News  August EEC Newsletter

Hello EEC Community,

Whether you were able to take things slow or had the fullest summer, we hope that you were able to enjoy some warmer weather and more outdoor activities! 

$2 million was awarded through the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund (ECCIF) pilot to support partnerships between employers, child care providers and community organizations that will expand access to affordable, reliable child care across Massachusetts. The grants will help working families find the care they need while helping employers recruit and retain the workforce they depend on. Launched in 2024, ECCIF encourages employer-led solutions that expand child care capacity, support care during nontraditional work hours, and develop new employer-supported child care models. 

$5 million in grants were put towards delivering early childhood mental health consultation services for children, families, educators and early education providers across Massachusetts. Through EEC, five regional organizations have been selected to provide statewide Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) services. These grants will help programs access specialized consultation to support children’s social emotional development, school readiness, strengthen classroom environments, and family resource navigation.

As the summer months come to a close, and as we enjoy the time we have left outdoors and in the sun, safety is top of mind. EEC has new summer safety guidance which includes resources on a variety of topics, including heat, sun, environmental, and water safety. You can download the pdf or visit our website to see the whole Summer Safety Guidance and Resourcedocument.

Please complete your August C3 Survey before September 31st. For your reference, you can find a pdf of the C3 Survey Questions.

No events planned at this time.

You can also get updates from our board meetings, where we discuss and provide regular EEC updates. These meetings happen on the second Wednesday of each month, September through June, throughout the Commonwealth. If you are looking to share public comment at one of these meetings, our feedback page has more information on how to submit. This page is also a great resource to get involved in our external engagement opportunities. Feel free to fill out one of the forms, and we will reach out if it’s a good fit.

There are no updates currently.

We had so many wonderful submissions, but we were only able to pick a couple to share today! 

If you sent in a shout out and it was not chosen, stay tuned for the next one! Please submit any new shoutouts to our Shout Out and Celebrations form. 

Sue Benson Celebrates 36 Years as an Educator

Sue Benson has been an educator at our program for 36 years! She has been with us so long that she currently teaches CHILDREN of her past students! She is such a beloved teacher, and we just want to celebrate her dedication to our school (celebrating our 60th birthday!!) and our families. She is a wonderful mentor to all who are fortunate to work with her. Every program should be lucky enough to enjoy this type of longevity with their staff and program.

- Melissa Borgeson, Jack & Jill Preschool

Appreciation for the team at LPC Wareham

My daughter went to LPC WAREHAM until May this past year. She was in Taylor’s class, but also has others involved in her care. Everyone is wonderful there. I was so anxious about my daughter changing from her first child care to LPC, and during that transition time, I couldn't be happier with the staff there. Taylor, Kelly, Ashley, Kiesha, Bree, Sage, Gia… and the rest of the team at LPC WAREHAM. Also, Sarah in the intake dept. They’re all wonderful.

- Brittany T., Parent (originally sent in February)

Rose Curcuru Celebrates 30 Years at North Shore Nursery

 School

Congratulations to Rose Curcuru on 30 years with North Shore Nursery School. Rose is a dedicated Assistant Teacher who loves nature and cares deeply about our preschool. She quietly supports her classroom every day and every year. When new Toddlers join our program, parents often hear their children say their new friend is "Rose!" We appreciate all the time and care she gives to our school, her team, and her students. Thank you, Rose, and congratulations!

- Jessie Vogel, North Shore Nursery School