Child Care
Caregiving
New River Valley Based Childcare Partnerships (formerly Rainbow Riders Partnership)
To meet the growing demand for high-quality, affordable childcare services for the children of university faculty, staff and students, Virginia Tech entered into an agreement with area childcare programs. Those programs are:
- Children’s Nest: 1155 Draper Road SW Blacksburg, 540-953-3945
- Giles Health & Family Center: 701 Wenonah Avenue, Pearisburg, 540-921-3024
- Rainbow Riders, 307 N. Knollwood Drive, Blacksburg, 540-951-3636
- Valley Interfaith Child Care Center: 950 Heather Drive, Blacksburg, 540-951-8101
Effective August 2023, Hokie Wellness will begin phasing out the Rainbow Riders Priority list, no longer accepting submissions to the list. Parents seeking early care and education will be encouraged to contact our childcare partners, including Rainbow Riders, and follow their specific enrollment protocols. The four childcare partners will offer enrollment opportunities directly to Virginia Tech families based on the date enrollment information is finalized and documented by your childcare program of choice.
Families on the current Rainbow Riders Priority list will remain on the list through Dec. 31, 2023 should placement opportunities become available at Rainbow Riders. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, enrollment opportunities will be offered directly to you as they become available based on the date your enrollment information was finalized. We encourage you to explore and consider the other partners mentioned above during this time.
Other Childcare Options
- Care.com: Virginia Tech piloted backup care services with Care.com beginning in November 2022. After reviewing the pilot’s results and listening to feedback from faculty and staff, it was clear the service was not meeting Virginia Tech’s needs. As of Nov. 1, 2023, Virginia Tech will no longer offer Care.com as a benefit to employees. Reimbursement requests for backup care that happened on or before Oct. 31, 2023, can be submitted to Care.com until Nov. 30, 2023. If you have questions about Care.com, contact their Member Care team at careteam@care.com.
- ChildCare Aware of Virginia: Child Care Aware of Virginia is a community-based network of child care and early education specialists. The organization delivers services to families, child care professionals and communities, working to increase the accessibility, availability and quality of child care in Virginia.
- Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS): Maintains a database that allows parents to learn more about child care and search for licensed child care. Parents have the ability to search places of care and review inspection history, including the frequency, nature of and dates of violations.
Financial Aid
- The Child Care Subsidy Program, with the Department of Educatoin, assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who are not eligible to attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or children with special needs under age 18 who reside with the applicant. If you are eligible and are approved for services, the Subsidy Program can pay a portion of your child care costs directly to the child care provider.
Hokie Wellness is available to help you and your family as we navigate these new collaborations and opportunities.