About Brighter Days
We started with one belief: that every child in Philadelphia deserves the chance to thrive — and that families are the most powerful force in making that happen.
Brighter Days Early Intervention Agency was founded in 2010 by Jenine Pivovar, OTR/L — an occupational therapist who spent years working directly with infants, toddlers, and their families across Philadelphia.
Jenine saw something in that work she couldn’t ignore. The families who got the most out of early intervention weren’t simply the ones with the most resources. They were the ones who felt genuinely supported — families who understood what their child needed and had the confidence and tools to help.
So, she built the agency she wished had always existed.
What started as a small occupational therapy practice has grown over 15 years into one of Philadelphia’s most trusted early intervention agencies — serving over 5,000 children and families across the city, with a team of more than 50 dedicated providers and specialists.
But the mission hasn’t changed. At Brighter Days, we still believe what Jenine believed in 2010: that when families are informed, respected, and genuinely supported, children thrive.
Meet Our Founder
Jenine Pivovar, OTR/L
Founder & Executive Director
Jenine began her career as an occupational therapist delivering direct, hands-on services to infants and toddlers in Philadelphia homes. Her years on the ground gave her something rare: a real understanding of what families actually need — not just clinically, but practically and emotionally.
She founded Brighter Days with a vision of an agency that was clinically excellent and genuinely family-centered — one that honored each family’s culture, met people where they were, and treated every child and caregiver with dignity.
Today, Jenine leads a team of over 50 providers while staying close to the work — because at Brighter Days, leadership has always meant being connected to families, not just managing from a distance.
What drives us every day.
Our mission is to empower children, families, and caregivers across Philadelphia through expert, compassionate, and culturally sensitive early intervention services — delivered in the places where families actually live their lives.
Families are the most important teachers in a child's life — and our job is to equip them.
The birth-to-3 window is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — early support changes outcomes in ways that last a lifetime.
Cultural sensitivity isn't a checkbox — it's woven into every interaction, every session, every conversation we have.
Every family deserves to feel respected and heard — regardless of income, language, or background.
Great providers make all the difference — we invest in our team so they can show up fully for yours.
Family-centered means exactly that.
At Brighter Days, services aren’t delivered to children — they’re delivered with families.
Our therapists and specialists work in the settings where children live and grow: homes, daycares, and community spaces across Philadelphia. They don’t simply work with your child while you observe. They coach you — teaching you the specific strategies and techniques that fit into your real daily routines, so your child is making progress every day, not just during sessions.
Philadelphia is one of the most diverse cities in the country, and our families come from every background, speak many languages, and hold a wide range of traditions and values. We honor that. We adapt to it. We see it as a strength — because care that truly respects who you are is simply more effective.
We offer in-person, virtual, and phone interpretation services to ensure that every family can participate fully in their child’s care, in the language they’re most comfortable with.
Seven services. One agency. One consistent, caring team.
Brighter Days offers a complete range of early intervention services for children birth to age 3 in Philadelphia County — all provided at no cost to eligible families.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Sensory needs, fine motor development, feeding challenges, and daily living routines.
Speech Therapy (SLP)
Communication delays, language development, articulation, and feeding/swallowing.
Physical Therapy (PT)
Gross motor delays, muscle tone, movement, and mobility from rolling through walking.
Special Instruction (SI)
Comprehensive developmental support across cognitive, social-emotional, communication, and daily living skills.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services
Specialized, evidence-based support including Project ImPACT certified parent coaching.
Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Coordination (ITSE)
For children who have experienced trauma or are struggling with emotional regulation. Offered by only a small number of agencies in Philadelphia.
Our Team
Every Brighter Days provider — therapist, special instructor, social worker, and ITSE specialist — is licensed, certified, and credentialed in accordance with Pennsylvania state regulations. More importantly, they show up for families with genuine care. They communicate clearly, keep their appointments, and see themselves as partners in your child’s development — not just service providers passing through.
Our administrative team works behind the scenes to manage scheduling, compliance, and coordination, so our providers can focus entirely on children and families in the field. We’re proud of the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve sustained over 15 years: providers who stay, grow, and stay connected to why this work matters.
