Community Partnerships for Children
         

CPC Council Co-Chairs for FY'06!!!

Cheryl Myles, Project SHARE

Kathy McEvoy, Hockomock

Anita LaBrecque, Sachem

Rosemarie O'Connor, CDS

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Community Partnerships for Children                         phone: 508-559-1666

 780 West Main Street, Avon, MA  02322                                                     fax: 508-583-3808

                                                                                                            email: cpc@selfhelpinc.org

 

 

 

 
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UPCOMING COUNCIL MTGS........Sachem April 25th at Self Help Inc.(evening), Hockomock April 26th at Foxboro Library (evening), CDS April 27th at Self Help Inc.(evening)
 

New Department of Early Education and Care....who are they and how will this impact Community Partnerships?

As of July 1, 2005, Community Partnerships for Children’s (CPC) funding source, the Massachusetts Department of Education Early Learning Services (DOE) and the voucher management agency, Office of Child Care Services (OCCS), were merged to create a new agency called the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).  This new agency is responsible for overseeing the administration of all early childhood funding and programs in the state of Massachusetts.  With this new agency have come changes in program requirements, documentation, and enrollment priorities for childcare assistance.  EEC is committed to prioritizing subsidized care for low-income families in the state.  As in previous years, CPC must serve all families on the OCCS waitlist and new this year CPC must serve all families that may be eligible for the OCCS waitlist, before we are able to serve anyone else.  OCCS income eligibility is at 50% or below the State Median Income (SMI).  However, as a CPC program our income eligibility goes up to 125% SMI and we have many families on our list whose income is above 50% SMI.  All families currently on our waitlist whose income is above 50% SMI will remain on our list.  If you have questions about the new agency or would like to get more information please visit EEC's website. 

 

What is Community Partnerships for Children?

Worried about finding a quality preschool program for your child? In Massachusetts, public schools, Head Start, and center-based child care programs, and family child care programs are partnering with other community stakeholders to coordinate preschool services for 3- and 4-year olds. Through Community Partnerships for Children (CPC), the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care distributes flexible grant funds to communities to coordinate preschool services across programs and raise the quality of and accessibility to services so that all children enter school eager to learn. There are currently 336 out of 351 cities and towns participating in CPC across the state, serving a total of 14,900 children in full time care and more in part-time care. Over half of the children receiving services under CPC-funded programs are from families with earnings below 50 percent of the state median income.

Community Partnerships Objectives:

  1. Increase the affordability and accessibility of programs for children ages 2.9 years up to 5 years of age who are not yet old enough to attend kindergarten, in working families.

  2. Enhance collaboration among families, community programs, businesses and other organizations to reduce duplication of services and promote equitable services.

  3. Provide comprehensive early childhood programs and services for young children of working families.

  4. Provide early childhood programs and services that are high-quality.

  5. Conduct community outreach to ensure that children have opportunities to participate in a program that meets their needs and the needs of their families.

What benefits are available?

Community Partnership programs offer these benefits:

  • Families who qualify will receive assistance to help pay for early childhood programs for their preschool children through the use of the state sliding fee scale.

    Priority is given to families:

     

    • who fall at or below 50% of the State Median Income

    • who are currently receiving child care services from another CPC and moving into our area, in order to provide continuity for their children.

    • with siblings of children currently enrolled

    • earning under 100% of the state median income including families on the waiting list for income-eligible child care.

  • Families will pay a fee based on their income and family size, according to the Massachusetts sliding fee scale for child care.

  • Parents may choose the type of program they think is best for their child. Community Partnership subsidies may be used in CPC Participating public and private preschools, daycare centers, and family child care homes. Programs must be licensed and must be a Participating Self Help Inc. CPC Programs or willing to join their local Community Partnership Program. Assistance for full-time and part-time care is available.

What are the eligibility requirements?

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for CPC assistance:

1. All Parents/adults/guardians in the household  must be working. (minimum # of hours working required depends on the partnership that covers your town).

