Community Partnerships For Children

One of the goals of the Education Reform Act of 1993 is for all young children to have the opportunity to participate in a high quality early childhood program before they enter kindergarten. To help achieve this goal, legislation established a program to increase the availability, affordability and quality of early care and education programs for three-and four-year-old children in the Commonwealth. The Community Partnership for Children (CPC) program is designed to build a collaborative system of early childhood programs and comprehensive services within a community or group of communities.

The name of this program, Community Partnerships for Children, implies that the responsibility for the care and education of young children extends beyond the immediate family and beyond any one agency. The providers of early childhood programs, related comprehensive and family support services, and other resources differ from one community to another, depending on the size, location, needs and assets of the community. The program name conveys an expectation that a coalition of programs, service agencies, businesses and families will work together to develop a cohesive system of early care and education for all children and families in the community.

In Massachusetts, community stakeholders are partnering with public schools, Head Starts and child care programs to coordinate preschool services for 3 and 4 year olds through Community Partnerships for Children (CPC). Currently 313 cities and towns participate in this subsidized childcare which raises the quality of and accessibility to services so that all children enter school ready to continue their learning at the optimum rate.

THE CPC PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO:

• Increase affordability and accessibility of programs for 3 and 4 year olds, including a sliding fee scale based on gross monthly income;
• Enhance collaboration among families and community-based organizations to reduce duplication and promote equality;
• Provide high-quality, comprehensive early childhood programs (e.g. Head Start, Licensed Family Day Care, Licensed Center Child Care) and services (e.g. mental health and nutrition) targeted to working families;
• Conduct community outreach to provide opportunities for working families to participate in programs that meet their needs; and
• Offer support to child care providers, including accreditation assistance.

CPC PARTNERS INCLUDE:

• Massachusetts Department of Education
• Local public school districts
• Local Head Start agencies
• Licensed Childcare centers
• Licensed Family Childcare providers
• Community members including parents, members
  of the childcare community, religious and business
  leaders and public school staff