State leaders coming to Franklin County to announce child development grants

LEVERETT, Mass. (WWLP) – Members of the Healey Administration visited Leverett on Wednesday to announce $15.5 million in grants to local school districts and nonprofits.

Those grants will support organizations providing child development services and resources to families with young children, and promote school readiness, according to a news release from the Department of Early Education & Care.

The Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant awardees:

• Ayer-Shirley Regional School District $205,153
• Berkshire County Head Start $152,289
• Cape Cod Children’s Place $367,965
• Central Berkshire Regional School District $122,488
• Child Care of the Berkshires, INC. $339,953
• City of Attleboro $164,540
• City of Brockton $158,573
• City of Cambridge $263,815
• City of Everett $49,099
• City of Fall River $520,580
• City of Framingham $142,846
• City of Leominster $144,485
• City of Lowell $303,175
• City of Lynn $296,975
• City of Medford $179,344
• City of Northampton $133,724
• City of Peabody $421,447
• City of Somerville $358,320
• City of Springfield $430,396
• City of Westfield $63,555
• City of Worcester $637,401
• Collaborative for Educational Services $505,629
• Community Action, INC $136,807
• Community Action Pioneer Valley $131,095
• Community Action Programs (Inter-City) $201,535
• Community Health Programs, INC $82,630
• Community Teamwork, INC $140,665
• Discovery Schoolhouse, INC $45,700
• Family Nurturing Center of Mass $923,840
• Frontier Regional School District $51,205
• Gill Montague Regional School District $63,704
• Greater Lawrence Community $320,303
• Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District $69,655
• Hilltown Comm Health Centers, INC $151,918
• Holyoke Chicopee Springfield $311,505
• Justice Resource Institute, INC $216,163
• Making Opportunity Count, INC $414,439
• Marthas Vineyard Community $109,301
• MetroWest YMCA $128,904
• Mohawk Trail Regional School $94,500
• Nashoba Regional School District $45,846
• New Salem/Wendell Union School $117,325
• Newton Community Service Center DBA Family Access $398,329
• Old Rochester Regional School District $75,468
• Pathways for Children, INC $71,331
• People Acting in Community $411,432
• Pioneer Valley Regional School District $45,885
• Quincy Community Action Programs, INC $272,773
• Self Help, INC $623,739
• South Middlesex Opportunity Council, INC $86,241
• South Shore Comm Action $148,023
• Spencer Child Care $95,498
• Town of Bourne $120,700
• Town of Brimfield $59,288
• Town of Brookline $139,874
• Town of Clinton $157,330
• Town of Falmouth $175,665
• Town of Hull $47,690
• Town of Ipswich $37,415
• Town of Lee $134,972
• Town of Ludlow $238,487
• Town of Lunenburg $72,737
• Town of Marshfield $45,700
• Town of Milford $95,945
• Town of Nantucket $167,905
• Town of Norwood $46,321
• Town of Plymouth $180,016
• Town of Sandwich $45,700
• Town of Wakefield $268,617
• Town of Walpole $79,814
• Town of Wareham $101,924
• Town of Watertown $178,205
• Town of West Springfield $51,891
• Town of Westwood $45,700
• Town of Weymouth $88,255
• Town of Winchendon $131,322
• Town of Winthrop $45,700
• Triton Regional School District $65,165
• Triumph, INC. $247,964
• Valuing Our Children, INC. $138,054
• YMCA of Central Massachusetts $383,323

“The Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant is a critical tool for expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care, addressing the youth mental health crisis, and providing educational and community-based opportunities for families in emergency shelter,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The investment of state funds into programs like this will help make our state more affordable and equitable, connecting families with childhood development programs and engagement activities that support the wellbeing and needs of our young children and their families.”

“These grants support access to early education and care through coordinated family and community engagement services that address the developmental, social and emotional needs of young children and their families,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The funding is going to local school districts and nonprofits, highlighting our commitment to supporting cities and towns, from Pittsfield to Provincetown, in meeting the needs of their residents and making Massachusetts a more affordable and equitable place to live, learn, work and play.” 

“These grants support the needs of the whole family – ensuring that our youngest students have access to services that support their well-being, optimal development, and school readiness, while also strengthening the capacity of families and parents as their child’s first teacher,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “This state funding will not only support our children, but is also an investment in our local communities, setting our youngest learners up for school and lifetime success.”

“Our CFCE partners are deeply connected to their communities, providing vital and responsive services to young children and their families across the Commonwealth. Most recently they have stepped up and been a critical support to the rising number of families arriving in Massachusetts. Programs are doing everything they can, including setting up playgroups and child friendly spaces, as well as providing case management and referrals to support the health and well-being of families,” said Department of Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “We are pleased to provide $15.5 million in grants to continue these critical services and recognize our partners for their work, done with empathy and grace.”