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<div>This morning, KSEE24 is kicking off its Family Focus series. We’ll be taking a look at organizations in our community that make children and families a priority.</div><div><br /></div><div>We start with a look at First 5 Fresno County’s newest ambition: a facility called "Lighthouse for Children."</div><div><br /></div><div>Carina Corral reports:</div><div><br /></div><div>The 44-thousand square foot building going up in downtown Fresno is hard to miss. And that’s the point. It will serve as a beacon of hope; hence the name, "Lighthouse for Children."</div><div><br /></div><div>"This is our light in the middle of downtown Fresno hoping to help our children find their way," said Emilia Reyes, First 5 Fresno County’s Executive Director.</div><div><br /></div><div>It will be a hub of services, starting with a child development center on the first floor with two preschool classrooms and an infant setting. Each with 20 students. The rooms all lead to an all-natural playground setting that uses natural plants and wood, no plastic or aluminum. Reyes said it’ll serve as a high-quality day care, as well as a model site for childcare providers throughout the county. "Any provider who wants to see and emulate and we don’t want to interrupt the classroom setting can come in here can watch and learn," she said while describing the observatory rooms with windows that peer into the classrooms.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second floor will house various, family-focused services and programs, such as Fresno County Office of Education’s special ed and foster programs. The third floor will be a conference space for organizations to brain storm about early learning.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ultimate goal is to have more locations like this throughout the county, but there’s already been a lot of debate centered around this $10 million facility. Many in the community questioned whether millions of dollars should be spent on a new building rather than services for kids. Supporters say in the end, it’ll be worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div>"We’re creating something that’s going to far exceed the money that we would’ve put into a direct service program for a year," said Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea, who’s also chair of First 5’s Fresno County. He added the facility–paid for with taxes from tobacco sales– will serve as a think tank for children.</div><div> </div><div>Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher with the Fresno County Office of Education agrees. "It’s a testament to the kind of collaboration that’s happening in Fresno County right now," she said.</div><div><br /></div><div>With so many programs under one roof–supporters say Lighthouse for Children will shine as an institution for years to come.</div><div> </div><div>"I think people are going to see the end result and understand the value of that building," said Perea.</div><div><br /></div><div>The facility is scheduled to open next month.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>
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