1. An Agency’s Guide to For more information, visit www.brightspaces.org

2. Bright Horizons Foundation for Children
Our Mission:
To brighten the lives of children, youth, and families in crisis.
Created in 1999 by Bright Horizons Family Solutions
the world’s leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education and work/life solutions. (
Leverages the talents and early childhood
expertise of Bright Horizons teachers and
the resources of our clients
Helps community agencies meet the needs
of children in crisis

3. The Challenge 1.6 million children homeless in U.S. annually
More than half are under age 6
Numbers around the country are rising
Where do children grow and
develop while the experts
struggle to solve these
complex issues?
Families are the fastest growing group of homeless individuals today.
Many different policies are being tried.
No one has the answers.
But children are living in the shelters and their lives are moving forward while solutions are being sought.

4. Our Solution: Bright Spaces
Touched hundreds of thousands of children
Give children and families in crisis a place to grow, learn, and play
Our goal is to provide Bright Space playrooms in every situation where a child is facing these issues.
Children and parents can play together or with volunteers/staff
Access to existing children’s resources
Raise agency staff awareness of children’s needs

5. What is a Bright Space?
A special place where children and youth experiencing homelessness or other crises can play and learn.
Bright Spaces – our flagship program, serves children of all ages living in homeless shelters or experiencing other crisis situations
Bright Spaces can serve as a children’s resource room, carving out a place where children’s needs are attended to.
Adopt a Bright Space – provides crucial support after the opening. May include monthly volunteering by Bright Horizons emps or client sponsor emps, training for shelter staff, parent resources, coat drives, etc.

6. Every Bright Space is:
Designed for the specific children and families you serve
Designed for the unique needs of your agency, your environment, your challenges
An ongoing, connected partnership between your agency staff and families, Bright Horizons volunteers, and the Foundation
And most of all …

7. A Place for Fun!

8. 5 Models: What Works for You?
Classroom Space
Primary user: Child with trained volunteer/staff
Family Room Space
Primary user: Parent and child
Independent Space
Primary user: Child (with an adult nearby)
Teen Space
Primary user: Teens and ‘Tweens
Outdoor Space
Primary user: Children with parents

9. Classroom Bright Space
Before – a typical family room in a shelter in New York State.
After – anything but typical – a place families WANT to be.
Before
After

10. Family Room Bright Space
After
Before

11. Independent Bright Space

12. Teen Space
After
Before

13. Outdoor Bright Space
After

14. To learn more about Bright Spaces®, visit us at www.brightspaces.org
or contact Ileen Henderson,
National Director of Bright Spaces