Sunbeam Awarded $3.2 Million Grant to Help Even More Young Children and Families Thrive through Early Head Start, new Head Start and Wraparound Services!
Sunbeam Family Services announced it was awarded a $3.2 million annual competitive federal grant administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The nonprofit will provide high-quality Early Head Start, Head Start and Home Visitation services to more than 100 young children from birth through age 4 and their families.
“Congratulations to Sunbeam Family Services for this expansion grant that secures the highest quality early education opportunities to more than 700 children and their families in Oklahoma City,” said -Bob Ross, chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “We offer our thanks to the entire Sunbeam team, which does an amazing job of braiding public and private funds to create the best educational opportunities for children birth through four.”
Thanks to this new grant, Sunbeam will provide Early Head Start and Head Start services to more than 700 children each year. Additionally, Sunbeam will offer wraparound support for their families, including mental health services, individualized family case management, parenting classes, skill-building workshops, and connections to community partners.
Sunbeam will operate seven early education centers in Oklahoma County and collaborate with partners to provide high-quality early care and education services. With this expansion, Sunbeam’ current partners will be able to serve more children and families at Little Hearts, Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma City Public Schools and Millwood Public Schools.
“We know firsthand the profound impact high-quality early education can have on families experiencing homelessness,” said Positive Tomorrows President and CEO Margaret Creighton. “Last year, we had to turn away dozens of families because our existing Early Head Start classroom was full. By opening a second Early Head Start classroom, we will be equipped to meet the highest area of demand and ensure that even more children have the opportunity to thrive during these crucial early years.”
Sunbeam has partnered with Oklahoma City Public Schools for 20 years to provide Early Head Start services to parenting students. As part of this expansion award, we will add programming to an existing childcare program at OKCPS.
“Sunbeam’s early childhood education services, which many of our OKCPS students and families benefit from, are clearly laying a strong foundation for our youngest learners, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed from day one,” said OKCPS Superintendent Dr. Jamie Polk. “Over the past two decades, Sunbeam has been more than just a partner to OKCPS—they have been a lifeline to countless students and families in our community. From providing essential mental health services to supporting early childhood education, Sunbeam has played a pivotal role in helping us create a safe, nurturing environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.”
Expanding Sunbeam’s Head Start classrooms, the nonprofit says this award will provide a continuum in learning and care for children enrolled in its Early Head Start program at its Pierce and Edwards Early Education Centers. Additionally, this funding will assist in opening the new Sunbeam Early Education Center. This center will serve as a demonstration school, providing onsite job training to support teacher development and address the national childcare workforce shortage.
“Head Start provides a holistic approach to early childhood education, addressing not only educational needs but also health, mental health, nutrition and family well-being,” said Sunbeam CEO Sarah Rahhal, LCSW. “Our comprehensive support helps children develop in all areas, ensuring they are ready for school along with strengthening families.”
Access to high-quality early childhood education is crucial for the future success of babies, toddlers, and their families. This is especially true for families who earn low wages and live in under-resourced communities. Research shows that relationships with adult caregivers help build important brain connections by age 3. These connections affect health, education, and other outcomes throughout life. Children who aren’t ready for school at age 5 may struggle to catch up, leading to an achievement gap that can persist throughout their lives.
Sunbeam is a leader in early care and education. The nonprofit prepares young children to enter school by providing high-quality Early Head Start and Head Start education programs through full-day, full-year center-based services across Oklahoma County and through Sunbeam’s Home Visitation program. Sunbeam’s Educare Oklahoma City is part of the school Educare Learning Network (ELN), which is widely respected as one of the nation’s most effective early childhood education models and is based on research from early childhood development, education, social work and other allied fields.
“Sunbeam has spent over 15 years leveraging the best practices for infants and toddlers that we have developed at Educare OKC and layering that expertise at our partner centers,” said Paula Gates, Sunbeam chief program officer. “This expansion grant will allow us to directly expand much needed three-year-old classrooms with our long-time partners.”
Early Head Start and Head Start are vital programs that support young children and their families. Early Head Start serves infants and toddlers from birth to age three, providing high-quality care and education, as well as support for pregnant women to ensure healthy births. Head Start, designed for children ages three to five, prepares them for kindergarten by teaching essential skills such as counting, reading, and social interaction. Both programs also offer comprehensive services to families, including health check-ups, nutrition advice, and parental support to help them develop new skills.
Sunbeam Family Services’ mission is to build brighter futures with all children and families. Established in 1907, Sunbeam is one of Oklahoma’s longest-serving nonprofits. Sunbeam helps more than 6,200 Central Oklahoma children and families learn, grow, and thrive each year through early childcare and education, with specialized wraparound support for entire family systems, including mental health services.