"CHILDS-PACE WAS FOUNDED IN 1978"
MaryAnn Ready, Founder, First Director
Thirty years ago before and after-school child care for elementary school age children from low income families did not exist in Orange County.
Twenty-nine years ago a proposal was written requesting funding from the State of California Department of Education Child Development Division for a quality Child Development program for low income families with elementary school age children. That proposal was granted and Childs-pace was founded in 1978.
The philosophical intention of Childs-pace was to provide age-appropriate, creative, quality, recreational activities for children enrolled in local elementary schools. Year-round program services would be available before and after school hours and full-time on school holidays and vacations.
School activities were supported, of course, and the emphasis for Childs-pace activities was social and recreational. Child care workers and Director communicated with school personnel on a regular basis. With the founding of Childs-pace, qualifying families with elementary age children of Newport-Mesa School District had the opportunity to receive these exceptional services, which most often are available only to affluent families.
The Childs-pace program was created with tremendous support from the City of Costa Mesa. An exceptional site, the Downtown Community Center, which included a carpeted and quiet activity room, a large activity hall, a creative, messy activity room with storage closets, office, kitchen, bathrooms and the use of a wonderful old gymnasium was rented from the city. This building opened on a fully equipped city park with safely-maintained play equipment, handball courts, enclosed swimming pool and baseball diamond. A county library is next door.
Qualified teachers and the Director were in place, and the search for children began during the summer of 1976. In September there were 12 children enrolled at Childs-pace for before and after-school child care when school began that year. An additional 12 children were necessary to meet the enrollment figures that had been given to the State Department of Education. Extensive marketing and contact with local elementary schools began then with this small and enthusiastic group of parents and staff. Successful recruitment garnered the diverse group of families that formed the first community of Childs-pace. It was a thrilling year, and many nurturing and exciting years followed, during which time over 300 families have been served.
Childs-pace children grew and moved on as they became teens. Many are still in the area, some are raising their own families nearby and one participating child is now a Childs-pace teacher.
Executive Directors and teachers have come and gone, but the core of the Childs-pace mission has been consistently nourished by a former lead teacher who is now Executive Director, John LeVere.
In recent years Childs-pace has grown to include two additional child care sites in the Savanna School District – at Holder Elementary School in Buena Park and Cerritos Elementary School in Anaheim.
