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New preschool fulfills long-held dream

by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
Establishing a quality preschool for MUSC employees and students has never been child’s play. The idea to create a safe, loving and stimulating learning environment that parents can count on has always been central to this longstanding effort.
 
As the MUSC Child Development Preschool opens its doors to preschool-age children at the Church of the Holy Communion, it fulfills a long-held dream that culminates years of effort established by dozens of committed university faculty and leaders, students and MUHA staff members.
 
The preschool exists through a special partnership between MUSC, the Church of the Holy Communion and Today Care Children Centers. The operation is managed by preschool director Kim Hovren and a four-member teaching staff.
 
“I can't thank our vendor  Today Care and its representatives, Judy Simpson and Kim Hovren enough,” said John Runyon, Business Services director. “Their patience, professionalism and energy have been a key factor in bringing this day about. I must also give many thanks to Rev. [Dow] Sanderson for his cooperation and understanding. I think the MUSC family can look forward to a long and successful relationship with both Today Care and the Church of the Holy Communion.”
 
Since early 2000, MUSC has been working with the Church of the Holy Communion, located at the corner of Cannon Street and Ashley Avenue, with the child care project. Through its long history, the church has shared many ties with its academic neighbor. It has been the site of numerous special events from classroom space to student ceremonies such as white coat and hooding activities. Sanderson, the church's rector, has served as the Episcopal chaplain to students for the past six years. Within the last decade, the church has been a secure, alternative parking area for MUSC employees and students.
    
“We value and appreciate the relationship we’ve shared with MUSC as a good neighbor for  many years,” said Sanderson. “Our church community and the Cannonborough neighborhood are grateful to have a world-class health care provider that’s readily available to meet our needs. Being a partner with MUSC and Today Care with this preschool is just one way we can give back to our friends in the community.”
    
The idea of teaming with the church came in response to results from a 2001 campuswide employee child care survey identifyinga need for employee and student child care. Working with an MUSC Child Care Task Force that represented leadership and supporters from around the university, Medical Center and student representatives, members approached the church for its response. By 2003, the church was busily working with architects, contractors and other project specialists involved in the redesign of the church’s classroom areas, providing room for multiple-sized classrooms, office and kitchenette for the proposed preschool facility.
    
“Having children around will most certainly bring in a level of vitality and energy to our parish and overall environment. We look at our involvement as supporting a missionary activity to help MUSC moms and dads provide a safe, effective child care while they work. We provide this without infringing on the church’s activities and daily mission,” Sanderson said.
    
Since then, the project slowed due to many unforseen complexities from meeting state child care regulations with the S.C. Department of Social Services and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, as well as the Federal Internal Revenue Service regulations relating to details with employee benefits. These have resulted in specific rules and requirements for acceptance to the pilot program, as well as tax requirements that MUSC and MUHA planners have prepared to ensure information is concise and equitable.
    
“Seeing the pilot program start is exhilarating after hearing about it for so many years,” said Ashli J. Sheidow, Ph.D., assistant professor, Family Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and member of the Women Scholars’ MUSC Child Care Network. “I’ve seen so many faculty and staff lose hope that MUSC would ever have on-site childcare, so there has been much surprise at the recent announcement.”
    
Last year, Sheidow and Alyssa Rheingold, Ph.D., assistant professor, National Crime Victim’s Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, created the network as a venue and resource for MUSC families to connect to others regarding childcare opportunities and share resources. Currently, the Web site has 384 registered users.
 
“The university has been extremely committed to this project from the start,” Sanderson said. “As in any project of this magnitude, some details needed to be outlined and an approved business plan for the preschool needed to be completed. We’re poised and ready to welcome children and their parents with open arms.”

Child Development Preschool
From  Dec. 4 to 15, the MUSC Child Development Preschool at the Church of the Holy Communion (218 Ashley Ave.) will be open to interested parents, guardians and children to visit. The open house event will be staffed by teachers who will answer questions and tour people through the facility between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., weekdays.
 
The preschool will initially begin as a pilot program for approximately 25 children, ages 3 to 5. The preschool’s enrollment period will occur from Dec. 18 to 22.
 
Enrollment will be managed online with a selection process controlled by an independent lottery system. The preschool will open to students Jan. 8.
 
For additional information, call 805-8133 or visit http://www.musc.edu/businessservices/childdevelopmentpreschool.
   

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.