EHE News
In first year, 700 Ohio State students study at Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park
David Andrews and Betty Schoenbaum celebrate the first anniversary of the center.
Just 12 months ago, the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State had a small early childhood center, the A. Sophie Rogers Laboratory for Child and Family Studies, serving students, researchers and a few dozen children in Campbell Hall.
How things have changed.
On Aug. 21, 2008, the college's 47,840 square-foot Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park celebrated its first year of helping children and families from challenged neighborhoods thrive and maximize their potential. The new center now enrolls 88 children.
More than 700 Ohio State students received state-of-the-art training or structured learning experiences at the center during the year. The majority, enrolled in human development and family science, conducted required observations of best practices in child development and care or engaged in practicum experiences in the classrooms. Nursing and dental students conducted health or dental screenings with the children, and optometry students engaged in vision screening. Everyone benefitted - children and students alike.
In addition to serving university students, the center serves four more audiences:
- It provides the highest quality early childhood education to children from a community experiencing challenges, giving them hope for the future.
- The center provides advocacy services to families to increase self-reliance and well-being. They are referred to resources including housing, education, and workforce development.
- The center allows researchers to study early childhood education and care, child development, health care and family relations, and share those results widely.
- The local community and similar communities everywhere benefit from the research and modeling of best practices in early education and care and family advocacy. The center is the cornerstone of the college's partnership with the community to enhance early childhood education and family well-being.
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