UNT Health Science Center (UNTHSC) announced via its website this week that it has teamed up with Lena Pope to expand access to high-quality early learning experiences for children and families in Fort Worth with a new on-campus child development center.
Lena Pope’s new Early Learning Center will serve the children of UNTHSC staff and students, as well as families from the community. Set to open in summer 2018, the new facility will also prioritize 50 percent of available enrollment for children from low-income families.
The on-campus child development center is part of UNTHSC’s Best Place for All initiative to create programs, policies and a work environment that increase team member satisfaction and engagement. It also helps fulfill Lena Pope’s goal of expanding access to high-quality early learning experiences for local children and families regardless of income.
“Providing quality and accessible childcare is one of the most critical workforce issues in the United States,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price in the announcement. “UNTHSC is a pioneer in Fort Worth, responding to a need among their students and employees for high-quality childcare, which is an area of expertise for Lena Pope. This partnership exemplifies the best of Fort Worth, bringing together two renowned institutions to provide more local children an ideal educational foundation. This is a model we need to see replicated throughout the city, and I will do my part to build on their success.”
The Center will be located at 3620 Modlin Avenue, Fort Worth. It will occupy an existing building that is currently undergoing renovations to meet the specific needs of a high-quality early learning program. UNTHSC and Lena Pope are sharing the estimated $450,000 renovation cost.
Read the full announcement here.
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 500 elementary students in Fort Worth, and an Early Learning Center that provides quality early learning opportunities for children ages six weeks to five years. Find out more on the organization’s website.
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
UNT Health Science Center is one of the nation’s premier graduate academic medical centers, with five schools that specialize in patient-centered education, research and health care: The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The School of Public Health, The School of Health Professions, and The UNT System College of Pharmacy. Find out more on the organization’s website.
