The Little Clubhouse Childcare Center opened its doors on May 1 and already has a full roster. The new daycare is the offshoot of the Fallon Youth Center and helps ease the serious need for infant and toddler childcare in Fallon.
In late April, the daycare finalized licensing approvals and had a waitlist in all its classrooms. Childcare Director Brandi Dixon-Johnson explained the five age-separated classrooms: the Infant room is six weeks to six months, the Pre-Toddler room is 6 to 18 months, the Toddler/Pre-K room is 18 to 36 months, and the Pre-K room is 36 months and older. The daycare will also provide care for kindergarten students, both after-school and out-of-school times. Each room is freshly decorated and prepped with new kid-sized furniture and safety gates, with a multi-station diaper changing area thoughtfully planned out. The bathrooms are ADA compliant and come with cute 10” tall toilets for little customers.
Dixon-Johnson said the center currently has 121 children enrolled and will have up to 22 child development professionals. All daycare employees will undergo a background check, be up to date on CPR and First Aid, and have completed training through the Nevada registry. Dixon-Johnson holds a degree in Early Childhood Education along with two additional degrees. She began her career as a caregiver at a childcare center in California and rose to become the director. She worked as a daycare director at two more centers before she moved to Fallon in 1989 and became the director of the preschool program at Logos Christian Academy.
“Giving back to the community, that’s where my heart is,” she said.
Fallon Youth Club director Shannon Goodrick said the daycare offering was a concept she brought to her board for several years, but the timing was not right. When the building on South Taylor Street became available, she broached the subject again and got the green light. Hammond Homes remodeled the building, and Goodrick said they came in under budget, which allowed for a few extras. She also said the building rent is reasonable, it fits the budget, and the owner gifted them a few months' rent.
Funding for the new daycare came through grant funds and a strategic use of reimbursed stimulus funds from the pandemic. Ongoing costs will be covered, like those at the Fallon Youth Club – through donations and community grants. The youth club is supported by donations from local citizens and businesses, both the City of Fallon and Churchill County, and the William N. Pennington Foundation. Goodrick said she designed a donor wall at the entrance to highlight and thank those who support their mission of providing safe, quality care for children. The FYC also holds a silent auction & dinner in September annually as a fundraiser.
“This has been a dream come true,” Goodrick said as she walked through the facility.
The Little Clubhouse daycare will be open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is looking to fill four more caregiver positions. Interested applicants can email their resumes to the Fallon Youth Club at fallonyouthclub@gmail.com.
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