2. Children you are applying for CPC assistance for must be between the ages of 2.9yrs-5 yrs. (not yet eligible to start public kindergarten in their town)

3. Families must meet below income guidelines.

4. Families must live in one of the following Self Help Inc./CPC towns:

Project SHARE: Stoughton, Holbrook, Avon, Randolph, Easton

Sachem: Abington, East Bridgewater, Middleboro, Rockland, West Bridgewater

CDS: Canton, Dedham, Sharon

Hockomock: Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Wrentham

Massachusetts State Median Income (SMI)
Effective 2004

YEARLY INCOME MUST BE LESS THAN 125% SMI

Family size

 50% SMI

100% SMI

125% SMI

2

 $23,448

$46,896

$58,620

3

 $28,968

$57,936

$72,420

4

 $34,488

$68,964

$86,208

5

 $39,996

$79,992

$99,996

6

 $45,516

$91,032

$113,796

How do I apply for a Community Partnership subsidy?

To apply for a Community Partnership subsidy and to access other types of early child hood funding you must first be placed on the Department of Early Education and Care's (EEC) Centralized Waitlist to find out more about the program, you should contact the Self Help, Inc. Community Partnership Program at 508-559-1666 or email us at cpc@selfhelpinc.org or print out a CPC Application here, and send it in.  Please make sure you fill out the entire application accurately and completely so you may be placed on the EEC Centralized Waitlist as soon as possible.  It is extremely important to keep all of your information up to date, and to immediately respond to any correspondence in regard to your waitlist application. 

What documentation will I need if I am enrolled?

When you are contacted by Self Help Inc. CPC stating that there may be funding available for you, you will first be asked to provide us with verification of your income (pay stubs etc).  We will need to determine that you are still income eligible before we have you come in and sign any paperwork.  If it appears you are still eligible for the funding you will be asked to provide the following documentation at your first appointment with Self Help Inc.:

  • Parent/guardian name and address (copy of drivers license)
  • Social Security cards for all family members
  • Children's names and dates of birth and birth certificates
  • Proof of income or disability (pay stubs, SSI stubs, child support, if applicable)
  • address verification (copy of utility bill etc)

If you are contacted by an agency other than Self Help Inc., you may need to supply them with different documentation. 

Support for Child Care Providers

 

 

 

  • Free or reduced professional development trainings and workshops for Early Childhood Providers.

  • Lending library on a variety of early childhood topics.
  • Financial and technical support for programs to achieve a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), or National Association of the Education Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation.
  • Subsidy program to meet the needs of families in your care.
  • Networking with other providers in your communities.
  • Bi-monthly newsletter for providers.
  • Support from a variety of specialists including: Parent Support Specialist, Behavior Resource, and Language Acquisition.

Provider Eligibility Requirements

Programs interested in becoming involved with any of the Self Help Inc CPC programs, must meet and agree to the below requirements:

  • Must be currently licensed and in good standing with the Office for Child Care Services.

  • Must work toward receiving your Child Development Associate (CDA) if a family childcare provider and your NAEYC accreditation if a center based program.

  • Center-based programs must agree to follow the  Early Childhood Program Standards for three and four year olds, prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Education.

  • Programs must provide services to preschool age children, and be willing to provide service to a family receiving a subsidy from CPC.

For more information please email at cpc@selfhelpinc.org

 

Council Meetings

 

Parents, Providers, Local Business and Community Members! 

CPC WANTS YOU!

The Community Partnerships Council is a mechanism for developing and enhancing collaborative relationships and partnerships that improve the quality of childhood care and education in the community. Service agencies, community programs, businesses, and families work together to form a cohesive system of comprehensive programs for three and four year old children. The CPC strives to increase the affordability and accessibility of programs that are broad in scope and use a variety of providers without duplicating those services. The Council expands community outreach to ensure that equity of services exists for children of diverse income levels, cultural backgrounds, and linguistic groups and their myriad of needs.

The Community Partnerships Council allows families and community members participation in the assessment of and response to the needs of young children while sharing their voice in the decision making process for programs that benefit both families and communities as a whole.

Our communities are supported by four CPC grants from the Massachusetts Department of Education. Four local councils assist in the administration of the grant funds. The councils are open to all interested in providing quality, accessible early care and education, for our communities children.  

Do you care about Early Care and Education?  Do you want  to make a difference in your community? Join one of our CPC Councils and help shape the way Early Care and Education works! See what happened at out last Council Meetings, by clicking this link.

 
   

This page updated and maintained by

Leslie Dunn