Open Arms, Inc. dba Bryans House

Today, with the capacity to serve 1,000 children and adults per year, our goal is to provide services to comfort and support families of children with special needs through:
Medically Managed Childcare
Early Childhood Education
Respite Care
Social Services

Through a focus on two-generational programming, including early intervention services, early childhood education, family support, parent training, emergency financial assistance, and more, Bryan's House helps families with medically-fragile and special needs children thrive and rise out of poverty.

1) SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM: Provides financial planning, homeless prevention, employment-related services, and access to health care services to families with special needs children. The goal of the program is to provide families with the tools needed to achieve self-sufficiency and long-term stability. Through the Social Services program, our families learn the tools necessary to provide for themselves without relying on public assistance and government programs. Emergency financial assistance supports families who are in crisis and in need of immediate and intensive help.

2) CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Bryan's House offers children's programming that addresses the unique medical, health and educational barriers of at-risk children with special needs as well as the comprehensive needs of their families. Early Childhood Education (ECE) integrates academics with social-emotional learning, physical development, and creative thinking. Children ages 0-5 with special health needs, and their siblings experience an active-learning environment tailored to accommodate individual needs and educational goals. A full-time, on-site registered nurse ensures that the children receive necessary medications and medical assistance, including tube feeds and emergency care, throughout the day. Children receive daily occupational, physical, and speech therapies on-site, eliminating the need for parents to take their children to these vital therapies multiple times per week.

Founded in 1988, Bryan's House is the first non-profit organization in the country to provide comprehensive 24/7 medical and social services in a home-like setting for children living with HIV/AIDS at the peak of the epidemic. Today, we have evolved to provide onsite and in-home services for at-risk children who are medically fragile or have social, emotional, or physical challenges AND their families.

Bryan's House addresses the diverse needs of children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, seizures, heart conditions, Down Syndrome, Leukemia, hearing or vision loss, rare diagnoses, and more in an inclusive, holistic manner in North Texas.

Language barriers and financial situations compound the already challenging landscape of caring for a child with special needs. In 2020-2021, 97% of our families lived below 250% of the poverty line., with our average family earning just over $19,000 per year, often with both parents working outside the home.

The benefits of Bryan's House services and programs are seen daily in the clients we serve, such as Zabrina and her mom. Doctors told Zabrina's family that she would never walk. At age 2, she couldn't move or walk on her own and needed help with feeding. A year later, Zabrina started to use a walker with support from staff, and after only a few months, she was able to walk on her own. Through Bryan's House Case Management services, Zabrina's mom was also able to overcome significant personal issues. The family is now stable and thriving.

During 2021-2022, we provided:
12,167 hours of case management
26,355 hours of child development programming
Provided 10, 068 meals and snacks
1,236 onsite therapy sessions
Served clients across 82 zip codes in six counties

2021-2022 GOALS
Serve 800 unduplicated children and adults
Provide Case Management Assistance for families who have children with special needs
Provide onsite Child Development programs for children with special needs (birth to age 13)
Provide rent/utility and other emergency assistance to prevent homelessness and provide for basic needs
Continue piloting the Beyond Breaking Barriers group to find systemic ways to improve collaboration, understanding, and access.