NURTURING
At Catholic Charities, we believe that children are always learning. Every interaction they have with adults, other children, and the world around them is instrumental in determining who they will grow up to be. We have more than 100 years of experience as an agency providing child care. Our team of teachers and directors design our child care programs to support children’s wide-eyed curiosity while still nurturing their continuous development. We understand that many factors play a role in a child’s physical, mental, and emotional development. Our innovative programs are based on research in early childhood education. Additional programs are currently in development in partnership with organziations such as the Family and Work Institute, United Way and Head Start. Our comprehensive services include child assessment and additional support for parents. Our programs are offered to families of all faiths throughout Eastern Massachusetts. All programs are community-based, using local resources to enrich the lives of the parents and children of the neighborhood and foster a feeling of belonging to the area. Additionally, we contract with more than 100 early childhood professionals who provide early education and care in their licensed homes. Many of these homes are accredited by the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC). Each home has a capacity of six to 10 children.
DEVELOPMENT
MINDS IN THE MAKING When it comes to teaching and learning, one size doesn’t fit all
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hildren need to have a strong relationship with those teaching them,” says Mary Ann Anthony, the director of Catholic Charities Child Care Division. “Those relationships make real learning possible. When it comes to teaching and learning, one size doesn’t fit all.” Anthony’s commitment to strengthening the child-teacher bond and focusing on the individual needs of students is found in the Child Care Division’s involvement in a new initiative called “Mind in the Making.” The program—currently in eight states, including Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island—takes what science has learned about the emotional and educational development of children ages zero to five, and translates those findings into applications for teachers. Essentially, the children are teaching the teacher. The program was designed by the nationally recognized Families and Work Institute (FWI) and New Screen Concepts, the makers of the hit reality show on ABC Extreme Makeover. The program consists of 30 hours of training of the teachers, divided into 12 modules, each focusing on a specific area of childhood learning. “Mind in the Making” was first brought to Massachusetts in March by the Harvard Achievement Support Initiative. Anthony and Pam Penton, director of Catholic Charities’ Nazareth Child Care Center, were invited to participate in the state’s first training session by United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. They attended the program’s extensive six-day training session for facilitators, and became certified to train others under the banner of the “Mind in the Making” program. There are now 22 Catholic Charities employees facilitating “Mind in the Making” modules to educate their own staff.
“They loved the first module,” Anthony said. “It validates what they have known and some of the ways they have been teaching already. And it gives all of us a common vocabulary to use when we discuss teaching.” It will take just short of a year to train all Catholic Charities employees or certified care providers slotted to receive the training, but Anthony says it will be worth the wait. She says the program’s attention to the social and emotional development of children, not just cognitive development, will better prepare them for future education. “We assess each child three times a year and I would expect that by the third assessment next spring we would see more gains than we have this year. I think the children will be better prepared for school.” The Families and Work Institute is planning an official launch of the national initiative in 2009, which includes a network television show, due out in September. FWI has filmed 67 researchers thus far, with plans to film another 17. A book by FWI president Ellen Galinsky for HarperCollins will follow the TV show. In Washington, D.C., FWI will offer 10 mini-grants to partnering organizations and members of Congress will host a bipartisan event for the Institute, which will be Podcasted nationally. Look for more launch events and activities at www.familyandwork.org.
Child Care Centers Boston- Dorchester Yawkey Konbit Kreyol Center 185 Columbia Rd. (617) 506-6644 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School, Kindergarten, School-Age
Lynn Lynn Child Care Center 37 North Federal St. (781) 598-2759 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School, Kindergarten
Jamaica Plain Nazereth Child Care Center 19 St. Joseph St. (617) 522-4040 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School, Kindergarten, School-Age
Malden Malden Early Education and Learning Program 77 Salem St. (781) 397-1556 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School
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North Cambridge North Cambridge Children’s Center 21C Walden Square Rd. (617) 876-0503 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School
Somerville Somerville Early Education and Learning Program 187 Central St. (617) 623-8555
Family-Based Child Care
Peabody Peabody Child Care 13 Pulaski St. (978) 532-6860 Services: Pre-School, Kindergarten, SchoolAge
South Boston Labouré Center Early Childhood Services 275 West Broadway (617) 464-8527 Services: Infants and Toddlers, Pre-School, Kindergarten
Lynn (781) 598-2759 Peabody (978) 532-6860 Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Medford, and Somerville (617) 623-8555
For information about Family-Based Child Care for infants, toddlers, and pre-school:
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