Our History

🌱 Our Story: Growing With Purpose

What began as a grassroots effort to meet Jackson County’s child care needs has grown into one of the region’s most trusted early childhood programs.

Our center first opened as Milton Day Care Center, located in the historic Milton School off SR‑32 near Wellston. Even in those early days, our mission was clear: to nurture young minds with care, dignity, and opportunity.

As our vision expanded, so did our identity. We became the Child Development Center of Jackson County to reflect our commitment not only to child care, but to child development and early education.

In 1976, we moved into a dedicated facility on East Broadway Street, later expanding to a second location on Burlington Road to serve more families across the county.

By 2006, years of planning, fundraising, and collaboration with USDA Rural Development and numerous state, federal, and local partners made a long‑held dream possible: a modern, purpose‑built early learning center. On August 13, 2007, we opened our current facility on Pattonsville Road — designed to inspire learning, support families, and strengthen our community.

Today, we continue that mission with pride: rooted in care, growing through education, and thriving with community support.

🌟 What We Provide:

Beyond Child Care — We Build Futures

The Child Development Center of Jackson County proudly serves families — especially low‑income households — by offering affordable, high‑quality, developmentally supportive child care. Our goal is simple: help parents work, train, or pursue education while knowing their children are safe, nurtured, and learning.

🥗 Nutritious Meals & Nutrition Education

Children receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack every day.

Meals meet USDA CACFP requirements, providing one‑third of daily nutritional needs.

Infants receive iron‑fortified formula and cereal, and breastfeeding families are fully supported.

We remain the only provider in the county offering this level of nutrition support.

🧠 Holistic Learning & Development

Our individualized curriculum supports:

Cognitive growth
Social‑emotional development
Physical activity
Health & nutrition education
Inclusive, age‑appropriate learning environments

We believe strong foundations begin early — and every child deserves one.

❤️ Supportive Services & Screenings

We provide:

Free developmental screenings
Free social‑emotional screenings
Hearing & vision checks
Individualized curriculum for every age group

No child’s needs go unnoticed.

👩‍🏫 Dedicated, Highly Qualified Staff

Our educators bring a strong foundation of professional training, including:

CDA‑credentialed teachers
Staff with Associate and Bachelor Degrees in Early Childhood Education
Teachers enrolled in TEACH scholarships and college programs
Annual specialized training in child development, curriculum, health, safety, and family engagement

This commitment to professional excellence supports our Step Up To Quality Gold Rating and ensures every child receives developmentally appropriate, individualized care.

We invest in our staff because when teachers grow, children thrive.

🧡 What We Offer:

Supporting Families Every Step of the Way

We’re more than a child care center — we’re a year‑round partner in your child’s growth.

⏰ Reliable, Full‑Day Care

Open Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Designed to support working families with consistent, dependable care.

📚 Education‑Driven Child Care

Our full‑time and part‑time programs follow Ohio’s Early Learning & Development Standards, blending learning with play, curiosity, and discovery.

🧒 Pre‑Kindergarten Readiness

Our structured Pre‑K program builds:

Early literacy
Early math
Independence
Social‑emotional skills

Preparing children for Kindergarten and beyond.

👫 School‑Age Support

We offer limited services for school‑age children who have younger siblings enrolled — helping families stay connected and supported.

🍽️ Daily Nutrition

Breakfast, lunch, and snack served daily — all meeting CACFP guidelines.

🛝 Safe Outdoor Exploration

Our large, fenced, age‑separated playgrounds encourage:

Physical activity
Imagination
Social play
Fresh air

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