UCSF Mission Bay Opens Child Care Center

Parents working at UCSF Mission Bay have another option for child care - a brand-new modular facility located adjacent to the campus community center. UCSF celebrated the grand opening of University Child Care Center at Mission Bay on June 26, when children and their parents, campus officials, staff and guests including Mayor Gavin Newsom gathered to mark the occasion. Mayor Newsom praised the opening of the center, acknowledging that offering working families child care and early education is critical to the economy and quality of life in San Francisco. He also announced a few child care initiatives, including a proposal to provide free child care to the city's homeless children. For Catharine Freyer, curriculum coordinator in the Department of Anatomy, UCSF School of Medicine, the Mission Bay child care center offers a loving and safe environment for her daughter Alice. "It's just so amazing," she said. "Alice already looks forward to coming here and she is only 9 months old. She's become the class mascot because she is so happy to be here." Freyer appreciates that University Child Care Center at Mission Bay is child-focused. "All her needs come first. When she cries, which is rare, they pick her up and cuddle her. She loves it here." In addition to offering quality child care, the center offers those working in and around Mission Bay the convenience and peace of mind of having their children close by. "My wife and I chose the Mission Bay child care center for our daughter Genevieve for two very important reasons: quality preschool education in the most convenient location, right next door to my work," says Greg Mohr, a transportation manager at UCSF. "We live on Potrero Hill and work at Mission Bay, so the proximity of our daughter's school could not be better. We have observed what a well-run school it is and we think the teachers are well-trained, positive and attentive. They never miss an opportunity to have teachable moments with the kids, and they always seem to be doing creative projects with them. It keeps learning fresh and interesting for both kids and parents!" Katy Merwin, associate director of UCSF Capital Projects & Facilities Management, who works at the Mission Bay campus, plans to send her 3-year-old son Will to the center this fall. "As a parent, I am delighted that my son will be at my work site," Merwin said. "As a construction project manager, it is a rare opportunity and a privilege to be involved with a development like the Mission Bay campus, and being able to include the child care center in our first phase of construction has been an important and meaningful part of the overall project for everyone involved. It's thrilling to me for my child to now be a part of that."

Enhancing Campus Life

Serving 86 children ages 3 months to 5 years old, the 7,200-square-foot center has six classrooms, three distinct outdoor play areas for different age groups, and an office, lobby and staff break room. The modular building also features high ceilings and skylights. Part of Campus Life Services, University Child Care Center at Mission Bay is the third child care center at UCSF, which also has centers at Laurel Heights and the Parnassus campus. A fourth one, located on Kirkham Street near the Parnassus campus, is planned to open as a modular facility in fall 2007. When that child care center opens, UCSF will have expanded its child care slots to about 300 -- tripling the number of openings available to the children of faculty, staff, students and community members, according to Senior Vice Chancellor Steve Barclay. "This is a great facility. It represents a major step forward in our recruitment and retention efforts for our students, faculty and staff and to improve the quality of life at UCSF," Barclay noted. "We know it's just one more step forward, and we are dedicated to taking more because we need to provide a lot more child care at UCSF." Donning a bright yellow suit for the grand opening celebration, Robert Frank, director of UCSF Early Care Services, is excited about the ongoing expansion of child care. He credits the growth of child care services to the vision of campus officials, including the leadership of Diane Wara, MD, who chairs the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Child Care. Asked what he likes about the new Mission Bay child care center, Frank said, "It's clean, lovely and airy. And it's right next door to the campus community center, which allows us to do wonderful things for the children. We can take advantage of the summer day programs, activities and special events at the community center. This compatibility makes our program so much more comprehensive for children and families." Like the University Child Care Center at Laurel Heights, the new center at Mission Bay is operated by the nonprofit Marin Day Schools, which merged with the management company Bright Horizons Family Solutions in October 2003. The new center employs experienced educators, including director Megan Haas and assistant director Madonna Stancil, both of whom taught seven years at Marin Day Schools. "It's great to be able to help the families who need child care," Haas said. Teachers include Gladys Spanyol, who earned a BA degree in early childhood education from San Francisco State University. "I am passionate about teaching young children because they are the future, and it means a lot to me to think that I can make a difference in their lives." The University Child Care Center at Mission Bay is located at 1555 6th St., on the north side of the Mission Bay Community Center. For more information about this child care center, contact Madonna Stancil, assistant director, at 415/255-7954 or send an email to [email protected] Photos by Lisa Cisneros