NEWS RELEASE
October 18, 2016
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed, For PHMC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 215-434-7194

Public Health Management Corporation Opens Early Learning Academy at Centre Square
PHMC partners with Bright Horizons to offer a model for quality, affordable employer-sponsored child care for the Philadelphia community.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities unveiled its new state-of-the-art onsite child care center, Early Learning Academy at Centre Square (ELA), managed by Bright Horizons, a leader in employer sponsored early childhood education. Members of the PHMC and Bright Horizons leadership teams were on hand for the official ribbon cutting.

ELA provides high-quality, affordable, and convenient child care options for both PHMC employees and the community at-large. The 20,000 square foot open concept space can serve up to 170 children, ages six weeks to five years, and features three indoor play spaces tailored to the children’s ages.

“Early Learning Academy at Centre Square supports the Mayor’s early childhood education plan and expands PHMC’s vision to help meet the early childhood education needs of our region in new and innovative ways,” said Dr. Richard J. Cohen, President and CEO of PHMC. “We’re proud to partner with Bright Horizons to provide our employees with an affordable, convenient option to high quality early childhood care. And we’re committed to making this offering available to the larger community regardless of economic status.”

Access to quality early education and pre-kindergarten is a priority the Mayor’s Office of Education. Currently, Philadelphia reports 17,500 high quality childcare spaces; more spaces are needed. ELA, which meets the highest state and national accreditation standards, offers Head Start slots and accepts subsidies.

“We are excited to partner with PHMC, who is as committed to quality early-childhood education as Bright Horizons,” said David Lissy, Bright Horizons’ Chief Executive Officer. “Working with PHMC on the Early Learning Academy was a perfect fit with our mission to support employers, working families, and the community.”

ELA fosters a unique learning environment through an open space concept equipped with the latest technology. The center features three indoor play spaces, an art studio, and other spaces that inspire discovery and build community. Each classroom is designed to help teachers engage children through active learning in math, language, science, and art.

“ELA is the latest demonstration of PHMC’s commitment to design-driven culture,” said Cohen. “The open design and innovative technology features enhance the educational environment and foster creative play, resulting in positive outcomes for children and families.”

ELA at Centre Square is open Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The program provides early childhood education instruction that includes language, math, science, art, and wellness and provides hot breakfast and lunch to 170 children – infants, young toddlers, older toddlers, and pre-school children.

For more information, visit http://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/PA/Philadelphia/earlylearningacademy

About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions® Inc.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions® is a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and family life. The Company provides center-based full service child care, back-up dependent care and educational advisory services to more than 1,000 clients across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and India, including more than 150 FORTUNE 500 companies and more than 80 of Working Mother magazine's 2016 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." Bright Horizons has been recognized sixteen times as one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and is one of the UK's Best Workplaces as designated by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Bright Horizons is headquartered in Watertown, MA. The Company's web site is located at www.brighthorizons.com.