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Our History

Children Today was founded in 1997 by two working mothers in Long Beach, California, after one of them saw a toddler wandering alone down a busy street, wearing only a diaper, his parents nowhere to be seen. It was this haunting image of homelessness—as well as its often overlooked impact on children—that inspired the creation of Children Today.

Our Mission

The mission of Children Today is to foster stability and success in children and families who are facing homelessness or who are involved in the child welfare system.  We do this by providing trauma-informed child development and family support services.

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Our Vision

Our vision is that all children under age six who have experienced homelessness or abuse and neglect will have a safe, nurturing place to spend their days playing, learning and growing, while their parents take steps towards stability.

Our Values

Child-Focused

Child-Focused

Our purpose is to serve children and their families who experience homelessness and maltreatment. Decisions about all aspects of the work we do - from curriculum-planning, to organizing classroom environments and activities, to developing nutritious menus, to describing our work and engaging our community of supporters – are informed first and foremost by the needs and best interests of the children in our care.

Security

Security

The safety and security of our staff and the children with whom we work with are essential. They are necessary components of our trauma-informed work environment. Our goal is to maintain a setting where children are able to play and learn while feeling safe. Additionally, families trust that the information shared with us is confidentially maintained. We are intentional about respecting and honoring their privacy.

Respect

Respect

Respect is vitally important to Children Today. We are expected to demonstrate respect in our work and interactions with each other, with representatives from other community organizations, and most importantly, in our care for the children and families we support. Our work empowers families, providing support for them to make the best choices and decisions for themselves.

Community

Community

We care for the children in our community in partnership and unity with other social services, treatment programs, school districts, government agencies, political leaders, and individuals and families within our community.

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