Transforming Child Care from Vision to Reality: Bainum Family Foundation Introduces WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab
Innovative solutions lab sites in ten states and D.C. aim to demonstrate what’s possible when child care systems are designed by families and practitioners
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bainum Family Foundation today announced the WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab, a cohort of child care providers across the country modeling what’s possible when those closest to the child care system – families, educators, and administrators – lead the way in rethinking outdated mindsets about child care to implement transformative and practical solutions. This launch marks a significant milestone in the foundation’s $100 million commitment to the early childhood sector.
The WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab is a core component of the Bainum Family Foundation’s WeVision EarlyEd, an initiative focused on making the ideal child care system real for families with young children. This launch builds on the initiative’s momentum, moving beyond simply defining what’s needed, to actually bringing the vision to life in diverse geographic locales – demonstrating that the ideal child care system is not just aspirational but also achievable.
“The WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab is core to our mission to create lasting systems change for the well-being of children and families,” said David Daniels, CEO and President of the Bainum Family Foundation. “Families and practitioners know what the children they care for need. That’s why we’re putting these proximity experts in the driver’s seat of this initiative as we co-create a future where every child in America can thrive.”
The inaugural cohort of 22 sites spans diverse geographic locations and child care options:
Early Childhood Education Programs in Center Settings
- Brynmor Early Education & Preschool, Lorton Location, Lorton, VA
- Educare D.C., Parkside Campus Location, Washington, D.C.
- Educare D.C., Deanwood Campus Location, Washington, D.C.
- Gretchen’s House at HighScope, Ypsilanti, MI
- Toledo Day Nursery, Toledo, OH
- United Planning Organization, Randle Highlands Early Childhood Education Center Location, Washington, D.C.
- United Planning Organization, Davis Elementary School Location, Washington, D.C.
- Semillitas Early Learning Center, Washington, D.C.
- AdventHealth for Children West Lakes Early Learning Center, Orlando, FL
Early Childhood Education Programs in Home Settings
Funded through the National Association for Family Child Care Foundation, a Bainum Family Foundation Partner and Intermediary
- ABC’s Childtime, Silver Spring, MD
- Bright Beginnings, Siloam Springs, AR
- Castellanos Large Family Child Care Home, Miami, FL
- Children’s Garden, Ledgewood, NJ
- G&T Daycare Montessori Program, Philadelphia, PA
- J’Bear Learning Center, Jacksonville, FL
- Journey Preschool, Silver Spring, MD
- Kings and Queens Childcare Center, Washington, D.C.
- Munchkin Land, Billings, MT
- POC Learning Academy, Washington, D.C.
- Precious Moments Family Childcare, Rockville, MD
Trusted Caregivers
Includes stay-at-home parent, family member, nanny, au pair, or community member
- Operation Child Care Project, Eglin, FL
- Smart Start of Transylvania County (Funded through Home Grown, a Bainum Family Foundation Partner and Intermediary), Brevard, NC
At its core, each WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab site will focus on supporting the development of young children from birth through age five, operating within a clearly defined scope, supporting affordability for families, determining an accurate cost formula, and adhering to streamlined and right-sized regulations.
For example, at Toledo Day Nursery School in Toledo, OH, no family paid child care tuition in November and December 2024 — a strategic decision based on administrators’ observations that financial stress peaks during these months. Additionally, the center offers full-tuition scholarships for families experiencing sudden household disruptions. In Okaloosa County, FL, where nearly 80% of the population is military-affiliated, Operation Child Care mobilized 20 community members to bridge gaps in child care access for military families, including stay-at-home parents. At United Planning Organization’s Randle Highlands Early Childhood Education Center in D.C., seven families pay only 0-5% of their annual tuition, while the rest benefit from government subsidies, ensuring affordability and wider access to quality care. Meanwhile, Brynmor Early Education and Preschool in Lorton, VA, reserves 10% of its seats for families who do not qualify for subsidies but still struggle with the cost of care, addressing a critical gap in affordability.
“The WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab sites are implementing transformative yet practical solutions that demonstrate how appropriate funding, streamlined regulations, family-led choices, and professional autonomy can make the ideal child care system real,” said Marica Cox Mitchell, Chief Program Officer at the Bainum Family Foundation. “With these sites, we can provide policymakers and advocates with crucial, real-world ideas and data to fundamentally reshape how we approach child care in this country, making quality child care options accessible to all families.”
As the WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab work progresses, the Bainum Family Foundation has contracted researchers from the Urban Institute, an independent social and economic policy research organization, to gather, analyze, and share data and insights from the Solutions Lab sites that will help shape policy and funding decisions. By amplifying the voices of families and early childhood professionals, these findings will help drive smarter investments and policies that build a stronger, more effective child care system.
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About Bainum Family Foundation
The Bainum Family Foundation is working to create a society where all children thrive. We work alongside communities experiencing racial and economic disparities to create lasting systems change for the well-being of children and families. Founded in 1968 by Stewart Sr. and Jane Bainum, the foundation today focuses on Early Childhood and what children need for a strong start in life (including early learning, health and mental health, family economic security and stable housing). Our Legacy Programs support faith-based education and other issues important to the Bainum family. Visit us at bainumfdn.org.