Philosophy & Mission

PHILOSOPHY

St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families, operated by the Daughters of Charity, functions according to Judaeo-Christian principles as taught by the Roman Catholic Church, carried out within the Mission of the Archdiocese of Washington. In fidelity to the spirit of service exemplified by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, we at St. Ann's strive to manifest our deep conviction regarding the inherent value of human life in all its stages by upholding the worth and dignity of each person.

We strive to create an environment in which we as a total staff can translate this caring into daily practice. We are concerned about families with undue stress, especially those family members considered most vulnerable - unborn children, handicapped children, children at risk of being abused and neglected, expectant mothers, teenage parents and their infants, and the' young child in need of quality care. We, therefore, provide programs and services to meet the needs of infants, young children, single pregnant women and their families, regardless of religious preference, race, sexual orientation or national origin.

With respect for persons as the basis of all relationships, and with compassion and sensitivity for their needs, we strive for competence in rendering service. We endeavor to offer comprehensive programs from a family perspective in which a team of qualified professionals committed to assuring developmental progress to stimulating personal growth, provide quality care.

By our ongoing efforts to promote justice, to evaluate and to update our programs, St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families seeks to achieve excellence in serving the poorest of the poor. In this way, we render our Vincentian spirit through witness to Christian love which offers healing and support to those in need.

MISSION 

Child care for families and children is a service with clearly defined social, emotional, and educational program objectives that encourage wholesome child development. Objectives are specified as:

• promoting self-confidence, curiosity, creativity and self-discipline
• providing a wholesome environment that encourages children to solve problems, make decisions, engage in activities, ask questions, and explore and experiment with their environment
• meeting the basic needs of children and encouraging the feeling of belonging in the environment as well as the home, through trust, love, and self-worth
• encouraging children to develop at their own pace
• providing a stimulating learning environment where children will be able to master learning skills
• promoting cooperation among parents, child care providers, public and private education systems, and the community
• promoting sound health and developing physical abilities
• promoting self-worth through social relationships and awareness of racial and ethnic differences
• providing a safe, secure setting for children whose parents must be away from them for part of the day
• providing stimulation and guidance for children and helping parents improve their parenting skills

St. Ann's follows the licensing regulations as defined by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood Development.