Stepping Stones celebrates 1-year birthday in St. George; Switchpoint officials consider expansion

Written by E. George Goold
June 2, 2023

ST. GEORGE — Along with its patrons and clients, Stepping Stones grew up a lot in one year.

(L-R): Program director Kamie Blake and teacher Pam Alvarado at the one-year birthday party for Stepping Stones, St. George, Utah, June 1, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The 24-hour child care service provider is part of Switchpoint Community Resource Center. Located at 37 S. 200 East in St. George, Stepping Stones celebrated its one-year birthday Thursday night with a Dr. Seuss-themed hamburger picnic for families and staff.

About 150 people enjoyed the festivities. Stepping Stones grew from 40 enrolled children at its day care facility to 130 in its one year of existence.

Age ranges of the children in day care at the facility range from six weeks to 12 years old. 

Program director Kamie Blake told St. George News that one word sums up the past year.

“Phenomenal,” she said, attributing the rapid growth to a fantastic staff that not only provides day care for working families but also teaches children a well-rounded curriculum in classes.

“They see the difference we’re making,” she added about the staff of volunteers and teachers that are the backbone of Stepping Stones. “We’ve said it since before we opened, ‘We are not babysitters, we are early childhood educators making a difference.’”

The facility provides a unique blend of 24-hour day care with classwork for school-age children.

Parents in St. George who might have unusual work schedules, like night shifts and weekends, can find day care for their children at Stepping Stones that adapts to their schedule.

“We want to provide services for any working family that needs child care,” Blake said, “and provide a safe, warm, nurturing place for them.”

Blake said many of their teachers are students themselves who are going into early childhood education and child development careers.

“It sets the bar high and they’re able to provide more services to these children,” she said.

And Stepping Stones is built to provide services for many more children.

“We can have 125 at any one time, but being 24/7, that allows us to help support families that need the weekend care, evening care, overnight care,” Blake said. “So it’s a good position to be in.”

(L-R): Switchpoint executive director Carol Hollowell and chairman of the board David Dangerfield at the one-year birthday party for Stepping Stones, St. George, Utah, June 1, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Carol Hollowell, executive director at Switchpoint, told St. George News that the first year at Stepping Stones went better than they could have imagined.

“What a great educational opportunity,” Hollowell said. “Not only do the parents get reliable, safe, affordable day care while they’re working, but it’s nightcare, too. And we’ve just been so pleasantly surprised with how popular we are.”

Hollowell said the staff at Stepping Stones grew and performed really well together over the course of the year.

“What we’re really happy about is the incredible, positive response from parents about how well the children have adapted and how much they’re learning,” Hollowell said. 

Hollowell said that families that qualify as low-income can receive enrollment assistance.

“We can help them qualify through a subsidy from the Department of Workforce Services,” she said. “Once they sign up for that the parent is only responsible for a certain amount. So that really helps our families.”

Hollowell added that services are market rate and cost less than most other day care programs.

Success leads to success and Hollowell indicated that a second Stepping Stones facility might be in Washington County’s future.

“We’ll be looking at a second facility just because we now know where there are gaps we could fit in, and let’s do it again,” Hollowell said.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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