Our Mission
Our Motto
Parents are the First Teachers,
Home is the First Classroom
Empowering Underserved Families to Reach their Highest Potential
AVANCE walks alongside children and families to achieve social and economic justice.
Mission
AVANCE walks alongside children and families to achieve social and economic justice.
Vision
We envision a world where all children and families have equitable access to resources and opportunities to reach their fullest potential, transforming the communities in which we live.
The AVANCE Way
The AVANCE Way is a distinctive strengths-based approach to working with families that centers on meeting families where they are and building on their strengths to foster community, trust, and learning. We employ specific strategies based on the unique needs of families and children, introducing them to resources and opportunities in the community to meet their specific needs.
Values
Meeting People Where They Are
- We utilize a strengths-based approach when working with children, parents, providers, and staff.
- We recognize that all individuals have unique needs, and we design individualized programs/training to meet those needs.
- We recruit in the community – going to where the people are rather than expecting them to come to us.
Providing Responsive Programming
- We provide evidence-based, data-informed programming that meets people where they are.
- We foster environments where every voice is heard, respected, and valued, and everyone feels a sense of belonging.
- We ensure that our staff understand and are responsive to the needs and lived experiences of the children, caregivers, and communities we serve.
Increasing Access to Resources
- We acknowledge the challenges that our families, children, and staff face.
We work to remove barriers to access and opportunities to further their education and economic mobility. - We bring community resources to our families and staff.
- We teach, support, and encourage all individuals to advocate for themselves and their families.
Empowering All Individuals to be Leaders
- We recognize that our parents are leaders of their households.
- We encourage caregivers and staff to be leaders in their communities.
- We act as a catalyst for children, caregivers, and staff to build confidence, strength, and self-sufficiency.
- We offer opportunities to build leadership.
This website is supported by the Grant Numbers Early Head Start/Head Start 06CH011541, 06HP000564, 06HP000534, FRAMEWorks: 90ZB0030 and Ready for Life: 90ZD0003 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of AVANCE-Houston, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.