Hospital to Celebrate New Child-Care Site

Nearly 10 years after it was first proposed, a child-care center will open on the grounds of Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Aug. 5. This afternoon, grateful staff members will celebrate their accomplishment with a luncheon.

Dana Lush-Lommori, the hospital’s departing director of child-care services, said that because many of the staff are working parents, it made sense to create a place where they could leave their children during the day.

Located at 18460 Cantara St., the center will accept 94 children from 6 weeks to 5 years old, she said. The site, to be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, will employ about 20 staff members. Lush-Lommori, who is leaving the Valley for a job elsewhere, said she’s extremely gratified that her dream is finally a reality.

“I’m very happy that I get to see the opening, but it is [also] very sad,” she said. Lush-Lommori will be replaced by Tammy Reich.

The new single-story facility includes five classrooms and a day-care area for mildly ill children. It will be operated by Bright Horizons Children’s Centers in partnership with the hospital, Lush-Lommori said. The center plans to work with faculty in Cal State Northridge’s child development department and will accept students for field work.

Enrollment is open to all employees of Northridge Hospital and its parent company, UniHealth, but Lush-Lommori noted the center will also accept other children from the community until capacity is reached.