SALT LAKE CITY — A black-and-white photo framed on the wall of Neighborhood House’s brand new children’s wing shows a group of toddlers sitting around a cafeteria table.
A caption of the photo notes that “during 1915-1916 the day nursery department of Neighborhood House had a remarkable increase. Mothers engaged in work were coming to appreciate the privilege of leaving their infants in the care of competent nurses.”
Mothers who could afford it offered a daily fee of 10 cents per child. If they could not afford the fee, the caption notes, “the child was cared for regardless of circumstances.”
Though the value of the dollar has since increased and the organization has moved from its original site, its pledge to provide families with affordable day care has remained.
“Neighborhood House plays a very unique role in the community, we offer support for low-income families who are looking to move up the economic ladder,” said Jennifer Nuttall, the nonprofit’s executive director.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, the center, which provides affordable day care services to adults and children, celebrated its 125th anniversary by inaugurating the new children’s wing.
The building features large, well-lit classrooms, a gym, a library, a community kitchen, a cyber center, a family support services center and a number of other labs. During a tour of the building, however, its most exciting feature appeared to be the intergenerational sensory room.
“The aim of the room is to teach our children to self-regulate,” said communications coordinator Rosa Bandeirinha, noting that “it’s really important for our curriculum to make sure that we teach the children about their social emotional skills.”
Equipped with color-changing lights and sensory stimulating elements, the innovative room is one of the many improvements the expansion will provide to one of Salt Lake City’s most diverse neighborhoods.
“Day care expenses have gotten beyond the means of a lot of people, and that sometimes bumps them out of the workforce,” Nuttall explained. The center’s location on the city’s west side, she said, “happens to be one of the places where we have some of the most struggling families.”
The center operates on a sliding fee scale, with a $30.90 daily cost of care per child, but an average daily payment of $10.72 per child. Seventy percent of the children enrolled are minorities and 91% of households participating are low income.
The facility also provides for those 18 years or older who need supervised care during the day. The daily cost per adult is $68.76, while the average daily payment is $39.23. Remaining operational costs are provided through grants and donations to the nonprofit.
With both the adult and childcare wings of the facility operating at capacity, the organization began applying for expansion grants in 2015.
After a feasibility study completed in 2016 revealed the 60-year-old building would not accommodate the expansion, estimates were drawn up for a new building that will bring the child and adult care facilities under one roof.
The new Cleone Peterson Eccles Children’s center, named after the late wife of one of the center’s most prominent donors, Spence Eccles, will allow for an increase of 100 students.
Speaking at the inauguration, Eccles said it brought “a moment of pride and joy to my heart, along with a tear to my eye,” as well as “a tinge of trepidation” in knowing that his late wife would “be embarrassed that it draws such attention to her.”
Opening his jacket, he revealed a photo of her, tucked into the pocket close to his heart. “That’s her,” he said, “the love of my life” and the woman “with whom I shared more than 58 years of joyful marriage.”
Completion of the 48,500-square-foot building is the first part of a two-phase plan scheduled to be completed next spring with the demolition of the old child care building and completion of a new adult care wing.