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.
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 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.
In 2000, co-founders Theresa Bixby and Jennifer Fitzgerald, along with a dedicated board of directors, opened the Play House West—a free, licensed, comprehensive child development facility for children between the ages of six weeks and six years who were experiencing homelessness. In 2008, Children Today opened The Play House North, a second facility serving children experiencing homelessness in North Long Beach.
In 2012, Children Today expanded our mission to include serving families involved in the child welfare system. We did this for two reasons: 1) there is a considerable overlap between children who have been homeless and those who have experienced abuse and neglect, and 2) the effects of both types of trauma—homelessness and abuse/neglect—manifest themselves in similar ways in young children.
In 2016, Children Today consolidated its operations into one centrally located facility, The Cherese Mari Laulhere EcoHouse in Long Beach. EcoHouse is designed to enhance our trauma-informed services, providing safe, welcoming indoor spaces and child-friendly outdoor play areas for the city’s most vulnerable children and families. This Gold LEED-certified building incorporates sustainable elements in its design, construction, and operations.
For 25 years, Children Today has been an advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Since our inception, the combined impact of our programs has reached thousands of children and their families in Long Beach.
OUR VALUES
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.
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 children and work with their families. Our work empowers families to make the best choices and decisions for themselves.
Security The safety and security of our staff and the children with whom we work 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. Community We care for the children in our community in partnership and unity with other social service and treatment programs, school districts, government agencies, political leaders and individuals and families within our community.
