occasional appeals
“Bright Beginnings gives me peace of mind. It allows me to do a lot of things that need to be done in my life. Without it, I don't know where I would be.”
-- Bright Beginnings parent
Families with young children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population in Washington, DC. Bright Beginnings is a nationally-accredited child and family development center that offers a bright start for homeless infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families. Bright Beginnings serves about 186 children annually whose families are living in crisis shelters or transitional housing. Our educational, therapeutic, health and family support services prepares these children for kindergarten and stabilizes their families.
Mission Statement
Bright Beginnings is dedicated to meeting the immediate needs of children and families living in homeless environments by:
- Providing children with a safe, nurturing educational environment;
- Preparing children to enter kindergarten ready to learn; and
- Supporting homeless parents to stabilize their home lives and become self-sufficient.
Vision Statement
Bright Beginnings will build upon a vibrant, existing, sustainable and comprehensive model for delivering educational, therapeutic and social services for infants, toddlers, preschool children and parents, which helps transition families out of homelessness. Our leadership and programming will restore and revitalize the quality of life for every homeless child and family in Washington, DC.
Our History
Bright Beginnings, Inc. was established in 1991 by the Junior League of Washington, which identified a critical need for quality childcare among homeless families in Washington, DC. Since then, Bright Beginnings has met the needs of nearly 1,700 homeless children by providing families with developmental childcare and on-site therapeutic and family support services.
In 2005, Bright Beginnings launched its Early Learning Evening Care Program that is open to all working families in need of safe, reliable evening care.