POMPANO BEACH FL (11-14-07) – Nearly six years of planning and construction culminated when Senator Nan Rich and Pompano Mayor Lamar Fisher cut the ribbon on Broward Children's Center's new nursery.

The new CompCare nursery will provide a home-like environment to infants whose special health care needs require expert pediatric medical, educational, and therapeutic care.

The renovations also provide a new level of protection to residents during hurricanes and increases the Center’s ability to absorb community children with special needs should a natural disaster impact the region.

The new facility received $50,000 seed money for its three year renovation in 2003 from funds garnered from a State settlement made while Governor Crist was Attorney General.

CompCare administrator, Cynthia Palermo said the renovation not only brought the 15 year old facility up to the most advanced medical and structural standards, but also created a more tranquil space.

“One of the most exciting elements of the project is the transformation of the nursery into a more stimulating environment that will not only provide for the medical requirements of these infants, but their cognitive and developmental needs as well,” said Palermo. “A major emphasis in all CompCare programs is the provision of least restrictive and natural environments possible and our new nursery is yet another step in that direction.”

The nursery serves infants coping with a wide rage of traumatic, congenital, and developmental conditions and most require medical equipment to help them breathe and obtain nourishment. Eighty seven percent of those served are from low income families.

“This new nursery will provide a home to infants who are most often just out of acute care hospitalizations and require sophisticated treatment by pediatric specialists to give them the very best opportunity to flourish and grow despite profound physical and developmental challenges,” said Center CEO, Marjorie Evans.

The renovations cost in excess of $600,000 and were supported by The Broward County Human Services Department and Community Development Division, the City of Pompano Beach, and local chapters of Beta Sigma Phi and the Exchange Club. Muralists, Michelle and Ernie Rojas donated their time to decorate the nursery. The event will be attended by representatives of these agencies and by Senator Nan Rich and other dignitaries.

CompCare opened in 1992 in response to a growing number of infants and children with increasingly complex medical conditions requiring specialized care. The program is the only freestanding, licensed pediatric skilled nursing facility in the State of Florida and is home to the largest concentration of pediatric long-term ventilator-assisted individuals in the Southeast.

For more than 36 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org