TidalHealth Breaks Ground for Employee Childcare Center

SEAFORD, Del. — TidalHealth is expanding its mission of supporting its employees and their families.

TidalHealth held a groundbreaking Tuesday afternoon for its newest employee childcare center at their Nanticoke campus in Seaford, marking the launch of “TidalHealth Kids,” a network of four new childcare centers.

Additional centers are planned for Salisbury, Millsboro and Berlin, which TidalHealth expects to break ground on in the next two years. The facilities will be operated in partnership with KinderCare Learning Centers.

“Our most important asset is our employees. So, when you can take those pressures off your employees, they always give back even more. It also provides security for them, that they’ve got somewhere close to home that they trust to care for their children,” TidalHealth Nanticoke President Penny Short said.

The newest facility in Seaford will serve 120 children beginning in late summer 2026. TidalHealth will provide the facility space, while KinderCare Learning Centers will oversee operations, staffing, curriculum, and administration.

“The investment that TidalHealth is making — that’s sending a message that we care, and we care about life outside of work. That includes building your family and having your family,” Vice President of People Demi Gilmore said.

TidalHealth’s current childcare center in Salisbury has been a trusted source for employees in need of reliable, quality, early childhood education for 40 years.
Gilmore said the additional centers will help with employee retention and recruitment as well.