[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       RECOGNIZING FAMILY CENTRAL

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2012

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
40th anniversary of Family Central, Inc.
  Since its founding in 1971, Family Central has played a pivotal role 
in the lives of South Florida families by providing quality, safe, and 
affordable child care. By working at the local level, Family Central 
serves as an essential community partner in improving the lives of the 
constituents of Florida's 20th Congressional district and beyond. 
Throughout our region, Family Central has served approximately one 
million children since its founding.
  I applaud Family Central's work to ensure that families in Broward 
and Miami-Dade Counties have access to excellent child care. As a 
working mother, I understand the struggles that working families go 
through to provide and care for their children. With the number of 
parents working full time on the rise, more and more families are fully 
engaged in the daily juggling act of making ends meet and caring for 
their children.
  Family Central provides safe and affordable child care to over one 
hundred thousand South Florida children annually. The role they play is 
critical to ensuring families do not have to choose between being able 
to afford child care and being able to trust that their child is safe.
  Family Central also provides training to childcare practitioners, 
giving them new skills to help them create a learning environment that 
supports a child's emotional, cognitive, and developmental needs. In 
the years since Family Central was created, research has reinforced 
that early learning is an integral part of successful child development 
and reducing achievement gaps in our educational systems.
  This wonderful organization not only helps provide care for children 
when parents are working, but it also helps parents to become better 
and more effective caregivers for their children at home. They are one 
of only ten groups in the country identified as a Nurturing Parenting 
Affiliate. By helping parents to nurture their children, Family Central 
helps the families of South Florida become and remain strong, stable, 
and united.
  The difficult economic conditions of the past few years have been 
especially tough for working families across the country, and 
particularly in South Florida. Now more than ever, the essential 
services provided by community partners like Family Central are 
critical to giving children in our community an environment in which to 
thrive.
  Congratulations to Family Central on their 40th anniversary--and 
thank you to everyone who has made it possible. I commend their service 
to our great state, to South Florida and to the families and children 
of Florida's 20th Congressional District.
  I look forward to more great achievements from Family Central as it 
continues its long tradition of providing quality, accessible and 
affordable services to South Florida's families.

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