Danville Child Development Center is Montour County’s first and oldest non-profit child development program. DCDC first opened its doors in February of 1974 with a goal to provide the highest quality childcare and early education to local children, regardless of their background. DCDC was established as a safe and nurturing environment where children can play and learn together.

The original Center, founded by Dr. Kathleen Mulligan and Nancy Vella, rapidly grew from six children and two co-founders in a local church to a large organization serving upwards of 400 children a year, ranging in ages from infancy to school-aged. Danville Child Development Center received grants and financing through various governmental agencies to grow, but the primary source of funding continues to be the tuition paid by parents of enrolled children.

Over the years, DCDC grew into a multifaceted organization that also provided early intervention services. Until 2018, DCDC administered child care subsidies for Montour County and the surrounding counties of Northumberland and Columbia.  A satellite site built for our school-aged program also allows us to provide preschool to additional children, host a My Toddler & Me class and a Playgroup as well as share our garden with the Danville community.

Our roots remain focused on early learning. Our preschool programs at both Wall Street and Bloom Road are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Unlike other programs in the area, our Wall Street Preschool also operates throughout the summer. Certified teachers are on-staff to plan a variety of activities for the children during this time, with a more relaxed atmosphere and daily schedule. Today, DCDC on Wall Street and Bloom Road are the only accredited programs by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and both are designated at Star 4 (the highest) in the Keystone STARS quality rating system in Montour County.