Welcome to a safer place for your child
Our medical daycares provide best-in-class, comprehensive care for children with complex medical needs, so they can truly experience childhood.
Reliable, all-day care
Staffed by a team of pediatric nurses
Therapy available weekly
Safe, nurturing & social
14 locations in Florida & Texas
The largest medical daycare in Florida
100's of children helped every day
96% of parents "Very Happy" with Spark
100% of costs covered for qualified families
What is a PPEC?
A daycare for children with medical conditions
Our medical daycares are known as PPECs (prescribed pediatric extended care). Here, our team of pediatric nurses and aides will meet your child’s medical, therapeutic, and developmental needs — no matter their condition.
Support for dozens of complex medical conditions
Dedicated care, delivered by a team of pediatric nurses
Safe care for every child
Meets their social needs
Support for your whole family
Reliable care
Open 12 hours a day so you can go to work, school, or care for family.
Daily updates
Stay up to date, every day, on your child’s care.
Free transport
From door to door — including pick up, drop off, and provider visits.
Free with Medicaid
Covered by Medicaid, Medicaid-managed plans, and many other insurance providers.
Care coordination
Working directly with your medical and insurance providers on your behalf.
Community resources
Access to support through our network of hospitals, social organizations, and nonprofits.
Therapy comes to us
Your child will receive all of their physical, occupational, and speech therapy here.
Licensed for safety
By the appropriate Medicaid agencies in your state.
Connected to the best hospitals in the country
“It has to be clear for me that I'm gonna put my baby somewhere that I like and that I feel safe … And when I went to Spark, I can say that the center staff were the ones that gave me confidence… They explained how it works and gave me a lot of information… And I can tell you that I have a PPEC close to my house, but … Spark is the one that makes me feel better and comfortable.”
Mom of 1-year-old son
"We chose [Spark] because we had a challenging year the year prior. My mother passed away and she was my support. I wasn’t interested in the school system because I know my daughter needs specialized care. PPECC was a better option for us because I still wanted the opportunity for socialization without using the school system. The service has been a godsend."
Parent, Houston Center
“[My sons] are very complex, and they have a lot of demands. So anyone that has to work with them has to really know them, it’s really important they know how to deal with them, and it's something that I see in [the staff at Spark]. Because they know them, and they know they are very complex, and they know they need special attention.”
Foster mom to two sons
Absolute wonderful place to work! Spark Pediatrics cares deeply about the children, their family and also the employees working for the company. I highly recommend this PPEC!
Yesica Rijo
Google Reviewer
“I’m a single mom and they see that … They lent me a helping hand and they’d say, “Just let us know. We can help out daily with your kids. We can work around you…” This school is such a big help. Not only for me, but for my son. Because I love people that love my kids, and they really do love [my son]. They bend over backwards for [my son] like he’s their child.”
Mom of 5-year-old son
“I don't know how many more words I can use to thank Spark … because [my daughter] wouldn't be where she is right now if it wasn't for PPEC. They were able to give her the attention she needed. The medication she needed. They made her feel loved.”
Mom of 6-year-old daughter
"We chose [Spark] services so my child would be included. She’s surrounded by kids that are like her."
Parent, Houston Center
“I can say from the experience I’ve had with Spark that it’s the best place for the kids. You know, the kids who need [support]. And if I have a friend or family who has kids like my son, we recommend them to go to Spark because they treat them very well.”
Father of 15-year-old son
“They think of your child first. Your child goes first in their mind. And they'll do anything to make your child happy, and yourself. It's wonderful how well they seem to be able to link the two. Because sometimes you can only satisfy a child and the parent won't be happy, but that hasn't happened with me. They've been able to satisfy the both of us.”
Mom of 6-year-old daughter
“[We really look for] someone who, even if they're not a mom, has that motherly instinct — like, “I just want to scoop you up and love you like you're my own.” I'm such a mama bear to these kids. I always say, I have two kids on my own, but I've got like 22 at work like I would take all of them home with me if I could. You have to have that love for pediatrics and you have to be able to prioritize.”
