Caddo Nation prepares to open new child-care center in Oklahoma
New facility aims to expand child-care access and provide culturally informed learning space for families
The Caddo Nation plans to open a new child-care center in Hinton, Okla., this fall to address limited child-care options for families in the region, according to reporting from ICT News. Caddo Nation Child Care Director Lauren French, who is Delaware and Caddo, said families have faced long waitlists and extended travel times to reach available providers. The 12,250-square-foot facility is located near Interstate 40 and will serve up to 75 children from six months to 12 years old.
The center was developed through a partnership between the Caddo Nation and the nonprofit design organization Model of Architecture Serving Society, known as MASS, according to reporting from ICT News. The facility will include indoor and outdoor learning spaces, a gym, pool, library, nursing center and playground inspired by the Caddo Nation’s mound-building tradition. The project is expected to create 20 to 23 jobs and was constructed by Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise, a Caddo-owned construction company. The building’s design incorporates elements inspired by traditional Caddo Koo Hoo Kiwat homes.
- 1.ICT.
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