Childcare Benefit Provides Peace of Mind, So Parents Can Focus on MITRE’s Mission

When Jessica Dooley’s son fell ill on her first day at MITRE, it was a wake-up call many parents experience: She needed a more reliable childcare arrangement. 

MITRE made it possible for Dooley to complete her onboarding from home. And our Bright Horizons Family Solutions tuition discount benefit made childcare more affordable. 

Bright Horizons, founded in 1986, identified reliable childcare as a challenge for working parents, and opened on-site daycare centers. Today, Bright Horizons offers childcare, elder care, and help for education and careers to more than 1,000 employers like MITRE around the world.

For Dooley, an executive administrative assistant in the Engineering and Prototyping Subsector, the simple enrollment and the center’s proximity to MITRE have been game-changing. “I truly don’t know how I did it before,” she says. “As soon as I enrolled my son, there was a noticeable shift for me. The ease of knowing he’s well taken care of and happy each day has made a world of difference for me personally and professionally.”

“For our working parents, balancing priorities at work and home can be challenging and Bright Horizons can help navigate this challenge,” says Katie Borgasano, MITRE’s benefits and well-being manager. “Providing quality, thoughtful resources to help our employees manage their priorities is central to our holistic approach to employee well-being and engagement,” she notes. “We continue to explore the most impactful and innovative solutions to allow our employees to thrive. Having peace of mind that your loved ones have quality and reliable care is essential to achieving this.”

MITRE’s partnership program with Bright Horizons includes a 20% tuition discount for employees at most Bright Horizons centers, as well as priority enrollment at MITRE-sponsored centers near our campuses in Bedford, Massachusetts and McLean, Virginia. Bright Horizons provides high-quality early education and preschool for infants and children up to age 5. With a research-based curriculum, the program focuses on helping children build confidence and a joy for learning.

Sabin Ahmed, microeconomics principal in the Safety Transportation Division, says the benefit has created meaningful flexibility and support for her family.

“Since enrolling my daughter, I have very little worry about her care once I drop her off,“ she says. “I know she is well supported, and because of that I can focus on the meaningful work I’m doing each day here at MITRE.”

Ahmed pointed to the heightened challenges the childcare industry faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many industries, childcare suffered from staffing shortages and safety concerns. Knowing that MITRE reviewed and vetted the program ultimately led Ahmed to transition her daughter to Bright Horizons. “We were able to quickly and easily decide to enroll her,” she says.

“Bright Horizons’ way of managing the childcare process is so efficient—with options to upload important information via their website and a strong communication loop,” Ahmed says. “It allows me to handle something hugely important to my family in a streamlined way.” 

The caring and nurturing environment at Bright Horizons has been a driving factor for both Dooley and Ahmed’s families in keeping their children enrolled.

“Since enrolling, my daughter’s confidence has truly blossomed,” Ahmed says. “Recently, at a community event, she suddenly picked up a microphone and sang a song in a different language in front of the 400 people in attendance.”

Dooley also recognizes the impact of the Bright Horizons community. “I recently connected with a colleague who has a child the same age as my son,” she says. “We planned a lunch date with the kids. It’s been great to see how this program is helping both of us build a sense of community.” 

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