Director of Nursing
“I love [Spark]. I wish my boys could stay longer … They know how to crawl now! One of my babies, he's trying to walk and he knows how to stand up. There’s a lot that they're teaching them at PPEC that they were never taught before.”
Mom to NICU twins
“When my son was receiving treatment, we were there together for about 10 months. It was just me, him, and a hospital setting. How do I start to detach from that? My Spark center staff, from day one, kept the communication going … and that helped a lot.”
Mom of 4-year-old son
“There's a very big group effort to create that sense of security. Kids like when they're happy, where they feel the most comfortable and the most safe.”
Director of Nursing
“For these families to have a center with dedicated staff for their children... they have the peace of mind that their children are well cared for.”
Regional Director
“My son was born very premature and diagnosed with global developmental delay and came home with a trach and ventilator after a 9.5 month NICU stay. When he turned 2 … I talked to my son's complex care PCP at Texas Children and she highly recommended Spark. Our pulmonary doctor at Texas Children was also on board with my son going to Spark. My son has been attending Spark for more than a year and we absolutely love, love Spark. The nurses and staff take the best care of the children and I know my son is in a great environment where he can learn and play. His cognition abilities have improved since attending Spark and they always have the best activities for the children throughout the week!”
Mom of 2-year-old son
“I am Haitian and my son was born in Haiti. So it’s a pleasure for me that there is a Haitian lady there … she's like my family… And [she] told me that they feed [my son] rice and beans. I was happy to hear that. Let’s feed him good with the heartbeat of food!”
Father of 15-year-old son
Our medical daycares are 100% free with Medicaid
PPECs like ours are covered by Medicaid, Medicaid-managed plans, and many other insurance providers. If your child has complex medical needs, you may be able to get a prescription for care. You don’t have to figure it out on your own — call us and we’ll work with you.
Give us a call
We’ll help you assess whether Spark Pediatrics is right for your family.
Come for a visit
We’d love to meet you and show you our centers. Call us to come in for a tour.
Team up on a care plan
We’ll work with you and your child’s doctors to plan their care, at your convenience.
Clear communication at every step
Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care, also known as a PPEC or PPECC, is a medical daycare center staffed by nurses and aides who care for children with complex medical needs — up to 12 hours per day, and up to age 21. It’s a safe place for children to receive the medical care and therapy they need, while benefiting from a social environment.
Our centers treat children with a wide variety of conditions that require skilled nursing care. We care for children from infancy (including premature babies) up until age 21. If the child requires daily medical care, we help families find coverage. We encourage families to give us a call and discuss whether Spark Pediatrics is the right fit for them.
PPEC services are completely covered by Medicaid, Medicaid-managed plans, and some insurance providers — at no cost to families. We will work with the family's provider, and handle all communications and paperwork directly so there is no additional burden.
Spark Pediatrics coordinates transportation from door to door — one of our team will escort the child at all times and ensure their safety. This service is provided for free.
At Spark Pediatrics, all children have a team of trained nurses and aides providing attentive care and supervision. Our centers are designed for kids with complex medical needs and have the latest, state-of-the-art medical equipment and developmentally-appropriate toys and play areas. By following strict health and safety policies, we were able to stay open during the peak of the COVID pandemic. Many families are nervous about sending their child out of the home, but we can assure families their child is in a safe place here.
Do you have a question we haven’t answered? We’re happy to chat. Schedule a call to speak with someone at Spark Pediatrics.
Give your child a childhood
Safe, personalized medical care in a social daycare setting. Come visit one of our centers and try Spark Pediatrics for free.
Convenient locations, free transportation from anywhere
We’d be happy to pick up and drop off your child so they can receive the best care in the area. Click the center closest to you to learn more about our team and schedule a tour.
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