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Employees Employee Programs & Support Childcare for Shipbuilders

Childcare for Shipbuilders

Expanding Childcare in the MidCoast

The Bath Area Family YMCA is a leader in providing children in our community with safe, nurturing and enriching care. We are proud to be partnering with them and the U.S. Navy to expand childcare availability in the MidCoast.

Experienced Care

Bath Area Family YMCA is a leader in providing enriching programs where children can blossom.

Modern Facilities

Classrooms are newly renovated to provide the best experience for little learners.

BIW Families in Mind

Shipbuilders are given first priority, with 150 childcare slots available for BIW children.

Childcare Reserved for Shipbuilders

The new YMCA childcare center on 6 Farley Road near Cooks Corner in Brunswick has 120 spaces set aside for the children of BIW employees. In total, including the Bath YMCA facility, there will be 150 childcare slots available to the children of BIW employees.

Modern Classrooms

The Farley Road childcare facility features 10 up-to-date classrooms customized for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Spaces are initially being filled with eligible dependents of shipyard workers. Slots not used by children of BIW employees will be made available to the community on a first-come, first-served basis.

Signing Up for Childcare

at the BIW YMCA Facility

The Bath Area YMCA is accepting applications for childcare at the Farley Road, Brunswick facility. There are 120 spots (spread across all age groups) reserved for the children of BIW employees.

Begin the enrollment process using the YMCA’s Brightwheel portal. The YMCA has dedicated a staff member who can help answer questions and assist with the enrollment process. The YMCA Childcare Administrative Assistant is available by phone at 207-443-4112 ext. 38 or email at [email protected].

BIW does not own or operate any of the Bath Area Family YMCA facilities.

enroll on brightwheel

print out enrollment form

YMCA Family Handbook

Bath Area YMCA

Enrollment Information

The YMCA manages the enrollment of children into their program. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis of those who have completed the application process.

The Brightwheel Enrollment Packet, including the physician form and current immunization record, must be fully completed. Then the YMCA will verify employment at BIW and check for available slots. Once a slot is confirmed, payment will be required to complete your child’s enrollment. Families will be required to pay $50 to hold their slots. Once the initial spots in each age group are filled, families will be put on a waitlist for their age group.

Employment Status

Your employment status at BIW qualifies your child or grandchild for the BIW-designated slots in their program. If your employment terminates for any reason, your child or grandchild will no longer qualify to remain in a BIW-designated slot.

Ongoing Enrollment

Waitlists will be in place and any vacant slots in the new year will be made available for families on the BIW waiting list first. Families will have 72 hours to confirm their slot by the family’s preferred contact method before slots are offered to the next person on the BIW employee waitlist.

BIW Enrollment Employment Requirements and Waitlist

BIW families must enroll in childcare directly through the Bath Area Family YMCA.
BIW employees are required to present their employee identification badge upon enrollment as proof of employment.
Following request to enroll, the Bath Area Family YMCA will contact the BIW Benefits Department to confirm employment status, and then notify the employee and BIW Benefits Department by phone when the enrollment is confirmed.
The YMCA Enrichment program will maintain a waitlist for BIW families interested in care. To be placed on the waitlist, families must submit a completed enrollment application. As openings in the program become available, the Enrichment Director will contact BIW families on the waitlist through a family’s preferred method of communication to offer care on a first-come, first-served basis. If families do not accept an offer of care within 72 hours, they may be placed back on the waitlist but will be moved to the end of the BIW queue.
If a BIW employee who has children in BIW-sponsored slots terminates employment with BIW, BIW will communicate this termination with the YMCA. The YMCA will provide written notice to the family within one business day with a termination date for the child(ren)’s enrollment in the program. This termination date of care will be two weeks from the date that the YMCA provides notice to the family.

