August 5, 2026 | news post

Dayton family makes $1 million investment to expand CARE House

This transformational gift will help meet the growing demand for child abuse intervention and healing services in Montgomery County

Patricia and Richard Glennon Jr. have made a transformational $1 million investment to support the expansion of CARE House, helping more children and families access critical services following abuse and neglect.

CARE House, Montgomery County’s Child Advocacy Center, brings together medical providers, therapists, child protective services, law enforcement and prosecutors under one roof to support children who have experienced abuse. By working collaboratively, the team helps children tell their story once, receive appropriate care and begin the healing process in a safe, child-focused environment.

The gift, the largest in CARE House history, supports a $5.3 million expansion and renovation project that will help more children access coordinated, trauma-informed care as the need for services continues to grow.

Demand for CARE House services has grown significantly in recent years. Last year alone, more than 1,100 children received care through the center, nearly double the number served in 2016.

“Our deep commitment to children’s wellbeing has guided much of our philanthropy,” said Dick and Patty Glennon. “Our son works for the Montgomery County prosecutor’s office, so we are acutely aware of the critical role CARE House plays in protecting children and supporting healing. We believe every child deserves safety, support and justice, and CARE House makes that possible for children facing some of life’s most difficult circumstances.”

The expansion project will create additional therapy and medical exam space, a new soundproof forensic interview room, improved collaborative workspaces for partner agencies and outdoor space designed to support healing for children and families.

“We’re seeing more children than ever before, and every one of them deserves access to the specialized care and support they need,” said Amy Ferguson, director of CARE House. “Partners from across our community have come together under one roof to support children who have experienced abuse. This expansion will help ensure those children have timely access to investigators, coordinated medical care, counseling and advocacy when they need it most.”

“The Glennons’ generosity will help expand access to critical services for children and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” said Jena Pado, vice president and chief development officer for Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Their investment strengthens a vital community resource and helps ensure CARE House can meet the growing needs of Montgomery County children for years to come.”

To learn more about supporting the CARE House expansion, contact the Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation at 937-641-3405 or foundation@childrensdayton.org.

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If you are interested in pursuing a story about Dayton Children’s please contact public relations manager, Katie Solovey, at 937-673-4941 or by filling out a media inquiry through our contact us form.

June 19, 2026 | news post

Dayton Children’s establishes the Imagination Library of Montgomery County Fund

created in honor of Ohio Governor Mike and First Lady Fran DeWine, champions of the program which provides free books to thousands of local children

Dayton Children’s Hospital announced the creation of the Imagination Library of Montgomery County fund, in honor of Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine.

This effort creates a sustained source of funding for the local cost of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in Montgomery County, helping ensure that thousands of young children will continue receiving a personalized, age-appropriate book for free each month, while building strong foundations for learning and lifelong health.

“This investment reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of children beyond the walls of our hospital,” says Debbie Feldman president and CEO of Dayton Children’s Hospital. “By helping families build strong reading habits early, we are investing in healthier futures, stronger educational outcomes and a more resilient community.”

Since becoming the Montgomery County local partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2019, Dayton Children’s has enrolled nearly 49,000 children. Through the program, children from birth to age five receive a free, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month. That equates to more than a million new books in the hands of children living in Montgomery County because of this program.

First Lady Fran DeWine sits at a small table reading a children's book provided by the Imagination Library of Montgomery County Fund with a young girl in a pink dress with her mom smiling next to her.

Governor Mike DeWine speaks at podium with First Lady Fran DeWine standing next to him.

Toddler with short, curly hair and dark t-shirt holds a stuff animal caterpillar and looks through flashcards for kids.

why this fund matters

Research shows that early literacy plays a critical role in child development and long-term success:

Approximately 90% of brain development occurs before age five.
Nearly one in three parents surveyed in Dayton Children’s Community Health Needs Assessment identified child development, including language and reading skills, as a top concern.
In 2024, only about one in three children in Montgomery County demonstrated readiness for kindergarten.

