New Bright Space for children at Liberation Programs

The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children Opens Refurbished Bright Space at Liberation Programs in Norwalk, CT

(Norwalk, CT)— The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children will be opening a newly refurbished Bright Space at Liberation Programs, 4 Elmcrest Terrace, Norwalk, CT on July, 29, 2023. Bright Spaces, the signature program of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, provide engaging environments for play that are cheerful, inviting, safe, and fun, and support non-profits like Liberation Programs and the children and families in their care. The Bright Horizons Foundation has created over 300 Bright Spaces in the United States.

Liberation Programs provides treatment and prevention services for substance use and mental health disorders with a goal of helping individuals and families overcome addiction to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Through inpatient programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, education and prevention efforts, harm reduction services, mobile outreach, and supportive housing, they provide services to over 1,000 individuals a day.

The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children has had a Bright Space at Liberation Programs since 2015. This Bright Space serves as the childcare center for the families in the Families in Recovery Program (FIRP), which is the only inpatient substance use treatment provider for pregnant and parenting women in Fairfield County. FIRP is the only program in Connecticut that allows women to bring up to 2 children into treatment with them to allow the family unit to remain together. The children at FIRP spend time in the Bright Space playroom while their mothers are in groups and individual counseling sessions. A childcare coordinator is on site with the children and providing parenting skill building to help the women maintain their mental health and recovery. The refurbishment was made possible by a donation to the annual Bright Horizons Facilities and Construction Golf Tournament.

“Our goal with Bright Spaces is to give children the opportunities they deserve to develop resilience and form stronger bonds with their families and other caring adults. We strive to promote healing, offer nurturing and stimulating activities, and provide a stable, enriching environment for each child who walks through the door.” stated Yvonne Lynch, President of The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.

Bright Spaces are customized based on the need of the non-profit organization. The space created at Liberation Programs will allow pre-school aged children to experience a sense of normalcy and stability through play. The upgraded Bright Space at FIRP will include new mounted cabinets to allow for more floor space for play, educational toys, bright décor, updated lighting, changing table, and a cozy rug.

“Often children of parents with substance misuse and mental health disorders, may be emotionally unattended. FIRP is a unique program that facilitates mothers to bring their children into treatment with them. This is an effective way to eliminate barriers to treatment while maintaining the family unit. FIRP provides a safe environment to children by offering childcare while mothers are working on their recoveries. Mothers have a piece of mind to know that their children are safe, engaged, and learning, thanks to the Bright Space playroom. The Bright Space Playroom allows for children’s creativity, education, and social and emotional growth through independent and supervised play”, says Rosemary Filgueiras, Director of Women and Children’s Services at Liberation Programs.

About Liberation Programs

Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County, Connecticut’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants, and stimulants. Our mission is to provide prevention, treatment and recovery services to help individuals and their families impacted by substance use and mental health conditions to foster hope and maintain wellness. Liberation provides services for adults, youth, and families through two inpatient treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), health education for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, treatment and resources for adolescents and their families, education and prevention efforts in the community and schools, mobile outreach and harm reduction services, and permanent supportive housing for families. In operation since 1971, the agency has sites in Bridgeport, Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, and Westport and serves more than 2,000 individuals and families each year. For more information, visit www.liberationprograms.org.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.

Bright Horizons® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For 35 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,100 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India, and serves more than 1,400 of the world’s leading employers. Bright Horizons’ early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.