A partnership for health, healing, and wellness
The Center for Great Expectations, founded in 1998, partners with pregnant and parenting women in Somerset.
How we see children
The Center for Great Expectations treasures the dignity of all. We form a partnership with homeless women who are pregnant and parenting. Together we create a safe place, a safe presence, and a safe path. That path lets mothers choose and maintain health for themselves and their children.
In the rooms, safety means predictability. A mother knows where to find a chair, a blanket, a quiet corner. Staff sit at eye level. They follow the mother's lead, not a script. Meals, rest, and groups happen at the same times each day.
What you notice in practice
Teachers work at the child's eye level. They sit on the floor, follow the child's interest, and keep groups small. A mother might join a group or watch from nearby. Staff model calm voices and steady routines. The goal is to build trust one small moment at a time.
Rooms are set up for safety and independence. Low shelves hold books and toys a child can reach. Soft corners give a place to settle. The day moves in a steady rhythm: play, meals, rest, and time with mom. Staff watch for cues and adjust the pace to fit the child.
How we work with families
At pickup, a parent might hear what her child ate, how long she napped, or a new word she tried. Staff answer questions in the moment, at the door or in the hall. If a question needs a longer answer, they find a time to sit down. Mothers can also ask about the center's approach to mental health and substance use treatment.
The first weeks are built around partnership. A mother meets the people who will be with her child each day. She can visit the room, ask about routines, and see where her child will sleep and eat. Staff learn from her what soothes her child and what the child is working on. Nothing is assumed.