BRIGHT Coaching
La Fondation Place Coco is proud to bring BRIGHT Coaching to families in the Montreal area. BRIGHT Coaching is a free, virtually delivered support program for caregivers of preschool-aged children (18 months to 4½ years) who are on a waitlist for a child development assessment, diagnosis, or intervention.
Waiting for answers about your child's development can be one of the most isolating and stressful experiences a family faces. BRIGHT Coaching was created to change that — giving Montreal caregivers a trained coach, a clear path forward, and a space to be heard while they wait.
BRIGHT stands for Talk, Learn, Connect — the three pillars of the program. Over the course of about 6 to 8 months, caregivers meet one-to-one with a dedicated coach for up to 12 virtual sessions, working through a structured curriculum covering 10 key topics in child development and family well-being.
Each session is guided but flexible, shaped around the caregiver's own questions, worries, and goals. The result is a program that meets families exactly where they are — no matter where they're starting from.
Empowering Caregivers, One Conversation at a Time
How It Works
1. Get matched with a coach. Caregivers are paired with a trained BRIGHT Coach who will accompany them for the full duration of the program.
2. Meet virtually, on your schedule. Sessions take place online, making the program accessible to families across Montreal and beyond
3. Work through the curriculum together. Each session tackles a new topic, from understanding child development to preparing for appointments with specialists.
4. Build skills and confidence over time. By the end of the program, caregivers leave with practical tools, a stronger understanding of their child's needs, and a plan for what comes next.
The Benefit
BRIGHT Coaching offers caregivers more than information — it offers partnership. Families who complete the program report benefits across four key areas:
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Partnering with providers of care — learning how to navigate appointments, waitlists, and the broader child development system with more confidence.
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Strengthening family resilience — building tools that support the whole household, not just the caregiver-child relationship.
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Supporting personal resilience — creating space to process stress, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of the waiting period.
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Promoting child development — equipping caregivers with strategies to support their child's growth every day, starting now rather than waiting for services to begin.
"If I didn't have BRIGHT Coaching, that means I would have still been in the dark."
— Program Participant
Waitlists for child development services can stretch for months, even years — time that matters enormously during the preschool window. BRIGHT Coaching was designed specifically to fill that gap, giving families something proactive to do while they wait rather than leaving them to navigate uncertainty alone.
The program has been rigorously tested: a randomized controlled trial found that 98% of participants gained new knowledge and skills, 98% found the program beneficial, and 93% felt better able to support their child. Parents who completed BRIGHT Coaching also reported significantly lower rates of clinically significant stress compared to families who did not receive coaching — a difference of nearly half (16% versus 29%).
These results held true across urban and rural communities, across income levels, and across families from diverse backgrounds — including here in Quebec, where the program has already been tested and delivered in both English and French.
Get in Touch
Is your family waiting for a child development assessment, diagnosis, or intervention? La Fondation Place Coco's BRIGHT Coaching program may be able to help — starting now, not months from now.
Reach out to learn more or to see if you're eligible: info@cocosplace.ca