Bright Futures is a non-profit organization devoted to some of the most precious members of our community – our children. Directed by Clea Willow, the organization’s mission is two-fold – to improve the lives of children as a Family Resource Center in San Miguel and Ouray Counties and as an Early Childhood Council in San Miguel, Ouray, San Juan, Montrose, and Delta Counties.
“As an Early Childhood Council, Bright Futures works to improve access, availability, and quality of early childhood care and education,” Clea stated. “As a Family Resource Center, we provide individualized support services and resource navigation to strengthen families and increase resilience and self-sufficiency. Through these two designations working in tandem, Bright Futures offers two-generation programming that positively impacts all aspects of a child’s environment from home life to childcare to parenting education and support.”
Bright Future plays a valuable role in promoting the availability and stability of licensed programs in our area such as Colorado Shines Support, Pyramid Coaching Strong Start, and more. It serves as the Collaborative Management Program Administrator, facilitates individualized Services and Support Team meetings in five San Juan Region school districts, and offers programs for families with children including Parents as Teachers and Family Support Services.
Bright Futures uses a family-centered approach to family development work. “Families always set their own goals to work towards,” Clea explained. “We strive to implement programs that enhance parental coping skills and stress management. Bright Futures facilitates community-building activities and events to foster social connections among families while encouraging participation in support groups and community gatherings to create a network of support.
“Our Family Support Specialists are trained to offer parenting education classes that cover topics related to child development, effective discipline, and positive parent-child interactions,” Clea continued. “We have an established comprehensive referral system to connect families with essential services, such as housing assistance, healthcare, and food support. Bright Futures has multiple programs that focus on enhancing children’s social and emotional skills and we offer activities and workshops that promote positive interactions between parents and children.”
The success of Bright Futures is evident in the stories of the local families it touches. One such account is of a family with a three-year-old and a newborn who were facing numerous challenges, including behavioral concerns and the need for necessities. Through Bright Futures’ Parents as Teachers program, the family received the support they needed, resulting in significant improvements in the child’s behavior and social-emotional skills, and providing the family with a sense of community and belonging.
Over the years, Bright Futures has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Since joining Bright Futures in 2005, Clea has witnessed many of the transformations, firsthand. “We have grown and adapted throughout the years to better serve the needs and concerns of families in our region along with working with the State of Colorado to bring initiatives and opportunities that arise at the state level.”
As Clea and her team continue their mission, the future looks bright indeed for the children and families of Norwood and the rest of the San Juan Region, a testament to the power of compassion, commitment, and community.
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