“This investment is about building a stronger future for our children and our community,” said David Taylor, member of the Dayton Children’s Board of Trustees and superintendent and CEO of Dayton Early College Academy. “Every child deserves to walk into their first day of school confident and ready to learn. This early investment helps put children on a path toward success in school and beyond.”

local impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Since 2019, the program has made a measurable impact across Montgomery County:

Approximately 21,000 children are currently enrolled, representing 69% of the county’s eligible population (birth to age five).
Nearly 49,000 children have been served since 2019.
Strong participation in communities where access to books has historically been limited.
Research conducted by the University of Dayton found that children enrolled in the program are read to more frequently at home and demonstrate stronger kindergarten readiness.

champions honored

Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine have long been champions of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

First Lady DeWine established the program in Ohio in 2019 in conjunction with The Dollywood Foundation. Since then, more than 26.8 million books have been gifted to children statewide.

“We are deeply honored to be part of this special announcement by Dayton Children’s, but what means even more is what this new fund represents,” said First Lady DeWine. “It will help make sure that children across Montgomery County continue experiencing the excitement of finding a new book in their mailbox each month. Sustainable local support like this is exactly what we hope to see in communities across Ohio because it helps ensure Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will continue changing children’s lives for years to come.”

“Fran has made it her mission to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library into every corner of our state so we can get books into the hands of Ohio’s youngest children and let them develop a love of reading from an early age,” said Governor DeWine. “Reading is the key to success in school and in life, and this program puts children on the pathway to reaching their full potential. We are grateful to Dayton Children’s for creating this fund so Montgomery County families can continue benefitting from the Imagination Library.”

The new fund helps ensure the program remains available to Montgomery County families for generations to come, providing a sustainable funding source as participation continues to grow.

Families with children from birth to age five can enroll at Ohio’s Imagination Library.

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February 10, 2026 | news post

Dayton Children’s expands pediatric care access in Urbana and Springfield

Dayton Children’s Hospital will acquire Mercy Health’s pediatric practice in Urbana and rehabilitation services in Springfield in early March.

Mercy Health and Dayton Children’s Hospital have long been strong collaborators, and this endeavor will bring the pediatric expertise of Dayton Children’s directly to these areas to strengthen children’s health in the region. Both hospitals desire stronger, more accessible and sustainable pediatric care for families in our region.

key details

Families will continue to see the same providers and therapists at the same locations, with no disruption to their established care relationships.
Staff will become Dayton Children’s employees on March 9, 2026.
Both entities will be renamed Dayton Children’s.

“At Mercy Health, our priority has always been ensuring children and families have access to the highest quality care,” says Adam Groshans, market president of Mercy Health-Springfield. “Having Dayton Children’s pediatric expertise available in these communities strengthens children’s health across the region and helps ensure families can continue to receive specialized care close to home.”

“We know the path to children’s health is evolving, and this acquisition is another step along that path toward achieving the optimal health for every child within our reach,” said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital. “We are committed to caring for the children in our region and continuously look at ways to serve them better. This opportunity benefits families today and opens doors to exciting possibilities for the future.”

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08/05/2026 | news article

Dayton family makes $1 million investment to expand CARE House

08/04/2026 | news article

new Kids Express location now open in Vandalia

07/07/2026 | news article

new Kids Express location now open in Kettering

06/30/2026 | news article

Dr. Rob Steele begins role as president and CEO of Dayton Children’s

December 10, 2025 | news post

Dayton Children’s NICU at Kettering Health begins caring for critically ill newborns

Dayton Children’s Hospital begins managing and operating its second NICU, located at Kettering Health Main Campus, operating as a hospital within a hospital. This endeavor will provide seamless, integrated care for critically ill newborns at Kettering Health and provides the groundwork for both organizations’ commitment to improving maternal and infant mortality rates in our region.

An experienced leader will be at the helm. Ginny Dalton, DNP, RN, NE-BC is the newly named senior director of NICU services for Dayton Children’s and will manage both the NICU at Dayton Children’s and at Kettering Health. She was previously the administrative director of nursing for surgical and women’s services at Kettering Health Main Campus and has a proven commitment to excellence, collaboration and communication.

“We see this as a key step to providing the best possible care and experience for patients during the crucial initial days of a child’s life,” said Adam Maycock, president of Kettering Health Main Campus. “This will not only keep more families together through their comprehensive, whole-person care, but further strengthen how both organizations support health through pregnancy, delivery and the first steps of life in our community.”

In addition to Dayton Children’s Hospital operating and managing the NICU at Kettering Health Main Campus, the collaboration will offer opportunities for innovation in the care of babies. Both Kettering Health and Dayton Children’s pride themselves on providing exceptional patient experiences and are committed to finding the best possible coordination of care for immediate and long-term care planning.

