Lena Pope and the UNT Health Science Center (UNTHSC) announced in a press release that they had opened a new early learning center on the UNTHSC Fort Worth campus earlier this month.
The Miles Foundation Early Learning Center at UNTHSC is a high-quality early childhood development center serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. The Center will serve the children of UNTHSC staff and students, as well as families from the community – prioritizing 50% of available enrollment for children from low-income families.
At a ribbon cutting on September 10, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said, “Providing high-quality early education to children across the socioeconomic spectrum is a key priority for this city – we must establish a strong foundation for our future workforce, and provide critical support and peace of mind to the working parents of today.”
The on-campus child development center was a collaborative venture between UNTHSC, one of the nation’s premier graduate academic medical centers, and Lena Pope, an award-winning early learning provider in Fort Worth. The center was a key component of UNTHSC’s “Best Place for All” promise to its employees – to create programs, policies, and a work environment that increase team member satisfaction and engagement. The partnership also fulfills Lena Pope’s goal of offering high-quality early learning experiences for all local children and families, regardless of zip code or income.
“We are extremely proud of this partnership, which is providing a valuable onsite resource for UNTHSC and expanding access to high-quality childcare for local families,” said Todd Landry, President and CEO of Lena Pope.
The new Lena Pope Early Learning Center at UNTHSC will use evidence-based academic and social-emotional curriculums to achieve exceptional outcomes for children. Lena Pope’s first Early Learning Center received the Editor’s Choice Award for Best of Child Care from Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 2016, and is nationally accredited by The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC), a distinction earned by only 11% of early education programs in the country.
“This is an exciting endeavor that we are proud to be a part of,” said Grant Coates, President and CEO of The Miles Foundation in Fort Worth, in a release. “UNTHSC and Lena Pope are both leaders in their fields. We believe they are setting the stage for additional public-private partnerships across Fort Worth that will help broaden access to high-quality childcare for local families who are building a brighter future for themselves and the next generation.”
ABOUT THE MILES FOUNDATION
The Miles Foundation endeavors to honor the legacy of its founder, Ellison Miles, through investments in education that promote the next generation’s success. Mr. Miles demonstrated a passion for education throughout his life, and The Miles Foundation carries on this commitment today through its five core funding areas: 1) early childhood education, 2) third grade literacy, 3) family engagement, 4) leadership development, and 5) character development. To learn more, visit www.milesfdn.org.
ABOUT LENA POPE
Lena Pope’s mission is to help create hope, happiness and success for children and families. The agency provides mental health, substance use treatment and family support services. It also operates Chapel Hill Academy, an open-enrollment and tuition-free public charter school for more than 600 students in Fort Worth, and Early Learning Centers that provide quality early learning opportunities for children ages six weeks to five years. For more information, visit lenapope.org.
ABOUT UNT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
UNT Health Science Center is a graduate university comprising six colleges for health care providers, researchers and scientists. Located on a 33-acre campus in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, UNTHSC has a strong culture based on values. Through extraordinary teamwork across the campus and the community, UNTHSC produces leaders in health care and science who transform lives. For more information, visit www.unthsc.edu.
