POMPANO BEACH, FL (6.23.08)- Responding to South Florida's critical shortage of infant care facilities, Broward Children's Center is constructing an infant room which will provide care for eight infants from working families at the Center's South Preschool in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward Children’s Center’s Preschool in Fort Lauderdale hopes to open their first inclusive infant room for infants with special needs and the general population on August 1, 2008. The room will accommodate up to eight infants who will be cared for by highly trained, professional staff who understand child development and the importance of nurturing infants in an emotionally secure and intellectually engaging setting.

An increasing numbers of parents are dependent upon others to care for their children and almost 75% of infants and toddlers are cared for by someone other than a parent, for an average of 35 hours per week. Quality licensed care for infants is less available than it is for older children, especially those with special needs. For this reason it is integral for BCC to support working families with a safe, stimulating, loving environment for their infants.  

"At Broward Children's Center, we understand that the first three years are critical to child development.Our program is designed to promote optimum infant growth and development," says Preschool Director Jill Cerchione.

Infants and toddlers benefit from high quality learning environments that foster early brain development through responsive care and appropriate developmental challenges while building trusting, nurturing relationships.

"We have high hopes for the new infant room and are looking forward to making the addition to our preschool family," said Cerchione.

For more information on Broward Children's Center's developmental preschool programming, please contact Preschool Administrator Lois Nagle via email or by telephone at 954.946.7503.

For more than 37 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.