NewsStories From the VGM Group Child Care Center: Accreditation Counts

Brooke Kraft, vice president of talent management for Human Capital, and Lathan Ehlers, copywriter lead for Corporate Communications & Events, were fortunate enough to have child care set up by the time their daughter Viv, now 4 years old, was born. 

“We were actually very lucky at the time,” said Brooke. “We happened to have a friend that took her kid to an in-home care center that only took parent referrals. She referred us, and we were able to get Viv in reasonably quick.” 

While they enjoyed taking Viv to this in-home care center, when VGM announced the development of their own child care center, Brooke and Lathan knew they would be enrolling their daughter—first and foremost because VGM was near their home. But Brooke also brought up another facet of the VGM Child Care Center that was particularly intriguing to her. 

“I think the fact that the VGM center is accredited was a major selling point for us,” said Brooke. “And I have nothing against in-home day care centers; I think they’re great. Our in-home care provider was like family to us. But now, Viv is part of something that has a curriculum—there are teachers that teach the kids. That scheduled curriculum and learning doesn’t always happen at in-home day cares.” 

And it’s because of this new environment for Viv that Brooke says her daughter has come out of her shell. 

“Viv is now speaking all the time,” Brooke said. “She’s come out of her shell, speaking in full sentences as much as she can, and it really is because she’s now in a place where she can interact with more children around her age and older than her.” 

One of the other perks, Brooke noted, was the cost of VGM’s Child Care Center. She noted that with the in-home daycare, they were paying a set amount each month to take Viv, regardless if Viv was there or not. But with VGM’s center, they only have to pay for the time that Viv is there. 

“VGM’s center charges hourly. We give them our schedule each week, and that’s what we’ll be charged,” said Brooke. “One week Viv may be there all five days, 8-5. But some weeks we may only take her in for three days. And the pricing adjusts for that.” 

Another bonus for Brooke in this regard, is that the VGM center allows for a certain number of “no-charge” days. So, if Viv is unexpectedly sick and can’t come in on a day she’s scheduled, Brooke and Lathan can use these no-charge days and they won’t have to pay for that time. 

Brooke and Lathan welcomed their second daughter, Ceely, in early 2024. They also enrolled Ceely in the VGM Child Care Center, which Brooke says is also saving them time and money. 

“We no longer need to get a bag ready with clothes, diapers, and formula every morning. The center has formula in stock, and we just supply the diapers and they’ll let us know when they’re running low,” said Brooke. “And what I love about the center when it comes to Ceely, is that we essentially get a report card every day letting us know when she was fed, if she went potty, and if she was fussy or not that day. It really is incredible the amount of care and attention the center gives to both the children and the parents alike.” 

The VGM On-Site Campus Child Care Center is operated by CUCCC. It is available to any child whose parent, legal guardian, grandparent, aunt, or uncle is an active VGM employee.