Child care center to move in July

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - CentraStateHealthcare Systemis relocating its Early Childhood Center from temporary space at CentraState Medical Center to Applewood Estates, CentraState's lifecare retirement community. The change will become effective on July 14.

Applewood Estates is on Gully Road, about 1 mile from the CentraState Medical Center campus on Route 537.

According to a press release, CentraState representatives met with day care clients and Applewood residents last week to explain the move, which was approved by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Division of Youth and Family Services.

DHSS granted permission for day care services to be housed temporarily at the hospital after CentraState closed the day care center in April, when mold was discovered in the free-standing building on the CentraState campus, according to the press release.

Children's day care services will be offered for up to two years in a newly built wing at Applewood Estates, part of a $38 million expansion project that was completed this year. By 2010, CentraState administrators will decide on a permanent location for day care services.

"Our 90 clients have been patient as we worked through several short-term options, and we appreciate their understanding," said Frances Keane, vice president, CentraState Human Resources.

"We look forward to the arrival of the children at Applewood, and to developing intergenerational programs for our 320 retiree residents and young guests," said Jay S. Solomon, vice president, CentraState Senior Services.

The Early Childhood Center is operated by Bright Horizons, L.P., and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Bright Horizons operates more than 600 child care centers and schools across the United States, Canada and Europe.

The former day care center building is a one-story, prefabricated structure with six classrooms. It was manufactured in the mid-1980s and installed on the CentraState grounds in 1987.