“Together we are going to make Dayton the best place to be born and grow up,” said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s Hospital. “Through this teamwork, we give babies the best possible start in life and work to overcome critical health issues that our community faces, such as the high rate of infant mortality.”

Fast facts about NICU admissions, according to a 2025 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report:

NICU admission rates increased in Ohio by 13% from 2016 to 2023.
That means nearly 1 in 10 infants (9.8%) was admitted to a NICU in 2023.
The increase was across all races and ethnicities, maternal age groups, gestational age and birthweight categories.

twin newborn babies in Dayton Children's NICU bed at Kettering Health.

the importance of NICU care

NICU care provides a specialized, high-tech environment for premature or critically ill newborns. This immediate and intensive medical care improves outcomes and helps babies survive and thrive. Key offerings include:

Support and minimized stress for the entire family
Specialized medical expertise with advanced treatment for complex conditions
Immediate and constant monitoring
Advanced technology and equipment
Improved outcomes

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October 30, 2018 | news post

Midmark partners with Dayton Children’s Hospital to offer center of excellence program for employees

Midmark Corp., a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary equipment solutions, today announced a partnership with Dayton Children’s Hospital to offer company teammates a unique coverage program for their children. The program, which started October 1, 2018, offers children of Midmark Teammates access to pediatric ENT surgeries such as ear tubes, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy.

“As a leader in the healthcare industry, our commitment to improve the point of care experience for our customers starts with our Midmark Teammates. They are at the heart of everything we do, so it’s important they are taken care of when it comes to the quality of care they and their families receive,” said Shelly Gasson, human resources shared services director, Midmark. “We are grateful for the innovation Dayton Children’s Hospital has shown in presenting us a program that places the highest priority on the needs of our teammates and their families. We are also thankful to our insurance partners, Anthem Insurance, and USI Insurance Services for helping make the program a reality.”

Midmark partnered with Dayton Children’s Hospital to set up the pediatric bundled services program, the first-of-its-kind for both organizations. Midmark families who select the bundle receive expert specialty pediatric care for their child, know the price of their selected surgery and associated care in advance, only get one bill for all those services and have a guide in advance of what to expect along the care path. The program also provides teammates with a nurse navigator to guide them through the process. The nurse provides hands-on assistance to ensure the highest quality care and best patient experience when they visit Dayton Children’s facilities for the inpatient and outpatient procedures.

“Parents facing surgery for their child have enough to worry about,” says Shelly Speiser, payment innovation officer at Dayton Children’s. “This bundle program allows them to focus on their child, while we take care of the rest. Plus parents can feel confident they are getting care from experts specially trained for the unique needs of children.”

For Midmark Teammates, dependent upon the insurance plan chosen, Midmark will waive the deductible or make a deposit into their HSA savings plan at the beginning of the following plan yea

About Midmark
Midmark Corporation is the only clinical environmental design company that enables a better care experience for the medical, dental and animal health markets. With more than 1,800 teammates worldwide, Midmark focuses on harmonizing clinical space, technology and workflows for caregivers and patients at the point of care. Founded in 1915 and headquartered in the greater Dayton, Ohio, area, Midmark maintains production and administrative offices in Versailles, Ohio, with six other locations in the United States as well as subsidiaries in India, Italy and the United Kingdom. To learn more about Midmark, visit midmark.com.

About Dayton Children’s
One of only 45 independent freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, Dayton Children’s is the region’s only medical facility dedicated to children. Accredited by The Joint Commission and serving 20 Ohio counties and eastern Indiana, the experts at Dayton Children’s care for more than 320,000 children each year. Consistently recognized as one of the country’s best and most cost-effective pediatric hospitals, Dayton Children’s is home to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and together with the United States Air Force shares the nation’s only civilian-military integrated pediatric training program. For more children’s health and safety information, visit our web site at www.childrensdayton.org.

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July 13, 2017 | news post

Dayton Children’s family visits Capitol Hill to urge Congress to safeguard Medicaid for kids

the Dayton family speaks on behalf of 30 million children who depend on Medicaid

A Dayton family takes their story to Capitol Hill to urge Congress to protect, not cut, children’s Medicaid funding as proposed in recently introduced federal bills, the American Health Care Act of 2017 and the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. Jordan Ivy and his mom Teresa Crawford’s efforts in Washington, D.C., are part of a broad national push to address key health care needs for children through the Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day sponsored by the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).

