This Month at Beech Brook | | Connecting you to agency updates, parenting tips, resources, and reflections from our CEO | | | | 174 Years of Seeing the Need - and Stepping In | A legacy born from compassion. A mission that endures. | Tom Royer, Beech Brook President/CEO | | | In 1852, a cholera epidemic left Cleveland families devastated and children without parents, homes, or protection. With no child welfare system in place, a small group of women refused to look away. They stepped in to care for children in crisis—an act of compassion that became the Cleveland Orphan Asylum and, today, Beech Brook. | | That simple decision—to see a need and respond—has defined Beech Brook for 174 years. As we look ahead to our 175th anniversary, one truth remains at the heart of our mission: When children and families need us, we step in. | |
The world will change. Our responsibility will not.

Now, 174 years later, it is still who we are.
| | | Mark your calendars for Bash for the Brook! | | | |
Bash for the Brook
April 24, 2026
6:30 - 10:00pm
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Huntington Bank Field
Cleveland, Ohio
| Bash for the Brook raises funds for the critical services Beech Brook provides children and families each year, including foster care, parent support and education, and mental health support for kids. | | February is International Boost Your Self-Esteem Month | | | | 5 Ways Families Can Help Boost Kids' Self-Esteem at Home | Self-esteem grows through everyday interactions between children and the adults who care for them. This month, we’re sharing simple ways families can help kids build confidence—at home, at school, and in their communities. | | | |
1. Focus on effort, not perfection.
Recognizing a child’s effort—trying something new, sticking with a task, or asking for help—teaches them that growth matters more than getting everything “right.”
2. Give kids a voice.
Letting children make age-appropriate choices helps them feel capable and respected, whether it’s picking a book to read or helping plan a family activity.
3. Model self-kindness.
When caregivers show themselves grace after mistakes, kids learn that it’s okay to be human—and that mistakes don’t define their worth.
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4. Create routines that build security.
Predictable routines help children feel safe, which lays the foundation for confidence and emotional regulation.
5. Celebrate who they are.
Noticing a child’s strengths, interests, and personality—just as they are—helps them feel seen and valued.
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At Beech Brook, our family-centered programs support caregivers with tools and resources that strengthen these everyday moments.
When families are supported, children grow more confident—and communities grow stronger.
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Service Spotlight:
The Family Needs Store
| | | | At Beech Brook, we know when families have access to the essentials, children have the stability they need to grow and thrive. Our Family Needs Store helps caregivers meet immediate needs by providing diapers, wipes, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and other household basics—all at no cost to families. | | |
You can help keep our shelves stocked!
Donations of supplies—or contributions to support the store—ensure caregivers have what they need to create safe, stable homes for their children.
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Parent Café | February 2026
2/6, 2/13, 2/20
Parent Cafés provide parents with a chance to relax, make friends, and share your worries or concerns about your children with other parents.
| Sessions focus on protective factors that strengthen families, including being more resilient as a parent, creating concrete support networks, forging positive social relationships, and more on developing as a parent. Dinner and child care are provided. | | |
Contact Debra Brown at the Beech Brook Family Center to register at 216.391.4069.
Learn more about our Parent Café sessions >>
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Healthy Relationships | February 2026
2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28
Healthy Relationships classes provide support and tools for parents and/or co-parents to help them maintain healthy and nurturing relationships for themselves and their families.
Sessions focus on topics such as enhancing communications skills, understanding your partner and developing other strategies to strengthen relationships. Child care is provided.
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Contact Debra Brown at the Beech Brook Family Center to register at 216.391.4069.
Learn more about Healthy Relationships >>
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Strong Roots | Spring 2026
New program series in March, April, and May
Strong Roots is a free, family-friendly program that brings parents and children together for food, fun, and support. Families connect with each other, learn new skills, and discover helpful community resources—all in a warm, welcoming space.
This program is about building strong families and strong communities, one connection at a time.
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Thank you for being part of Beech Brook’s mission
to strengthen families and build healthier communities.
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