There are more than 42,000 children on child care waiting lists in Los Angeles County—and an estimated total of 64,000 additional spaces needed.

There are not enough affordable, quality child development facilities available to low- and moderate-income working families. One quarter of Los Angeles County children are living below the poverty line—quality child development is particularly outside their reach.

With continued support from More Than Shelter, Century’s concern and commitment to affordable quality child development have resulted in nine early childhood development centers (with three more in the planning stages) throughout Greater Los Angeles, serving more than 525 children—infants, toddlers, and preschoolers—annually. These centers emphasize parental involvement, meals, nutrition, health screening, and early childhood education. In a study which followed the same children for more than 20 years, it was shown that children who participate in such enriching environments experience higher lifetime earnings, less dependence on welfare assistance, increased property wealth, greater commitment to marriage, and are less likely to commit criminal acts.

Century’s role in the development of successful child centers includes the Century Alameda Child Development Center, which provides much-needed care for more than 100 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from very low-income or homeless families in the downtown industrial area. The Center is operated by Para Los Niños, a nonprofit family service agency serving thousands of low-income and homeless families in the Los Angeles area. Also on the campus is the Para Los Niños Charter School, currently with 200 students in grades K–4. The school will expand to 390 students in Fall 2006 to serve grades K–5.

One of Century’s most innovative centers is the Century Community Children’s Center in the Watts/Willowbrook neighborhood, adjacent to the I-105 Freeway, a Green Line Transit Station, and a Park & Ride Lot—making it convenient for commuting parents. This colorful, whimsical building has become a community landmark and includes a community room, providing a much-needed gathering space for neighborhood organizations.

Century’s newest center is being developed at 105th Street and Normandie Avenue in South Los Angeles. This center will be in a neighborhood with a high need for affordable child development; it is within blocks of more than 100 units of County-owned public housing. The Los Angeles Unified School District will be the operator of the center for children aged two to five, offering a comprehensive curriculum aimed at fostering social-emotional, intellectual, and physical development. The long-term goal of the curriculum is that participating students will have the necessary early literacy and math skills to be successful in achieving grade level standards in kindergarten and beyond.

For more information on how you can support these efforts, please contact Kim Ferraro at (310)642-2072 or e-mail kferraro (at) centuryhousing.org.