Sarah’s House is a transitional homeless shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Anne Arundel County Maryland. Our program provides licensed childcare for our younger clients as their families take steps towards transitioning back into the community. The childcare center fosters Trauma Informed Care through social-emotional learning and a nature-based learning environment.
Through community outreach and stakeholders, the program is reliant on financial funding from local and state funds, grants and in-kind donations. Each year we showcase our program with our “Week of the Young Child” celebration. Clients, families, stakeholders, partners, county and state officials, and community supporters are invited to witness firsthand the impacts our program provides to the community. Often, vulnerable families find uncertainty when leaving their children in the care of others as a result of their personal early childhood trauma and experiences. Our education team uses this event to provide parent education, foster genuine support and to build authentic relationships.
Our Week of the Young Child celebration was amazing. Our county executive, Steuart Pittman, Chief of Staff, Jeff Amoros and our local library CEO, Skip Auld attended the event. It was so important to us that our stakeholders not only experienced the program at Sarah’s House but saw first-hand the barriers faced in our industry with workforce and affordable childcare for all families. I am grateful I have a platform that welcomes elected officials and state agencies to partner with our agenda.
Most importantly, our families were able to experience valuable time with their children in guided activities that foster meaningful interactions.
-Jana Boddy
Child Care Program Manager
Catholic Charities, Sarah’s House
