{"id":235460,"date":"2025-09-18T04:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T04:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/235460\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T04:00:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T04:00:14","slug":"child-care-center-in-historic-southside-announces-permanent-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/235460\/","title":{"rendered":"Child care center in Historic Southside announces permanent closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

The leaders of Fortress said they did everything they could to keep the early childhood education center serving low-income families open in Fort Worth\u2019s Historic Southside.<\/p>\n

Despite the efforts, executive director Stacy Agee Martin announced late Sept. 16 that Fortress is permanently closing Sept. 26. Fortress officials are working to find care for the children of 46 families and to assist 24 staff members in finding new jobs, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren have always been the heart of Fortress, and it has been our greatest honor to grow alongside them,\u201d Martin said in a statement. \u201cWe will remain eternally grateful for the care our community entrusted to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more than 20 years, the small nonprofit provided programs focused on preparing children for kindergarten. Beyond early childhood education, Fortress offered after-school support, parenting classes and a fresh food pantry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The nonprofit estimates it served more than 1,700 children since opening in 2005.<\/p>\n

Fortress averted closing in February<\/a> when an outpouring of donations from North Texas foundations<\/a> provided enough funding for the nonprofit to operate through the fall.<\/p>\n

However, insurmountable financial challenges remained, Martin said. The center\u2019s board of directors restructured funding and operating models for long-term sustainability, but it was not enough, she said.<\/p>\n

Officials at the Center for Transforming Lives are moving two of its Early Head Start classrooms from the Fortress campus. The United Community Centers\u2019 Bethlehem Center on Evans Avenue absorbed Fortress\u2019 after-school students.<\/p>\n

Child Care Associates officials are helping other Fortress families in need find high-quality child care providers near their homes or work, Martin said. Those from Child Care Associates are helping families update records with the Texas Workforce Commission\u2019s Child Care Scholarship program. The Tarrant County waitlist has more than 21,000 children, according to the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is difficult news not just for Fortress families, but all lower-income families struggling to work and access support resources to afford quality child care,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n

Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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