DCCCA’s First Step at Lake View in Lawrence will soon receive childcare assistance from Positive Bright Start. The collaboration for childcare services will begin on Monday, February 1. Positive Bright Start integrates early childhood education with an emphasis on developing social-emotional skills and early childhood therapeutic services.

“Positive Bright Start understands the impact of trauma and I think this a really good fit because there is an opportunity for us to create interventions that benefit both organizations and the families that we serve,” DCCCA Chief Clinical Officer Sandra Dixon said. “These kids have experienced trauma and are historically removed from childcare because their behaviors often reflect what is going on in their lives.”

DCCCA is the only women’s substance use treatment organization in Kansas that provides onsite childcare services as an option. First Step at Lake View averages 525 women in treatment annually, with 60 children living with their moms. Positive Bright Start will facilitate a weekly parenting class for women in treatment and offer free early childhood mental health services for their children.

 “We want to teach children resiliency early and prepare them to be successful in school and make it through life successfully,” Positive Bright Start Executive Director Anna Jenny said. “From our perspective we see it as a natural partnership of our mission – we are here to make sure that every child gets a positive start, is nurtured, and really make a difference for these families.”