Better Beginnings was founded by the Human Relations Council who were concerned that some children were not achieving as well in school as they could. Thus it began in 1967 as a volunteer nursery school for children who could not otherwise have this opportunity. The volunteers quickly discovered that the children were in need of more because their Mothers were at work and supervision was needed all day, five days a week.
The United Way - Princeton Area Communities was the first to respond to the numerous proposals that were submitted to any possible source of funding for this innovative idea, providing funding for fifteen children. A federal grant for another fifteen children soon followed and the day care center serving 30 preschool children and families was underway.
In 1974, the federal government made Social Services Block Grant funds available, and Better Beginnings quickly expanded to serve 70 children. And still there were children on the waiting list. By this time, the need for affordable, available child care had become a national issue.
The plight of latch key children also became a local and national issue. Many of Better Beginnings' parents expressed a great need for supervision for their school-age children during the summer. Thus, when additional federal funding for school-age child care became available in 1988, Better Beginnings received another grant to provide for 30 children in the summer. These places were quickly filled to overflowing.
In 1990, the children living in the Hightstown Housing Authority were involved in an anti-drug rally. At that rally, they appealed to Better Beginnings to provide some kind of safe, anti-drug program for them. Volunteers from the staff of Better Beginnings responded immediately to this request, and in another two years, obtained funding for what is now known as the "Super:BBs". In December 1993, following the shooting death of Richard Washington, the membership voted to have it become an anti-violence program as well. This program now meets five days a week after-school.
During these years, Better Beginnings has always given attention and respect to the various cultures of its population. Gradually, the growing Latino population of the Hightstown-East Windsor area became reflected in Better Beginnings' enrollment. From 5% in 1975, it has grown to more than 75% at present. Better Beginnings has had the good fortune to be able to employ bilingual staff and Spanish-speaking teachers to meet this need.
In accordance with State and Federal requirements, Better Beginnings serves the neediest of the working poor first, with the exception that children who are in need of protective service (children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected) are given top priority.
Adult workshops and discussions for families, staff, and the community are also provided on such subjects are parenting skills, substance abuse and violence prevention, computer skills, money management, early childhood development, developmentally appropriate practices.
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