Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers
Elaine P. Draeger Model Teaching Center (Downtown), 385 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
About
Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers offers early education, child care, and comprehensive family support services for children and their families. The program uses a two-generation approach that includes the whole family and serves two or more generations together. Sheltering Arms is currently accepting applications for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old, with limited availability in some groups.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–5:30pm
Sheltering Arms began in 1888, when a group of civically minded Atlanta women created it as a safe space for the children of textile employees while their parents worked in the mills. The mission of Sheltering Arms is to close opportunity gaps by transforming the lives of children and their families through high-quality affordable early childhood education and leadership in the field. Sheltering Arms nurtures up to 2,100 children and their families each year, offering learning opportunities to children as young as six weeks. The organization operates 11 neighborhood centers in the metro Atlanta area and provides early education, child care, and comprehensive family support services to up to 2,000 children and their families annually in Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. On average, children attending Sheltering Arms score in the 90th percentile for language and literacy, exceeding developmental milestones for kindergarten readiness.
Sheltering Arms operates NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited facilities and is one of Georgia’s largest nonprofit early childhood education organizations. In 2021, Sheltering Arms created and adopted new strategic initiatives to guide the organization for five years, focusing on Accelerating Family Impact, Sheltering Arms’ Role in the Field, Financial Resiliency, and Employee Well-being and Engagement. The leadership team includes Blythe Keeler Robinson, President and CEO of Sheltering Arms, along with center directors and management such as Luisa Vasquez, Lariesha Burge, LaSandra White, Angela Wynn, Johnnetta Miller, Aurora Rosas, Steve White, Crystal Banks, Daniel Harris, Rickia Jordan, Shelteria Duggan, Janice Murray, and Angela Brown-Gorham. Blythe Keeler Robinson was named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business League.
Sheltering Arms supports historically excluded children and communities that have faced limited access to resources. The organization has participated alongside GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) at Strolling Thunder at the Georgia State Capitol. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta provided a loan to Head Start programs at Sheltering Arms, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and Easterseals of North Georgia. Sheltering Arms works with community partners, board members, parents, alumni, and staff at all levels to define its strategic plan. The organization also has a Signature Fundraising Event called Embrace Early & Create the Future Garden Party and an online store offering apparel and accessories.
Last updated April 23, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–5:30pm
Sheltering Arms began in 1888, when a group of civically minded Atlanta women created it as a safe space for the children of textile employees while their parents worked in the mills. The mission of Sheltering Arms is to close opportunity gaps by transforming the lives of children and their families through high-quality affordable early childhood education and leadership in the field. Sheltering Arms nurtures up to 2,100 children and their families each year, offering learning opportunities to children as young as six weeks. The organization operates 11 neighborhood centers in the metro Atlanta area and provides early education, child care, and comprehensive family support services to up to 2,000 children and their families annually in Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. On average, children attending Sheltering Arms score in the 90th percentile for language and literacy, exceeding developmental milestones for kindergarten readiness.
Sheltering Arms operates NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited facilities and is one of Georgia’s largest nonprofit early childhood education organizations. In 2021, Sheltering Arms created and adopted new strategic initiatives to guide the organization for five years, focusing on Accelerating Family Impact, Sheltering Arms’ Role in the Field, Financial Resiliency, and Employee Well-being and Engagement. The leadership team includes Blythe Keeler Robinson, President and CEO of Sheltering Arms, along with center directors and management such as Luisa Vasquez, Lariesha Burge, LaSandra White, Angela Wynn, Johnnetta Miller, Aurora Rosas, Steve White, Crystal Banks, Daniel Harris, Rickia Jordan, Shelteria Duggan, Janice Murray, and Angela Brown-Gorham. Blythe Keeler Robinson was named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business League.
Sheltering Arms supports historically excluded children and communities that have faced limited access to resources. The organization has participated alongside GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) at Strolling Thunder at the Georgia State Capitol. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta provided a loan to Head Start programs at Sheltering Arms, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and Easterseals of North Georgia. Sheltering Arms works with community partners, board members, parents, alumni, and staff at all levels to define its strategic plan. The organization also has a Signature Fundraising Event called Embrace Early & Create the Future Garden Party and an online store offering apparel and accessories.
Last updated April 23, 2026.
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