As scientific advances have made it possible for more kids to survive serious conditions, a growing number of children are relying on Medicaid to help meet their complex medical needs. Of the more than 30 million kids enrolled in Medicaid, at least 2 million have complex medical conditions like congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy and cancer.

Jordan was born at 22 weeks weighing only one and a half pounds. Twelve years later, he is a vibrant pre-teen with the biggest smile and a voice of an angel.

Due to his premature birth, Jordan battles multiple health conditions including Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) which is a chronic lung disease common in premature infants who were born with undeveloped lungs, and Cerebral Palsy (CP) a condition that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. Jordan also has multiple other conditions which makes him a regular at Dayton Children’s where he sees seven pediatric specialists.

However, his conditions do not damper his spirit. You will often find Jordan singing for his physicians and caregivers in the middle of clinic. A student at Stivers School for the Arts, Jordan plays multiple instruments and wants to be a choir director. One day, he dreams to conduct an orchestra. Jordan also loves going to church, spending time with family and using his musical talents to uplift others.

Jordan met with members of Congress to share how Medicaid coverage benefits his care and how the House and Senate health care bills could negatively affect their lives.

According to a recent report by Avalere Health, the U.S. House-passed American Health Care Act, on which the Senate bill was modeled, would cut Medicaid funding for children by at least $43 billion over 10 years by eliminating Medicaid’s open entitlement and replacing it with a capped system that limits Medicaid funding to states. Avalere estimates that Ohio could see a funding reduction of $1.6 million by 2026. As children represent nearly half of all Medicaid enrollees but less than 20 percent of program costs, a severe cut to Medicaid funding would disproportionately affect them.

“Our nation has finally reached a record high level of health care coverage for children – 95 percent. If the Senate agrees to turn Medicaid into a capped program, cutting children’s Medicaid funding by billions of dollars, then we will jeopardize children’s health care, their health outcomes and ultimately their futures,” said Deborah A. Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s.

“Protecting Medicaid for children and reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program for an additional 6 million children are top priorities for Dayton Children’s. Each year we see more and more children like Jordan who rely on Medicaid to access highly specialized care from multiple providers in different care settings. We can avoid cuts to Medicaid by focusing on solutions like the ACE Kids Act of 2017 that would not only improve care for children like Jordan but reduce Medicaid funding.”

The ACE Kids Act of 2017 would save Medicaid an estimated $13 billion over 10 years through coordinated care delivery crossing state lines. The bill is supported by a bipartisan group of 17 senators, and a House version is expected soon.

More than 40 percent of children rely on Medicaid, and so do the roughly 200 children’s hospitals, like Dayton Children’s that deliver highly specialized pediatric care 24/7. “Dramatic cuts to Medicaid as proposed in the House and Senate bills endanger the continued viability of our nation’s children’s hospitals,” said CHA President and CEO Mark Wietecha. “As a matter of public policy, we should not be attempting to fix our national budget problems by cutting children’s health care.”

About the Children’s Hospital Association

The Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care.

For more information on Family Advocacy Day, visit www.childrenshospitals.org or follow the families on Facebook, www.facebook.com/speaknowforkids, and Twitter, @speaknowforkids.

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May 11, 2017 | news post

Dayton Children’s Hospital calls kids to get out and play on airplane inspired playground at The Greene

Dayton Children’s and The Greene unveil a new playground in the Plum Street Park on May 11, 2017 at 10:00 am. Located between White House, Black Market and Pasha Grill, the brightly colored jungle gym is modeled after an airplane to honor Dayton’s history of flight innovation and the theme of “things that fly” in the new patient tower at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

In bright blue, green and orange, the colors call children to come play on the slides, steps, tunnels and monkey bars. There is also a family-friendly bench where parents can rest and watch their children play.

“Dayton Children’s mission is to care for all of our children, whether they ever visit us at the hospital or not,” says Deborah A. Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s. “This is an investment in the bodies and minds of our children. Not only do they get exercise and fresh air, they get to let their imaginations soar above and beyond here. Their creativity finds an outlet on the playground, while they learn to share, work together and take turns.“

“We are excited to partner with Dayton Children’s Hospital for the unveiling of a new playground at Plum Street Park at The Greene,” said Steve Willshaw general manager at The Greene. “We pride ourselves on providing a positive experience for all visitors, and adding another play area gives children and their families a designated spot to have fun and interact with their peers.”

