Launch

Mission

Lead the charge to brilliant outcomes for the children of our community by ensuring equitable access to the highest quality learning and care.

Description

Launch (formerly Community Day School Association) is dedicated to ensuring that every child has equitable access to a brilliant start. Through our preschool, after school, and summer enrichment programs, we serve a diverse group of children ages 3 to 12 - foundational years when our social, emotional and academic support help launch young lives on a trajectory of success. Last year, we expanded our scope to include free parenting education and support groups for parents/guardians of infants and toddlers (0-3).

We partner with schools, families and other organizations to close the opportunity gap, providing the highest-quality care and learning in a safe, fun and enriching environment that honors the whole child. Drawing on more than 45 years of experience, we serve as a proven model of effective programming and a passionate advocate for children, families and communities.

Launch makes a difference for children and families by:

• Providing high-quality, effective programs grounded in research on best practices 
• Reducing the opportunity gap and ensuring equitable program access for children and families
• Publicly advocating for policies, programs, and funding that benefits children and families
• Helping build the youth development field by training the next generation of teachers through extensive professional development and coaching
• Creating innovative programs that help drive changes in the sector and improve outcomes for children and families

Financial donations make this essential work possible and directly support the children and families in our care! We invite you to partner with us and help us provide:

• Tuition assistance to families with a financial need
• Help applying for community resources, funding, and public benefits such as housing, food assistance, and childcare subsidies
• Hands-on, fun learning activities that help children develop social-emotional and academic skills
• Free field trips for kids
• Healthy, delicious meals and snacks
• Professional development to help train the next generation of teachers

One Launch family shared with us how Launch's programs make a difference for them:

"We are a 3-person low-income family living pay-check to pay-check in Seattle and lately every day is a struggle. As a working mother with a partner who is an essential worker, our family depends on wages to keep a roof over our head, food on the table and to make it work in this city that is increasingly unaffordable. 

We have continued to come to Launch because they are the most affordable flexible childcare option in the City of Seattle. As everyone understands childcare costs are insane, out of touch and insurmountable for the typical family in this city and elsewhere. Because of Launch we have at different times paid full price when we can, sliding scale, and scholarships when needed. We have always appreciated that we can make payment arrangements and continue to get quality care for our son.

For our family of limited means, we rely on Launch and against all odds somehow, they always manage to be there. They have all been kind, professional, reliable, consistent leaders, and excellent role models for our child.  Staff work so hard daily to provide a safe space for children to grow, learn and play. Leadership are excellent communicators, transparent, and seem dedicated to equity and racial justice as a core value in the programming.

I can’t express enough that Launch is more than childcare and summer camp, its existence is a political act that addresses equity and social justice issues. For families comprise of women and low-wage essential workers like our family to continue to work and survive, we must have safe, affordable quality childcare.  This cannot be a privilege for the elite few but is critical to meet basic human rights and we must do all we can to help programs like these thrive in our community."