A trauma-informed approach begins with understanding the physical, social, and emotional impact of trauma on the individual, while also recognizing how it affects the professionals who help them.

At Precious Lamb Preschool, our program stands out because we maintain a low 1:6 teacher-to-child ratio, compared to the typical 1:12. We call it low ratio, high attention. This approach allows our teachers to provide individualized care, help close learning gaps, and offer extra support to children who may be struggling with challenging behaviors.

Our children have experienced significant adversity, and as one former teacher put it, “they are little people carrying big problems on their shoulders.” Long Beach, California, where we are located, ranks as having one of the highest homeless populations among large U.S. cities, with children feeling the impact the most (U.S. News). Homelessness leads to chronic stress and unpredictability, contributing to emotional and behavioral challenges like depression, withdrawal, and aggression. Research by Children’s HealthWatch found that infants and children who experience homelessness for more than six months are at a greater risk for developmental delays, poor health outcomes, hospitalization, and being overweight than children who never experienced homelessness or experienced it for less than six months.

Yet, there is hope. Longitudinal studies by organizations such as the National Institute for Early Education Research show that attending high-quality preschools like ours has transformative effects: reducing grade retention by half, cutting juvenile arrests by a third, and significantly boosting high school and college attendance, as well as future employment. Your support helps us provide this safe, nurturing, small-class environment, giving children the stability and care they need to overcome trauma, thrive, and break the cycle of homelessness.