lee, Jr.

Board Member

Our Directors Team

Rosalind Cutchins

Rosalind Cutchins

Executive Director
Janet Owen

Janet Owen

Operations Director
Tamie Rittenhouse

Tamie Rittenhouse

Head Start Director
Georgia Taylor

Georgia Taylor

Early Childhood Education Director
Anne Bruehl

Anne Bruehl

Health Director
Paige Powell

Paige Powell

Human Resources Director
Darrell T. Partlow

Darrell T. Partlow

IT Manager & Director
LaTosha Russell

LaTosha Russell

Center Based Coordinator & Director

Our Center Based Coordinators

LaTosha Russell

LaTosha Russell

Center Based Coordinator & Director
La’Kisha Jones

La’Kisha Jones

Center Based Coordinator
Daphne Russell

Daphne Russell

Center Based Coordinator

Our Site Supervisors

Victoria Bailey

Victoria Bailey

Site Supervisor
Kristen McKenney

Kristen McKenney

Site Supervisor
Patricia Ellsworth

Patricia Ellsworth

Site Supervisor
Sandra McNally

Sandra McNally

Site Supervisor
Benay Patrick

Benay Patrick

Site Supervisor

Our Leadership Team

Janet Harris

Janet Harris

Health Services Manager
Steve Dodson

Steve Dodson

Operations Manager
Teresa Boyd

Teresa Boyd

Accounting Manager
V. Tracy Savage

V. Tracy Savage

Home-Based Services Manager
Marti Clarke

Marti Clarke

Local System Manager Infant & Toddler Connection of Western Tidewater
Kristie Dailey

Kristie Dailey

Rehabilitation Manager
Kelsey Beard

Kelsey Beard

Mental Health & Disabilities Supervisor
Kymberly Pool

Kymberly Pool

Family Services Manager
Corrine Walker

Corrine Walker

Education Credentialist
Amanda Daugherty

Amanda Daugherty

Family & Community Engagement Coordinator
Crystal Brinkley

Crystal Brinkley

Human Resources Manager
Mary Faison

Mary Faison

Front-End Developer
Laurie Phillips

Laurie Phillips

ERSEA Manager
Susan Killian

Susan Killian

Health & Disabilities Manager

Our Partners

We can’t do it alone. The Children’s Center gratefully relies on federal, state, and local partners for funding, rating, auditing, training, research, and other services. Here is a sampling of our key partners:

Our History

1983

The Children’s Center branches out from Edmarc Hospice for Children, serving 63 children in its first year.

1984

The Children’s Center moves into its first building in Franklin.

1995

A second center, the Texie Marks Camp Children’s Center, opens in Franklin.

1998

The Children’s Center receives its first federal Early Head Start grant to serve 100 disadvantaged families.

2010

The Early Head Start program expands to serve 256 infants and toddlers.

2012

The Children’s Center becomes the Head Start grantee for Western Tidewater, allowing it to serve more than 250 children ages 3-5.

The Children’s Center is an equal opportunity provider and employer.