What You Need to Complete Enrollment

Here is the information required to complete the enrollment packet on Brightwheel:

Checking/savings or credit/debit card information
Physician’s exam
Immunization records
CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) Income Eligibility Form
IEP (Individualized Education Program) Documents (if applicable)
Assessment/Observation forms (if applicable)
Medical Plans (if applicable)

The following forms must be submitted as part of the enrollment process:

BIW Release of Information Form
Emergency Information
Authorization for Emergency Treatment
Childcare Fee Agreement/Authorization to Draw Debits or Drafts
Checking/savings or credit/debit card information
Payment Policy and Procedure
Authorization for Release of Information
Individualization Plan
Questionnaire
Swimming Permission Form
Peanut & Tree Nut Classroom Notice
Volunteer Sign-Up Form
Physicians Exam (Click here to see a PDF of the form.)
Child’s Immunization Record
Parent Statement of Understanding
Emergency Closure Policy
Child and Adult Care Food Program Income Eligibility Form

Guidance for Expecting Parents:

Parents should enter “Baby” and family last name, projected birthday and gender (if known). There is an option to list “other” if the gender is not known. Example – Name: Baby Smith; DOB 01/01/2026; Gender: Male.

Deposit

Once all the steps in the enrollment process are complete, a deposit in the amount $50 will be due. This deposit will be applied toward the cost of your first week of care (the remainder of the cost will be charged one week prior to the start of school). Any additional orientation and administrative fees will be waived for BIW families.

Tuition

Infant Full Day Program: $345 for five full days

Toddler Full Day Program: $335 for five full days

Preschool Full Day Program: $310 for five full days

Financial aid and subsidies are available to those who qualify. See more information in the Financial Aid section below.

Weekly tuition is due the Wednesday before the next week of care. In other words, tuition will be paid prior to the week of service. If tuition is late, a $5.00 fee will be assessed for each week late.

A two-week written notice is required, prior to withdrawing from the program. A child withdrawing from the program without this written paperwork will be required to pay the two-week tuition due. Payment is to be made at the Front Desk. Families may choose to draft from a checking or savings account.

Financial Aid

Financial aid and subsidies are available to those who qualify. Families are encouraged to contact the YMCA during or after submitting an enrollment packet to request financial assistance. The YMCA is committed to ensuring that every family has access to what they need and will never turn anyone away from the programs or services based on their ability to pay.

YMCA Financial Aid Application

The Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP), previously known as Child Care Subsidy Program, is through the State of Maine. CCAP Applications and Information, including income eligibility guidelines can be found here.

CCAP Application for Families

To register your child for this program, you can enroll using Brightwheel or complete the paper form, which is also available at the BIW Benefits Department.

Enroll on Brightwheel

Print out enrollment form

Learn More

FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions here.

For general questions about this partnership, reach out to the BIW Benefits team at [email protected].

For questions about the Y’s childcare program, curriculum, accommodations, etc., please contact the YMCA Childcare Administrative Assistant at 207-443-4112 ext. 38 or email [email protected].

What ages will this program cover?

Dependents of BIW employees between the ages of six weeks and five years old are eligible.

How many childcare slots are being offered?

BIW’s agreement with YMCA is to eventually provide 150 childcare slots across their locations in Bath and Brunswick.

Where is the Brunswick program located?

Bath Area Family YMCA opened a brand new, 10-classroom building on Farley Road, just off the Old Bath Road in Cook’s Corner, Brunswick, in September 2025.

What are the school hours?

Bath Area Family YMCA’s Farley Road campus is open from 6:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

How does enrollment work?

Enrollment and any waitlists are managed by the YMCA and accepted on a first-come first-served basis. YMCA maintains a separate enrollment process and waitlist specifically for BIW employees.

What is the cost? Do employees get a discount?

Tuition rates: Infant Full Day Program –$345 for five full days; Toddler Full Day Program – $335 for five full days; Preschool Full Day Program – $310 for five full days.

Bath Area Family YMCA strives to offer a quality childcare program at a rate that is on-par with other centers in the region and reflective of the cost of care in our area.

All families who enroll in the YMCA’s program are eligible to apply for financial aid and scholarships through the YMCA as well as through state programs like the Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) to reduce the overall cost of tuition. Families are encouraged to contact the YMCA during or after submitting an enrollment packet to request financial assistance. Click here to learn more.

The YMCA is committed to ensuring that every family has access to what they need and will never turn anyone away from the programs or services based on their ability to pay.

Can I get a discounted YMCA membership if my child is enrolled in this childcare facility?

BIW employees have a discounted rate at the Bath Area Family YMCA.