Our Mission
Founded in 1988 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, NY, Daystar Kids is NY’s only Pediatric Respite Center supporting infants and children whose early learning has been disrupted by hospitalization and treatment for their complex health care conditions. Daystar’s coordinated continuum of intensive pediatric nursing, educational, developmental, and family support services position each child and their family for success from the moment they’re discharged from the hospital. Daystar's center-based, specialized early childhood programs and services provide equal access to children who are excluded from participating in other programs due to their health care needs, and promotes their development, advances their independence, and helps them enter kindergarten alongside their peers.
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Our Impact
Causes We Support
Countries We Serve
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Established in 1988, Daystar Kids developed its innovative and comprehensive center-based Pediatric Complex Care model for infants and children to address the widespread health inequities and structural barriers they face because of their complex health care needs. For patients younger than 4 years old, being hospitalized during their most formative years can have prolonged adverse consequences on their cognitive, emotional and social development, and intensifies parental stress, resulting in higher rates of child mental health and related issues. Because of policy gaps, children with complex health care needs are unfairly excluded from early childhood centers because of their health status, reliance on medical devices, medications, or other health care needs. Daystar Kids supports children from the moment they're discharged from the hospital and provides them with intensive, individualized and group programs designed to build their confidence, learning, development, health, and independence for a lifetime of success.
