[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 142 (Friday, August 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ATWATER PARK CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 24, 2018

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hundreds of staff 
and volunteers who have helped to create and sustain the Atwater Park 
Center (APC) in Los Angeles as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  In 1968, volunteers from a local church organized one of the first 
early childhood engagement programs in Los Angeles County with the goal 
of helping local families maximize their young children's development 
by providing networking opportunities and support. From this endeavor, 
a secular, non-profit organization, Atwater Park Center (APC) was 
established, renting classrooms in Atwater Baptist Church, to provide a 
variety of family services, which continues to this day.
  Now, 50 years later, the award-winning APC has served thousands of 
children throughout the Los Angeles region, providing developmentally 
sensitive childcare and education. The center also offers home and 
educational services and support programs for families in both English 
and Spanish, making it accessible to a wide variety of people. It is 
also a training site for numerous colleges whose students major in 
nursing, occupational therapy, child development, and early childhood 
education, giving hands-on experience to students who want to dedicate 
their careers to enriching the lives of others.
  The staff and volunteers of the Atwater Park Center understand that 
nothing comes close to the relationship a child has with his or her 
parents but that group care with teachers and caregivers can add to a 
child's development, helping them stay emotionally secure, confident, 
and involved in classroom activities. With this feeling of security, 
children are more likely to explore and make connections with others, 
and APC presents an atmosphere where children are encouraged to 
cooperatively live, work, and play. Play spurs communication, 
imagination, and the development of abstract thought, and children are 
encouraged to find the style of play that best suits them. The center 
recognizes the extent to which play is critical in a child's 
development and focuses on equipping them with as many tools and 
resources as possible to pave the way to a successful life.
  I am honored to recognize the volunteers and staff of the Atwater 
Park Center for its remarkable achievements over the last five decades. 
I ask all Members to join me in congratulating the APC for their 
dedicated service to children and families in the greater Los Angeles 
area.

                          ____________________