USC Thursday celebrated the opening of its first infant child care center in Leimert Park, aimed at expanding access to free early childhood education for families in South Los Angeles.
The Early Head Start and Head Start center, located at Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet, will provide care for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children in an area where access to no-cost, high-quality early education has been limited, according to university officials.
“Expanding access to high-quality early childhood education is one of the most important investments we can make in our communities,” USC President Beong-Soo Kim said in a statement. “This new center reflects USC’s longstanding commitment to supporting families, strengthening neighborhoods and providing opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive from the very beginning.”
Officials said the center’s location was selected following a community needs assessment that identified a shortage of early learning programs for infants and young children in the Leimert Park area.
The center will partner with the Keck School of Medicine of USC to provide support for children with specialized health care needs, including consultations, parent education workshops and on-site nursing services, according to the university.
Families will also have access to a digital platform for real-time communication with teachers, including updates and daily reports.
“Through this federal grant, we are not only supporting children during their most critical years of development but also partnering with families to build a stronger foundation for long-term success,” April Smith, executive director of USC’s School for Early Childhood Education, said.
Officials said USC’s early learning programs are designed to support children’s academic, social and emotional development, while also serving as a training ground for future early childhood educators.