New Addison Children Center Opens
Metropolitan Family Services and Addison School District 4 are pleased to announce the opening of the new Addison Children’s Center and an Open House taking place from 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the Center, located at 121 E. Fullerton Ave. in Addison, Ill. Officials including John Langton, Superintendent of Schools, Addison School District 4, and Theresa Nihill, Executive Director of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage, will be present.
The Center positions Addison as one of the first communities in DuPage County to offer center-based early learning for children ages 0 – 3 years through a partnership between a nonprofit early childhood education provider and a school district; the facility will initially serve 16 infants and toddlers in a safe, welcoming and engaging space that fosters learning and growth for every child. Services will be tailored to support the strengths and needs of the children and their families.
The Addison Children Center features play spaces, areas for caregiving, a large indoor space for children’s motor skills development, and an outdoor playground. The Center’s high teacher/student radio is designed to give children focused support. There will be one teacher for every four infants/toddlers, and the maximum group size will be eight infants/toddlers, with two teachers. A teacher’s aide will be present in each classroom. Bilingual staff will partner with families to help meet goals for the children and their families.
“Data proves that quality early learning programming is essential in preparing children for future success in school and life,” says Theresa Nihill, Executive Director of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage. “Metropolitan DuPage is honored to partner with Addison School District 4 to provide a much-needed resource for children and families.”
“We are so grateful for Metropolitan’s investment in our community,” said John Langton, Addison School District 4 Superintendent. “They are leading the movement in this region to offer educational opportunities for the birth – 3 year old group, and I think the benefits for our community are going to be significant.”
Addison School District 4 has provided the building to Metropolitan Family Services DuPage for $1 per year as part of a 25-year lease. The School District also is generously covering the facility’s utilities and maintenance costs. Head Start funding will address operations and personnel, and funds from Metropolitan Family Services’ “Campaign to Mpower Families” will address costs related to building out and upgrading the facility. The Addison Children’s Center is an example of what effective public/private partnerships, placing a priority on best leveraging resources, can accomplish.
For more information including enrollment details, call the Addison Children’s Center at 630-784-4801.
About Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Center
Metropolitan Family Services DuPage, started more than 80 years ago, is a family service/mental health agency serving some of DuPage County’s most vulnerable children and families. Whether through early childhood education, parent education, family therapy, psychiatric and mental health services for all ages, or services for older adults and their caregivers, Metropolitan “Mpowers” individuals and families to learn, to earn, to heal and to thrive. metrofamily.org.
About Addison School District 4
Addison School District 4 is an elementary school district located in north eastern DuPage County. The nine schools within the district educate nearly 4,300 students from Early Childhood to 8th grade. District 4’s mission is to provide a safe, nurturing and innovative learning environment; to empower all students to achieve success while embracing and celebrating individual differences; and to develop lifelong learners with a global perspective. www.asd4.org