Cape Fear Valley Health (CFVH) celebrated the expansion of its First Adventures Child Development Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning, Thursday, April 16, at 1727 Roxie Ave. The event included brief remarks, light refreshments and guided tours of the new facility. 

“Today is about more than a building expansion. This is something that will truly make a difference in the everyday lives of our employees and their families,” shared Denver Mitchell, chief human resources officer for CFVH. “Childcare is one of the biggest factors families consider when choosing a workplace. Having a center like this helps employees feel supported and valued.”

First Adventures Child Development Center is a four-star licensed childcare facility for Cape Fear Valley Health employees. Located near Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and surrounding clinics, the center provides care for children ages 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten, as well as weekend care for school-aged children up to age 12.
Originally established in 1991, the center has expanded over the years to meet growing demand. The latest addition comes in response to a waitlist of more than 200 children.
“This project was truly a professional delight to be part of, seeing it go from concept to reality for Cape Fear Valley Health and our employees,” said David Sumner, project manager of Engineering and Construction Management at Cape Fear Valley Health in a press release. “Knowing how important it is for our employees to have access to excellent childcare made this especially meaningful. The support from leadership, staff and our design and construction team made this possible.”
The 11,519-square-foot expansion brings the facility’s total size to more than 26,000 square feet and includes 12 new classrooms, increasing enrollment capacity and creating approximately 30 new jobs.
“Our childcare center is one of the health system’s greatest benefits,” said Lashauna Cunningham, CFVH director of Child Care Service in a press release. “Every day, our parents care for the community with peace of mind knowing their children are safe, secure and right here on campus. For our parents, there’s nothing sweeter than stopping by for a midday snack or, even better, midday snuggles. Our families care for the community and we care for what matters most to them.”
Additional features include staff restrooms, office space, laundry facilities, a food nutrition area, breakroom and storage. Outdoor improvements include playground upgrades, enhanced drainage and new equipment.
The facility was designed with energy efficiency in mind, incorporating increased natural lighting, insulated flooring, tinted windows to reduce heat and glare, and an emergency power generator to support the entire building. Local commercial builder RAYWEST DESIGNBUILD served as the general contractor for the project, with the design by Architect Andy Privette. 
The expansion reflects Cape Fear Valley Health’s continued commitment to supporting its workforce by investing in resources that help employees balance work and family life.

“This project would not have been possible without the teamwork and dedication of so many people across our organization. We are grateful to our Engineering and Construction Management team, Child Care Services staff, leadership, construction partners and everyone who helped bring this vision to life,” shared CFVH CEO & President Daniel Weatherly. “This expansion is about much more than adding classrooms and square footage. It is about investing in our employees, their families and the future of our health system.”