Brightspark Early Learning Services

LEADS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUITY FOR CHILDREN, COMMUNITY STABILITY, AND SCHOOL READINESS.

A YOUNG CHILD, EVEN AN INFANT, IS LEARNING EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY. A BABY'S BRAIN GROWS TO 90% OF ITS ADULT SIZE DURING THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF LIFE. YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH OBSERVING AND EXPLORING THEIR WORLD, BY USING THEIR SENSES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS. WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO HELP THEM FIND AND ACCESS HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES OFFERED STATEWIDE. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH EARLY LEARNING TEACHERS WHO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN KING AND PIERCE COUNTIES. BRIGHTSPARK HELPS FAMILIES FIND CHILD CARE THAT SUPPORTS A CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS, THE FAMILY'S VALUES, AND CULTURE, AND FITS THEIR WORK OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. PARENTS HAVE MANY OPTIONS FOR CARE, INCLUDING CARE BY A FAMILY MEMBER, CARE IN THE HOME BY A FAMILY FRIEND OR NANNY, LICENSED CHILD CARE, PRIVATE PRESCHOOLS AND HEAD START OR ECEAP. STAFF AT BRIGHTSPARK TALK WITH THE FAMILY ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND WISHES FOR CARE; EXPLAIN WHAT QUALITY CARE LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN HELP IN THE CHILD CARE SEARCH. IF THE CHOICE IS LICENSED CHILD CARE, BRIGHTSPARK PROVIDES A CUSTOMIZED LIST OF OPTIONS. LICENSED CHILD CARE IS EXPENSIVE, SO WE HELP FAMILIES FIND RESOURCES TO PAY FOR CARE. CHILDREN WHO GET SAFE, NURTURING PLAY AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES ARE READY FOR SCHOOL; THOSE WHO DON'T ARE MOST OFTEN THE ONES WHO START BEHIND AND STAY BEHIND. IN FACT, 55% OF CHILDREN IN WA ARE NOT PREPARED TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN AND THE PERCENTAGE RISES TO 75% AMONG LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. BASED IN KING AND PIERCE COUNTIES, WASHINGTON WORKING LOCALLY AND STATE-WIDE, BRIGHTSPARK HELPS BUILD QUALITY CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING ACCESS FOR ALL CHILDREN. BRIGHTSPARK IS A RESPECTED LEADER IN FORGING AND HONORING COLLABORATIONS AND BUILDING INNOVATIVE, NIMBLE, OUTCOME DRIVEN PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON BUILDING SOLID LEARNING FOUNDATIONS FOR ALL CHILDREN.

WORKING WITH FAMILIES: SINCE 1990, BRIGHTSPARK HAS SERVED OVER 200,000 FAMILIES. BRIGHTSPARK HAS DIRECT CONTACT WITH FAMILIES OF ALL INCOME LEVELS AND WORKS WITH ALL TYPES OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS INFORMAL CAREGIVERS. A STRONG PARTNER WITH NON-PROFITS, GOVERNMENT, FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS, BRIGHTSPARK RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT EARLY LEARNING, PROMOTES BEST PRACTICES, AND ADVOCATES FOR INCREASED INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE QUALITY. BRIGHTSPARK EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S CARE. FOR FY 22-23, BRIGHTSPARK MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: - BRIGHTSPARK PROVIDED CHILD CARE REFERRAL AND INFORMATION BY PHONE AND ONLINE FOR OVER 19,574 FAMILIES STATEWIDE.- 1,937 FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES AND SERVICE COORDINATION SUPPORT IN OUR HOMELESS CHILD CARE PROGRAM. 149 FAMILIES FROM KING AND PIERCE COUNTIES RECEIVED A CHILDCARE SUBSIDY FROM BRIGHTSPARK.-BRIGHTSPARK OFFERS SERVICES IN THE FAMILY'S HOME LANGUAGE, HELPS FAMILIES FIND CULTURALLY RELEVANT CARE, ASSISTS FAMILIES THAT NEED WEEKEND OR AFTER-HOURS CARE, OR CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS AFTERSCHOOL CARE.- MORE THAN 3,734 FFN CAREGIVERS AND PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN BRIGHTSPARK SUPPORTED KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN GROUPS STATEWIDE. MORE THAN 47% SPOKE A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME. OUR COACHES AND TRAINERS SUPPORTED OVER 1,800 CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR PATHWAY TO HIGH QUALITY.-MORE THAN 175 INFANT AND TODDLER CHILD CARE TEACHERS BENEFITED FROM THE EXPERTISE OF AN INFANT/TODDLER COACH, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE GIVEN TO OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS.

WORKING WITH CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND CAPACITY BUILDING: RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR ALL CHILDREN, $7 OR MORE IS SAVED IN COSTS OF REMEDIAL LEARNING, TEEN PREGNANCY, INCARCERATION, AND REHABILITATION. AS A RESULT, WE SEE MORE GRADUATES, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND MORE STABLE COMMUNITIES. BRIGHTSPARK SUPPORTS ALL TYPES OF CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS AS THEY PROVIDE QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT THE ROLE THEY PLAY FOR CHILDREN IS SIGNIFICANT AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE EARLY ACHIEVERS QUALITY RATING IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. FROM JANUARY - JUNE 2022, BRIGHTSPARK HOSTED 91 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS HOSTED BY BRIGHTSPARK STAFF TRAINERS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN KING AND/OR PIERCE COUNTY. BRIGHTSPARK HOSTED A SPRING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR 143 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THIS WEEK-LONG VIRTUAL EVENT HELPED OUR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS OBTAIN THEIR REQUIRED TRAINING HOURS.