With an oversized pair of scissors cutting through a large paper chain, the community celebrated the opening of the new Child Development Resources campus on Thursday.
The nonprofit’s 42,000-square-foot facility brings most of its services under one roof, which its leaders said will foster collaboration among staff, grow its community partnerships and allow it to serve more families in Hampton Roads.
“We are a big organization with a big impact,” said Executive Director Paul Scott. “We really view this as ‘this is our new home, this is our new foundation.’”
The $15-million project has been in the works for more than five years. CDR serves more than 1,000 families annually, Scott said. It has Early Head Start classrooms, a large playroom and training rooms for staff and community members, some of whom have already reached out about using the space.
It has two assessment rooms for children with disabilities. They’re equipped to allow professionals, who may be in another part of the country, to observe an assessment and offer expertise.
Child Development Resources Executive Director Paul Scott welcomes staff and community members to the ribbon-cutting of the nonprofit's new center in Williamsburg on June 11, 2026.
Scott said he’s most excited that the building brings together staff who were spread out across several offices. If someone wants more training, has a theory or a question, they can walk over to someone and talk it out.
CDR offers early education services and whole-family programming. Its Healthy and Emotionally Attuned Relationships Therapy, or HEART program, offers therapy for adults and play therapy for young children. The Parents as Teachers program helps families learn skills such as first aid and nutrition.
That interconnection of services allows families to become stronger and healthier, said Carla Javier, the director of children’s services.
“We know that when children receive support early, they are more likely to succeed in school and in life,” she said. “We know that when families have the tools and resources that they need, they're better able to meet the challenges of parenting and create stability for their children, and we know that strong families create stronger communities.”
