St. Vincent's Day Home, Oakland

Saint Vincent’s Day Home is a non-profit and non-sectarian Early Learning Center that offers high-quality Early Learning programs for children from low-income families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Since its establishment in 1911, Saint Vincent’s Day Home has been a benchmark for quality education in Early Learning and youth development programs. Our program’s foundation is based on the understanding that children thrive in school and life when given the opportunity to grow in a safe and educationally enriched environment where they can develop intellectual and social skills while building a positive sense of self. We offer an extensive and comprehensive program for toddlers and preschoolers, a licensed kindergarten, and various services to the families of children who attend the Day Home. Enrollment at Saint Vincent’s is offered to those most in need. First priority is given to those who are houseless, protected by the court, or medically fragile. The next priority is children whose parents or caregivers are employed or in a school program leading to employment and are considered by lowest per‐capita income. Remaining priority is given children whose parents or caregivers are income eligible up to 115% of the State Median Income. Saint Vincent’s primary goals are to impart to every child a love of reading and learning, a sense of confidence and compassion, sound social skills, and healthy physical development. Teachers employ a finely honed curriculum, benchmarks to be reached through daily lesson plans, and daily journaling on each child that charts individual progress toward goals and documents health and behavioral factors important to the child’s success. Families learn to encourage intellectual and language development, teach healthy lifestyle habits, and facilitate a pathway to existing support services – serving to educate and support the whole child and provide a framework for a healthy, productive life.