The mission of Step Up Ventura is to provide therapeutic services and access to childcare and preschool for children ages zero to five who are affected by homelessness or at risk of homelessness. We help infants, toddlers, and young children develop secure attachments and overcome the traumas they have faced. Our program supports nurturing, calming, and appropriately stimulating activities throughout the day by training early childhood educators, caregivers, and mental health workers to meet the unique needs of children affected by homelessness. Step Up Ventura requires parent involvement. Parents learn to understand and care for their children with interventions specifically targeted to early childhood brain development and healthy parent-child attachments.
