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Our Mission

To strengthen early education and care for children with the greatest need through research, policy development, communication, and advocacy.

Our Commitment

to high-quality early education for the neediest families is in Mary Reed’s DNA. She is the founder and President of the Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children (BTWIC). Her passion for this work was passed down by her mother – Bessie Tartt Wilson – a pioneer in early education. Wilson opened her family childcare business in 1946 to serve working class families in Roxbury, MA. Today, Tartt’s Day Care Centers continue as Boston’s oldest, minority-owned childcare business serving the comprehensive early education needs of children.

BTWIC’s target population is the 60,000+ children (age 0-5) and parents across the state from low-income households, who are eligible for the child care subsidy, and for whom poverty and other factors put children at risk for physical, social, cognitive and other developmental delays. We focus on the needs of families in the six Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) regions of the state, including Metropolitan Boston.

BTWIC aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of pre-school children by supporting and empowering families and early childhood educators. We work toward this goal by focusing on a three-pronged approach to influencing outcomes for children and families – research, advocacy, and strategic efforts to impact statewide policy reform.

Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children is committed to identifying and implementing strategies that improve young children’s chances for success in pre-school and throughout life.