August 22, 2024
Helena, Mont., August 22, 2024 – August 26 marks a significant milestone in childcare expansion for Helena area families as St. Peter’s Health childcare facility, Pete’s Place Early Childhood Education Center, opens its doors for the first time at Ray Bjork Learning Center. In early 2024, the Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to lease the retired elementary school to St. Peter’s to expand its childcare operations. Located blocks from the Regional Medical Center, the new Pete’s Place can serve up to 240 children in the next six to 18 months depending on programming and staffing availability.
“Access to quality childcare isn't just a benefit—it's a core component of a healthy community and thriving workforce,” says St. Peter’s Chief Executive Officer Wade Johnson. “Ensuring our employees have access to reliable childcare not only supports their family dynamics but empowers them to continue to deliver the best care possible while at work.”
Johnson shares that the community health system has dedicated years to finding a solution to expand its onsite childcare operations, not only for its staff but also for the community it serves.
“Investing in childcare expansion is part of our People First philosophy at St. Peter’s Health. As we support quality childcare, we empower parents to engage fully at work in their roles of caring for patients and the community. This new Pete’s Place is truly a win for the kids, it’s a win for St. Peter’s employees, it’s a win for the Helena School District, and it’s a win for the community overall,” says St. Peter’s Chief Operating Officer Brian Lee.
For the last six months, St. Peter’s has been customizing the 22,000-square-foot building to meet specific childcare licensing requirements including renovating classrooms, adding new furniture, and implementing additional security functions. The project also called for revitalizing the onsite gym, playground, and gardens. Officials say the extra space will allow them to expand on Pete’s Place's already robust early childhood development programming and curriculum activities including exploring new partnerships with local organizations and expanding existing ones.
Pete’s Place Childcare Program Director Brandie Lorenz, who has over 26 years of experience in early childhood development, says that while physical space and curriculum are critical factors when caring for children, the individuals who provide the care are equally important.
“We have a wonderful team of teachers and assistants at Pete’s Place. They are passionate about their work and the kids develop a deep bond with each of them thanks to our nurturing environment and low turnover rate,” says Lorenz. “But like any other business in our community, staffing can be quite a barrier to reaching full capacity. We’re very fortunate to be a part of a large employer that can offer competitive pay and benefits. We also have growth and development opportunities for our caregivers including endowed education and training scholarship funds specifically meant for those who care for children in early childhood development through the Fred C. Olson Learning and Development Institute.”
St. Peter’s is appreciative of the support from St. Peter’s Health Foundation donors who have been instrumental in helping to fund the $3.6 million Pete's Place expansion efforts including lead donors DeLona and Ray Zinn, and First Interstate Bank in partnership with First Interstate BancSystem Foundation. Major donors include Chris Lindsay, MD, Rosana and Dewey Skelton, Anderson Hedge Wagner Kienitz & Zwemke at Merrill Lynch, Denise Mui, DDS and Brandon Newgard, MD, Ellen Feaver, Zoot, Leah and Andrew Cupino, MD, Kerry Hale, MD and Mark Aagenes, Dr. Shelly and Todd Kortkamp, and Ashley Coggins, DO, along with many other generous donors.
“Investing in quality childcare is investing in our children’s mental and physical health and development. From birth to age five, a child’s brain develops more than at any other time. We are fortunate to have so many generous donors passionate about making sure the future is bright for our next generation,” says St. Peter’s Foundation Executive Vice President Stephen Mason. “By expanding access to quality care, we’re not just supporting parents and families; we’re building a firm foundation for our health system’s growth and success, and our community’s growth and success.”
In addition to donor funds, the St. Peter’s Foundation was awarded a $1 million ARPA Childcare Innovation and Infrastructure Grant in 2022 by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
“We are very grateful for the support from our partners at Montana DPHHS and Governor Gianforte, which has been crucial in reducing the financial strain of this project on our capital budget,” says Mason. “They understood that this is more than just providing childcare for our employees – it’s about expanding childcare access across Montana.”
As a way to thank donors and celebrate the grand opening of the new Pete’s Place, St. Peter’s is hosting a special event for donors and partners on September 24 in the newly renovated facility. To cap off fundraising efforts for the new childcare facility, the St. Peter’s Foundation annual black-tie Gala, which will be held on January 10, 2025, has a goal to raise an additional $375,000 to dedicate to the project.
St. Peter’s work in early childhood learning and development to identify problems and solutions goes beyond the expansion of childcare services. In addition to helping solve the childcare shortage and in collaboration with several community partners, St. Peter’s serves as the project lead for the Zero to Five Early Childhood Collaborative of the Greater Helena Area with generous funding provided by the Trustees of the Headwaters Foundation. St. Peter’s was also asked to serve as an employer champion for Zero to Five Montana’s “Family Forward Montana,” a strategic initiative that exists to inspire and support family-friendly practices in the workplace across the state.