Overview - The Center for Child Development

The mission of the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Child Development is to engage parents, teachers, and university students in developing healthy, motivated, and autonomous children in exemplary child centered and developmentally effective educational programs that promote evidence-based practice and a joyful, lifelong love of learning.

ABOUT US

The primary purpose of the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Child Development is to serve as an academic/teaching and research facility for faculty and students across the university.  A secondary purpose of the CCD is to serve children birth to five and their families in a quality childcare environment.

The USM Center for Child Development provides interactive experiences for students majoring in Child and Family Studies through access to its full-day child care program for children ages 8 weeks to 5 years. Upon graduation, these students take the expertise gained through this experience into their careers as pre-K and Kindergarten teachers in public and private schools, preschool teachers, infant/toddler childcare providers, directors of early childhood programs, and other family-related professions. The impact is far-reaching.

The program provides opportunities for research and study as well as training for students.  The programs for child participants are designed to enhance the development of the whole child through the implementation of an experiential, child-oriented curriculum comprehensive, child-centered curriculum.  Quality programming is achieved through the initiation of developmentally effective activities and positive child guidance techniques. The program design encourages families to participate in a learning environment for their children that fosters optimal child development and provides a laboratory setting in which the university community can pursue academic interests. 

The USM Center for Child Development also provides a service to the community by providing quality care to the children of University students, staff, and faculty. The family is considered to be an integral component of positive early childhood experiences.  Parents are therefore welcomed and encouraged to be involved in the ongoing program at the Center.

The USM Center for Child Development is accredited by the National Academy for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This status is afforded to approximately 10% of childcare centers in the United States.  As such, it serves as a model for childcare providers and programs in the area to observe and use as a guide in their own programming.

The Center is dedicated to providing an environment that enhances the quality of life not only for the children enrolled, but for their families and for the USM community participants and other observers as well.  Enrollment of children regardless of race, ethnicity, or special needs addresses the practice of unconditional acceptance embraced by the Center as it provides loving care for the whole child.

APPLICATIONS

Application can be made by contacting the Center for Child Development at (601) 266-5294 or by mail at USM Box 10012, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0012. .

AGES SERVED

Eight weeks to school age.

TUITION

Contact the Center for current tuition rates. Charges are assessed at the beginning of each month for the up-coming month. Charges accrue for each day the Center is open regardless of whether the child is in attendance.

HOURS

7:30 AM – 5:30 PM       Monday-Friday
(Year ‘round with USM’s office calendar)

*In keeping with the goal of The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), these services include reasonably accommodating individuals with disabilities in order to integrate them into the program to the extent feasible, given each individual’s limitations.