SPOTLIGHT FOR GOOD: SUNBEAM FAMILY SERVICES
LIGHTING THE WAY TO BRIGHTER FUTURES
As the morning came to life with the hustle and bustle of Oklahoma City, I settled in with a great cup of coffee at Rise Cafe with Sarah Rahhal, the CEO of Sunbeam Family Services. What was meant to be a first-time introduction quickly turned into a deep dive into the heart and soul of one of Oklahoma’s most enduring nonprofits. Sarah shared with me not just the facts and figures, but the stories and visions that propel Sunbeam forward.
MISSION AND VALUES
“Sunbeam’s values are the guiding principles that shape and guide our actions,” Sarah began, her eyes reflecting the passion that Sunbeam embodies. “These are the values that we as an agency, as Beamers, commit to in the work that we do with each other and those we serve.”
At the heart of Sunbeam Family Services lies a steadfast mission: to build brighter futures with all children and families. With a vision anchored in achieving excellence in early care and education, Sunbeam is dedicated to offering specialized support that nurtures entire family systems. They are committed to strengthening the social service network within communities, promoting the delivery of exceptional services, and ensuring the lasting impact of their efforts. In every endeavor, Sunbeam strives to serve as a leading advocate for quality and sustainability in the critical work they do.
Positioned as a beacon of hope and support within the community, guided by the core values that shape their mission and drive their vision forward. Here is a closer look at the core values that underpin the work of Sunbeam Family Services:
Advocacy: Sunbeam Family Services extends and amplifies its reach by influencing systemic changes that positively impact the people it serves.
Innovation: They identify and embrace new pathways in support of Sunbeam's mission, always looking for creative solutions to enhance their services.
Community: The organization is dedicated to convening and embracing inclusive relationships and forging impactful collaborations to strengthen community ties.
Integrity: Sunbeam commits its organization, teams, and individuals to meet or exceed high standards of performance and practice, ensuring trust and reliability in their work.
Respect: They honor the needs of others, treat people with dignity, and embrace differences, fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding.
Growth: Sunbeam fosters hope, development, and well-being within its teams and the people it serves, aiming for continuous improvement and positive outcomes.
A JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY
Tracing its roots back to 1907, Sarah shared with me about how Sunbeam Family Services has stood as a pillar of support for children and families across Central Oklahoma, marking its place as the state's most enduring social service agency. Originally established as an orphanage, Sunbeam has continually adapted and expanded its services to address the evolving challenges faced by the communities it serves, always with the goal of building brighter futures for all children and families. Today, in addition to its historical role, Sunbeam also serves as a foster care agency, further extending its commitment to nurturing and supporting vulnerable children and families in need.
A notable milestone in Sunbeam's celebrated history was its partnership with United Way, starting in 1924, a collaboration that has flourished for nearly a century, reflecting the organization's commitment to community-based support. In the 1930s, Sunbeam broadened its reach, introducing casework services and foster care to its roster of programs, demonstrating an early recognition of the complex needs of those they assist.
World War II underscored the agency's adaptability and responsiveness, as Sunbeam operated nurseries for the children of women engaged in war efforts, also extending its support to license similar childcare operations. The post-war era brought further expansion, particularly into mental health services, filling a critical gap as the only provider of community-based mental health support in Oklahoma at that time.
The turn of the millennium marked a new chapter for Sunbeam, with the initiation of Early Childhood Services in 2004, funded by the first federal grant to provide Early Head Start (EHS) to 120 children. This commitment to early education deepened between 2015 and 2019, as Sunbeam secured additional grants to extend EHS to more babies and toddlers, further embedding its role in the foundational development of the state's youngest residents.
The opening of the Pierce Early Education Center in 2020 in NE Oklahoma City, coupled with the launch of a classroom at ReMerge, was part of the broader OKCPS' Pathway to Greatness Plan, illustrating Sunbeam's innovative approach to education and community service. This period of growth continued with the establishment of the Millwood Early Education Center and Edwards Early Education and Community Hope Center, each step forward aligned with Sunbeam's refreshed mission and vision announced in 2022.
Edwards Early Education and Community Hope Center Grand Opening 2022
In 2023, Sunbeam expanded its educational outreach by taking over the Parent Education Classes from DHS, previously managed by Family Builders, and integrating the Early Birds program, further solidifying its commitment to comprehensive family support and education.
