Overview

For over 35 years Estrella Family Services (EFS), a well respected community based nonprofit, has worked to strengthen and enrich the lives of low-income children and families in Santa Clara County.  We offer a unique continuum of child care and developmental services that embody the principles of parent participation, economic self-sufficiency, education and cultural sensitivity.

The goals of EFS programs are to keep parents working and promote family stability as well as prepare children for school and academic success.  We serve over 700 children ranging in age from 3 to 12 through a variety of programs that include:

• NAEYC accredited full day preschool at Gardner Academy.

• Before and after school care at Gardner, River Glen and Galarza elementary schools.

• A summer camping program for low-income youth named Kids to Camp.

• Preschool care at Paseo Senter, a new affordable housing development that provides on-site childcare.

Estrella Mission

"Estrella works to ensure equal access to family services that enhance youth development to build the foundation for a lifetime of success."

Objectives:

* To help families help themselves to become healthy and self sufficient.

* To provide young people with purpose, direction, guidance, and tools to build a vibrant future with the capacity and confidence for greatness.

* To enable all families to have equal access to family services.

Vision

Estrella envisions that children of all backgrounds will have access to opportunities and services, provided in the context of the whole family, that prepare them for greatness.

Estrella will serve as a model of excellence in early care and education and other services for the enrichment of all children and their families.

Core Values

• Innovation, creativity, efficiency, responsiveness, adaptability.

• Excellence, evidence based, best practices, results-oriented, achievement, continuous improvement.

• Honesty, integrity, transparency.

• Dignity, respect.

• Diversity and inclusiveness.

• Engaged participation/active engagement, commitment to community service.

• Fun, joyful, creative play, enjoyment, great place for all, balancing work and play.

• Non-profit generating endeavors such as Secret Santa, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Kids to Camp.

What differentiates Estrella from the rest of the industry

Estrella aids the community by helping families help themselves.  Primary to that is supplying subsidized childcare only to low-income families whose parent(s) work or attend formal training to maintain or improve their economic self-sufficiency.  Seventy percent of these families have incomes lower than
$30K annually.

In addition, Estrella prides itself on serving families in a holistic approach rather than just supplying child care services.  Estrella's comprehensive approach to children starts with complete medical, dental,
vision and developmental assessments.  Dependent on the identified needs, appropriate services are offered for both the child and the family in a language and culture apropos to that family.  Estrella assists families with issues such as hunger, homelessness, chemical dependency and employment.

Again, Estrella endeavors to encourage parents to participate in their own
and their family's quality of life in the community.