U-M-D renames children's center

Moving into a new facility earlier this fall was only one of the big changes this year for the U-M-Dearborn Child Development Center.

The program also has officially changed its name to the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), which more closely reflects its mission, says Professor Mary Trepanier Street, director of the ECEC and associate dean of the School of Education.

"Our main objective is to serve as a model teacher-preparation and child-study facility for University students enrolled in a variety of education courses," Trepanier-Street says.

The program moved into the facility, at 18501 Rotunda Drive in Dearborn, at the beginning of the semester.

"We are in a beautiful building that was designed for children that we will share with Oakwood Healthcare's Program for Exceptional Families," Trepanier-Street says.

Oakwood Healthcare and U-M-Dearborn entered into a collaboration agreement in December 2006, focused on building a comprehensive, long-term relationship to support each other's missions for education, clinical care, research and service to the community.

As part of the collaboration, the two institutions worked together to transform the former UAW/Ford Dearborn West Family Service and Learning Center, a 38,000-square-foot building, into a learning center housing clinical and educational programs for kids, families and future teachers.

Oakwood purchased the facility last year. Its Program for Exceptional Families provides numerous services and oversees the care of children with multiple disabilities and their families.

The larger facility means the ECEC was able to enroll 40 more families this semester than last. It also will allow the ECEC to expand program opportunities for children and their families, as well as for university students in teacher-preparation programs.

"Working together with Oakwood and its Program for Exceptional Families will broaden the opportunities for our students and faculty members," she says. "The new facility is not just a better space for both of our programs, but a genuine manifestation of our commitment to work together to provide better care for all children, not just those in our programs, but those who will benefit from the research we will be able to do, and from the education and service our graduates will provide to children in the generations to come."

More Stories

• U-M leaders comment on U finances
• U-M’s endowment grows in a challenging year
• Activities explore global solutions
• Professor's straw-bale home rethinks relationship to elements
• University enrollment remains steady in 2008-09
• Civil rights attorney to address democracy, diversity in talk
• New links found between stem cells, aging, cancer
• Stem-cell sentry sounds alarm to halt tumors
• Spotlight: Engineer uses skills to navigate waters
• Speaker: Resiliency key to surviving turbulent times
• Faculty, staff find balance with Work/Life
• U-M-D renames children's center
• Final report issued on Coca Cola
• Native health providers detail needs, problems at Tribal Health Summit
• Photographer explores concept of exclusion
• VOICES program garners national attention
• Career Development site offers detailed guidance
• Black patients with chronic pain less likely to have BMI assessed
• Major library partners launch HathiTrust shared digital repository
• IOM honors Omenn with medal
• ITCS Provides second webmail interface
• Don't miss: Forum promotes green innovation and practice
• Photo: African Studies Center
• Photo: U Library presents a look at the politics of 1968
• Photo: Us Five Quintet at Michigan Theater Nov. 7
• Photo: Author Scahill discusses Blackwater threat Oct. 30