Throughout its history, Sunbeam Family Services has remained true to its founding mission, adapting to the changing needs of its community while staying focused on the vision of a brighter future with every child and family it serves. This legacy of adaptation, growth, and unwavering support defines Sunbeam's past and lights the way for its future.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
As we explored the specifics, Sarah’s pride in Sunbeam’s services was evident. From their early childhood program recognized nationally, to the supportive foster care services and the comprehensive mental health support, she detailed how each program is designed to nurture, support, and empower. "We’re not just serving individuals," she emphasized, "we're uplifting entire families."
Sunbeam prepares babies and toddlers for school and life success, supports Oklahomans' mental health and well-being, provides safe, loving homes for children in foster care, and assists in connecting families with support and resources.
"Sunbeam Family Services provides wraparound services to children and families in various ways. We operate multiple early education centers across the metro area, offering high-quality early education and support services for children aged birth to 4. Each family is assigned a Family Support Specialist who helps them achieve their goals and connects them with resources as needed. We understand the importance of engaging the entire family in a child’s learning process and ensure they have the ability to do so. Additionally, we offer parenting classes, mental health services, and support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren. Originating as an orphanage in 1907, we continue to serve as a foster care agency, fully committed to our mission of building brighter futures for all children and families."
Early Care and Education: As an Early Head Start provider in Oklahoma City, Sunbeam is a leader in early care and education. Sunbeam’s early education centers, partner sites, and Home Visitation Program raise the quality of early care and education in our community while preparing babies and toddlers from birth to age 4 to enter kindergarten with the skills necessary to be ready for school. Families also have access to Sunbeam's other services.
Affordable Mental Health Care: Sunbeam provides affordable mental health services for individuals, families, and children. Highly skilled and caring therapists are trained in evidence-based practices and are passionate about helping people improve their mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Staff also provide psycho-education and resource connections. The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program offers therapy services to pregnant women and families with children through age 5. Sunbeam offers training in the community, which includes topics such as child development, attachment, adverse childhood experiences, and the impact of trauma on the developing brain.
Support and Resources for Grandfamilies: Sunbeam helps grandfamilies through individualized support and education, support groups, connection to resources, mental health services, and connection with Sunbeam's early care and education services.
OKC Thunder Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Shopping Day 2023
Caregiver Support: Sunbeam helps caregivers through educational seminars and support groups. Support groups provide an opportunity for caregivers to socialize and share experiences and resources.
"Prior to 2020, we had only one early education center, but now we have six locations across the metro area. Two of these sites are schools that underwent renovation, and we take immense pride in our continued commitment to fostering an educational environment that helps children become 'school-ready'. In July of 2020, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we successfully launched our Pierce Early Education Center.
"In 2022, we opened our Edwards Early Education and Community Hope Center in NE OKC. In response to community feedback indicating a need for additional services, particularly in mental health, we renovated space to accommodate individual, family, and group therapy sessions. We actively recruit staff from the communities we serve, and it's been gratifying to welcome parents interested in pursuing a career in teaching. Through our Teacher Apprentice and Assistant Teacher Trainee positions, we provide comprehensive training and support to facilitate their transition into assistant teacher roles.
"We also began a wonderful partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, providing mental health consultation and training for their staff and support for the children at their sites across the metro. Mental health challenges for young children and adolescents also increased during the pandemic, and we expanded our services to meet that need in the community. Sunbeam is a founding member of the United Way, and as a partner agency, collaboration is crucial to effectively and efficiently provide much-needed services.
“Last year we acquired the programs of Smart Start and the Parent Education program from Family Builders. We are grateful for the opportunity to carry on the great work they had been doing in the community for so many years.
“At Sunbeam, we have a dedicated board of directors who are fully engaged and always looking to the future. One of our top priority goals in our strategic plan is to 'expand the reach of high-quality direct service delivery to serve more families!' We commit to this every day with every opportunity we have."
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
During our conversation, Sarah highlighted Sunbeam's unwavering commitment to being forward-thinking, especially in its open-hearted welcome to all types of families. With pride, she conveyed how Sunbeam Family Services serves as a model of inclusivity, warmly embracing families from a multitude of backgrounds, including 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, single-parent households, and families across a spectrum of ethnicities. Sarah made it clear that there's no room for discrimination at Sunbeam, underscoring the organization's devotion to offering support and services with impartiality. This progressive approach is a testament to Sunbeam's foundational values, ensuring that each family and individual is respected, understood, and uplifted on their unique paths to brighter futures.
“One of our core values at Sunbeam is community, which we define as 'convening and embracing inclusive relationships and impactful collaborations.' This value underscores our commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment within our organization and the communities we serve. We believe that by actively engaging with and valuing the perspectives of individuals from all backgrounds, we can better understand and address the unique needs of our community members.”
