Mississippi University for Women’s Child and Parent Development Center (CPDC) was awarded the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center’s (MECIC) award as the Endorsed Center of the Year for 2020.
“We love to see progress when all children are given the right environment to learn and grow,” said Penny Sansing Mansell, CPDC director. “When you make classroom adjustments to benefit children with special needs or abilities, the entire school benefits and blossoms.”
Each year one licensed Mississippi Early Childhood Center receives the MECIC award for dedicating work building an inclusive environment to support children and families with special needs. In addition to the award, CPDC also received $1000 in social-emotional, developmental, inclusive materials and manipulatives to use in classrooms. A MECIC endorsed center models high-quality inclusion in its community providing access, participation and support to the children and families they serve.
Mansell said, “We all have the tools to help address developmental concerns early and we understand how early intervention can directly impact a child’s self-esteem and self-worth and set them on a better course for kindergarten readiness. We are proud of our work learning from all children and their families.”
Over the past year, CPDC has worked with MECIC to complete the Infant and Toddler Special Needs Credential with lead toddler teachers and the director. CPDC had previously completed the Preschool Special Needs Credential and training to support using Ages and Stages (ASQ3) as a screening tool to monitor development.
MECIC is part of the Institute for Disability Studies on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. The overarching goal and vision of the MECIC is to meet the needs of early childhood educators, families and young children with special needs by providing high quality early childhood inclusion.
CPDC is a community childcare center and serves as the laboratory school for the Early Childhood Development degree program as part of The W’s School of Education. The W has provided high-quality childcare services for the Columbus community and campus since 1929.
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