Children's Services
The Bryan's House Early Childhood Education Program, our largest program, provides assessment of the developmental strengths and needs of each child and activities designed to build on those strengths and to meet those needs. Many children with special health needs cannot be placed in regular child care programs because of the child's fragile immune system, the need for nursing care throughout the day, or the need for a high ratio of specially trained staff members. The Early Childhood Education Program provides care six days a week for these children, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Our ECE preschool is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Respite Care and Residential Program provides parents or other caregivers with the opportunity to take a break from caring for a special needs child while providing the child with a chance to make friends and have some fun. Parents who care for a child with special health needs often do not get the chance to take care of important family business, to take an important trip, or to relieve their stress. A special needs child who is cared for at home, especially by the same caregiver all of the time, can become socially isolated. Our popular respite care program meets the needs of parents and children. The Respite Care Program normally serves children from age 0 to 12 on the weekends. Many children stay overnight during those hours. And when the parent faces a crisis, such as the single mother who recently had to go into the hospital for more than a week, Bryan's House is licensed as a residential program by the Texas Department of State Health Services, so we can care for their children over longer periods of time.
After-School and Summer Programs answer the question, "What do I do if I have a school-aged child with serious medical issues when the school day is over and during school vacations?" Bryan's House provides care for children who cannot attend the typical after-school program because they are confined to wheelchairs, because they need frequent medical procedures or medications, or because they need a program specially structured for them. The program also operates during school summer and holiday vacations.These programs include a strong educational component.
Camp Kuumba is a three-day experience for our children and their family members. Offered each year in collaboration with Camp John Marc, it gives our children with special health needs the chance to get out of the city and to participate in a variety of activities that allow them to play and learn with their parents, brothers, and sisters, creating a closer bond among family members.
On-Site Nursing Care is provided as needed for all children attending a child care program at Bryan's House. In addition, we coordinate with other programs to provide physical therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy on site, as needed.
Medically Managed Child Care is the integration of these therapists with on-site nursing and high-quality developmental programming.
New and Innovative Programs include a collaboration with the Parkland Healthcare System, UT-Southwestern's Dallas Family Access Network [DFAN], and Children's Medical Center.