Dayton Children’s will also sponsor three family-friendly movie nights at the park on the first Friday night of the month during the summer:

June 9 – The Secret Life of Pets
July 7 – Moana
August 4 – Lego: Batman

“Supporting the local community is another important pillar for Dayton Children’s,” says Feldman. “Our families live, work and play alongside those of our patients – our kids go to the same schools, play on the same playgrounds and dream the same big dreams. We are committed to making our community the best it can be.”

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March 13, 2013 | news post

Dayton Children’s and Miami Valley Hospital announce joint venture to provide care to the region’s smallest patients

new initiative elevates neonatal care

The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton and Miami Valley Hospital announce today the two organizations have formed a joint venture to formalize their relationship to provide the region’s highest level of care for high-risk moms and critically-ill premature babies. The new company called Southwest Ohio Neonatal Collaborative will begin operating July 1, 2013, as determined by the new venture’s board of managers.

The focus of the joint venture is to elevate the quality of care and strengthen the health care delivery system for mothers and babies by drawing on the expertise of the two regional high-risk centers.

“Our plans call for establishing strong care alliances that advance care to our region’s children and will help Dayton Children’s remain strong and independent so we can effectively meet our mission. The idea for this formal collaborative came as both organizations sought to strengthen the coordination of care we deliver to the most fragile infants,” says Dayton Children’s President and CEO Deborah A. Feldman.

Officials at both Miami Valley and Dayton Children’s note that this is not a merger, but a care alliance that aligns services and expertise to improve outcomes through clinical best practices and ultimately make the Dayton region the best and safest place to be born. Both hospitals will continue to operate their respective neonatal intensive care units (NICU).

Miami Valley Hospital and Dayton Children’s have held an informal relationship with each other for many years. Having a formal relationship gives more definitive structure to enhance the quality of care for premature and critically-ill newborns.

Jim Pancoast, president and CEO of Premier Health, which operates Miami Valley Hospital says, “Last year 830 critically-ill babies were cared for in the NICU at Miami Valley. We see this collaboration as an important step to enhance regional care for tiny and seriously-ill babies. By working together we will be able to offer a more coordinated and seamless continuum of care for expectant mothers and critically-ill newborns.”

Miami Valley Hospital is widely recognized as the region’s high-risk maternity center with a Level IIIB NICU. Dayton Children’s is also designated as having a Level IIIB NICUand is the region’s expert in providing neonatal subspecialty care and complex pediatric care.

More than 80 percent of critically-ill newborns in this region are cared for by these two organizations and 85 percent of the complex neonatal care in the region is delivered at Dayton Children’s.

Hospital officials from both organizations agree that by joining forces and drawing on the experts from both hospitals who provide complex neonatal subspecialty care, the collaborative elevates the quality of care for neonates and those neonates requiring ongoing complex pediatric sub-specialty care and improves the health care delivery system for both mothers and babies.

about Dayton Children’s

One of only 45 independent freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, Dayton Children’s is the region’s only medical facility dedicated to children. Accredited by The Joint Commission and serving 20 Ohio counties and eastern Indiana, the experts at Dayton Children’s care for more than 290,000 children each year. Consistently recognized as one of the country’s best and most cost-effective pediatric hospitals, Dayton Children’s is home to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and together with the United States Air Force shares the nation’s only civilian-military integrated pediatric training program.

Dayton Children’s Regional Level IIIB NICU had 522 admissions last year including the region’s most fragile and critically-ill newborns. Its state-of-the art, developmentally centered unit offers a full range of newborn care through a prenatal team that includes board-certified neonatologists, and neonatal nurse practitioners with quick access to more than 35 pediatric specialties if needed.

about Miami Valley Hospital

Miami Valley Hospital is the largest health care provider in the Dayton area with 800 staffed beds. It has the Dayton area’s only:

Level 1 trauma center
High-risk obstetrics and perinatal center in the same facility
Adult burn center
Air ambulance service
Bone and marrow transplant unit

The hospital is served by 5,800 employees and 1,100 physicians in 50 primary and specialty medical practice areas. It holds Magnet Status in nursing and is a 2012 recipient of the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, placing it among the top five percent of the hospitals in the U.S.

Miami Valley Hospital is a member of Premier Health Partners, which also encompasses Miami Valley Hospital South in Centerville, Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Atrium Medical Center in Warren County and Upper Valley Medical Center in Miami County.