IMPACT AND OUTREACH
Among the stories that Sarah shared, one particularly moving testimonial stood out: the story of Vanessa, a dedicated mother who faced the immense challenges of raising four young children, including a set of triplets. Battling depression and the isolating demands of motherhood, Vanessa found a lifeline in Sunbeam Family Services. With their support, she enrolled her children in Sunbeam's programs, which provided not just educational benefits for her little ones but also a community and resources for Vanessa herself.
Vanessa's journey with Sunbeam has been nothing short of transformative. As she tapped into the support and services offered, she began to see significant improvements in her well-being and her children's development. Her oldest child is now thriving in elementary school, a testament to the solid foundation laid during their time at Sunbeam. Meanwhile, Vanessa has been making strides toward her own goals, advancing in her career and finding a renewed sense of purpose and hope. Sarah recounted Vanessa's story with admiration, highlighting her resilience and the profound impact that supportive, community-focused services can have on individuals and families navigating the complexities of life's challenges. “We all need a village and support system,” she said, "and the staff at Sunbeam love the children as if they are their own!”
“Hope is the belief that the future can be better than today, and that you have the power to make it so. Hope is a social gift, where caring people help individuals, children, and families navigate adversity to achieve important goals and thrive.”
With your support, Sunbeam partners with families of all shapes and sizes, including single-parent families, foster families, blended families, and grandfamilies. When all families can build a strong foundation for their children, we all have brighter futures.
Last fiscal year, Sunbeam:
Supported 4,091 Oklahomans
Provided 184,762 service deliveries
Welcomed 606 volunteers
A PERSONAL INVITATION TO GET INVOLVED
Children's early years are crucial. Renowned economist James Heckman emphasizes that investing in quality early care and education is more valuable than the stock market. Research shows that nurturing relationships with caregivers in these formative years have lifelong benefits for health, education, and social outcomes. Mental health is also vital for families.
Sunbeam welcomes support from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Whether through donations, volunteering, or partnerships, every contribution helps. Join in investing in Oklahoma's children and families. Explore giving options and volunteer opportunities on Sunbeam's website or contact them directly.
For more information, contact Sunbeam at (405) 609-8926 or ckirton@sunbeamfamilyservices.org.
FOR THOSE SEEKING HELP
Families seeking assistance can find support through Sunbeam's range of programs and services. Sunbeam is currently enrolling children aged birth to 4 for childcare in their early education centers located in Oklahoma City. Their free Early Head Start and Head Start programs offer benefits such as a low teacher-child ratio, individualized wraparound support, free diapers, wipes, healthy meals, and snacks. Additionally, families receive assessment, immunizations, health screenings, and referrals, along with support for children with disabilities.
Sunbeam also provides Home Visitation Services for children from birth through 3, offering weekly educational visits in the home and monthly group activities. These services cover education, health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities, and social services.
Parents can engage in programs like Early Birds and Compassion Workshops, which provide information, activities, and emotional support to help navigate the challenges of raising children.
Sunbeam understands the importance of mental health and offers high-quality, affordable therapy services for individuals, families, and groups, tailored to fit most budgets.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren can access support through Sunbeam's in-person and virtual support groups, individualized care navigation, and connections to resources and mental health support.
Those interested in becoming foster parents can benefit from Sunbeam's comprehensive foster care program, which provides trauma-certified therapists, priority placement in early education centers, 24/7 on-call support, and specialized training.
For caregivers, Sunbeam offers educational seminars and support groups to provide assistance and share experiences.
For more information, individuals can visit Sfsok.org or call (405) 528-7721.
A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Sarah Rahhal’s insights were more than just an overview of Sunbeam Family Services; they were an invitation to be part of a community dedicated to making a difference. As I left Rise Cafe, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the impact of the work being done by Sarah and her team at Sunbeam.
Sunbeam's history demonstrates a deep commitment to collaboration and innovation in providing high-quality services. Through cultivating strong partnerships and embracing innovative approaches, Sunbeam continues to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
Relevant Links:
Programming: https://sunbeamfamilyservices.org
Giving: https://sunbeamfamilyservices.org/donate
Volunteer Opportunities: https://sunbeamfamilyservices.org/volunteer
At Sunbeam, there exists a shared passion for supporting families, strengthening communities, and celebrating the resilience of families. Together, they share the believe that they can build strong and thriving communities when everyone comes together to support children and families.
