Welcome to Sunset Park West Child and Family Center

Today, we celebrated the launch of Sunset Park West Child and Family Center–our third Head Start site in Sunset Park West. We were honored to be surrounded by the elected officials, partners, and new neighbors who made this endeavor possible.

“Grand Street is proud to be opening our third state-of-the-art Child and Family Center in Sunset Park,” said Grand St. Settlement CEO Robert Cordero. "We’ve had a growing wait list for our other Sunset Park programs since they opened in 2021. Working families are facing a child care crisis, and Grand Street is proud to provide the high-quality care that our neighbors rely on."

Special guests in attendance included Representative Dan Goldman, Councilmember Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, and State Senator Andrew Gounardes—all of whom we presented with Friendly Heart Awards. Inspired by our children's book, the Friendly Heart Award is for those who go above and beyond in their support in helping us provide high-quality child care in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Thank you to our Friendly Heart recipients for embodying The Grand Street Way.

“Access to affordable, high-quality child care is critical for working families to thrive, and the opening of the Sunset Park West Child and Family Center is a major step forward for this community,” said Representative Dan Goldman. “Grand Street Settlement has been a trusted anchor for families for over a century, and this new center will provide parents with the support they need while setting our youngest New Yorkers up for success. I’m proud to celebrate this expansion and to support investments that strengthen families, create good jobs, and meet the needs of Sunset Park."

Sunset Park is a child care desert, with recent studies from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services showing areas that have 10 times more children than available child care slots. Our expansion in this neighborhood of high-need will provide immediate relief for working parents.

"This is exactly the sort of accessible, high-quality child care that our communities so desperately need," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "Families across Sunset Park and beyond rely on these Head Start programs to give their children the care, support and opportunity they deserve, and this new center means even more children will have access to these resources. Thanks to Grand Street Settlement for their crucial work."

“Sunset Park families are facing a child care crisis, and this new Head Start center delivers real relief while showing what’s possible when we invest in our communities,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. “As budget negotiations continue in Albany, I will keep fighting for universal child care—and for taxing the wealthy, including giving New York City the authority to tax the rich—so working families are no longer forced to pay the price for inequality. Grand Street Settlement’s expansion is exactly the kind of people-centered investment our neighborhoods need.”

Sunset Park West Child and Family Center joins five new programs opening in the Bronx in 2026. Together, the new sites, along with previously established Family Child Care Partnerships, will provide more than 500 child care slots for children and over 140 jobs for educators.

"I am thrilled that Grand Street Settlement is opening a new Head Start Center in Sunset Park. Our community is in great need of more accessible, local, and culturally competent services for children and families. This program will be a great asset to our neighbors. I'm proud to have supported this program through my office and that we get to bring the project to fruition today," said Councilmember Alexa Avilés.