By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington is taking a big step in providing a new childcare option for hospital employees. The hospital found that many Clara Barton employees were struggling to find available daycare for their children. So Hospital CEO and President Jim Blackwell worked with Debbie Stephens, Program Administrator at GPS Kids Club in Hoisington, to open a daycare facility near the hospital.
"The scenario set itself up very nicely where the hospital was able to purchase a house that is very close to our facility, something that would be very easy for our employees to access," Blackwell said.
Clara Barton closed on the property in March and provided the improvements needed to turn the house into a fully functioning daycare. While Clara Barton owns the house, the hospital is leasing it to GPS Kids which is ultimately in charge of providing the childcare services. It has space for 8-12 infants through preschool-aged children.
While this daycare home is specifically reserved for Clara Barton employees., Blackwell said it can be a model for future growth for GPS Kids.
"That's why our hopes were that they could then start up another facility and start providing that for additional employees that we still have a need for, but then also for individuals from our community."
Stephens of GPS Kids says her goal is to open another daycare home by September and at least one more after that by the end of the year.