DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE (EEC) INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS FOR PROVIDERS
EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS CFCE is a community resource that is available to all early childhood programs, providers and educators. One of our goals is to assist childcare programs with accessing information/resources/services for their program, teachers, or for the families they serve. These services are funded through the Department of Early Education and Care’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant. We strive to be be the place to call when a program is in need!
EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS CFCE is a community resource that is available to all early childhood programs, providers and educators. One of our goals is to assist childcare programs with accessing information/resources/services for their program, teachers, or for the families they serve. These services are funded through the Department of Early Education and Care’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant. We strive to be be the place to call when a program is in need!
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
https://www.mass.gov/topics/early-childhood-education-care
51 Sleeper Street 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
617-988-6600
Click here to sign up for the Commissioner's Office Mailing List
Friendly Reminder: Please Complete Your EEC Weekly Provider Survey!
EEC needs you to complete the provider survey today to help EEC understand the changing needs of child care as the new school year is now underway. The data that providers share help EEC communicate the ongoing needs of the child care community now and as we move forward. Thank you to those of you who have already taken it! For those who haven’t yet, please do so to ensure that EEC has timely information. The survey is available on your LEAD homepage.
EEC Reopening Information and Resources
Commissioner's Presentation to the Board of Early Education and Care
EEC's Parent Resource About Reopening Child Care
EEC's Parent Resource About Reopening Child Care (Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese)
Continually Updated Reopening Information
Minimum Health and Safety Requirements
COVID-19 Child Care Playbook
COVID-19 Related Social Stories For School
Download our Going Back To School Social Story Template
Sally The Puppet Talks About Going Back To School
EEC Community Resources For Families
https://eeclead.force.com/apex/EEC_FamilyResourcesChildCare
EEC Licensed Child Care Search
https://eeclead.force.com/EEC_ChildCareSearch
Child Care Circuit
Child care resources, referral, and training.
Also provides child care vouchers based on availability of funds and eligibility restrictions.
978-686-4288
info@childcarecircuit.org
https://www.childcarecircuit.org/
Center For The Study of Social Policy
https://cssp.org/
Strengthening Families 101
Strengthening Partnerships Framework
https://online.fliphtml5.com/jdba/gdqt/#p=1
Defending The Early Years
COVID Resources
Teachers COVID Clearinghouse
Edutopia
Promoting SEL in Preschools This Year
Mental Health Resources For Providers
It is both a beautiful and stressful time of year for everyone right now, adults and children included. EEC encourages you to seek out what you need to help navigate emotions and emotional responses.
Safe Kids Thrive
The Massachusetts Legislative Task Force on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse launched a first-of-its-kind customized website, www.safekidsthrive.org, to give child and youth serving organizations the tools to prevent child sexual abuse. The SafeKidsThrive website, a creation of a 28 office, agency (including EEC), and child and youth serving organization collaboration, enables programs to find guidance and resources to take steps to stop sexual abuse before it happens.
HandHold MA
HandholdMA.org is a new, family friendly website designed to help families navigate the mental health system in Massachusetts. The website was created by a team of mental health and child development experts in partnership with parents who have “been there.” Handhold’s three main sections help parents answer these three big questions: should I worry?, what can I do?, and who can help? Whatever steps a family decides to take, HandholdMA.org offers a variety of tips, tools, and resources to help families take them with confidence.
CAREER PATHWAYS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Career Pathways grant at North Shore Community College offers the following supports and services for educators and those seeking to enter the ECE field: ESL classes and bilingual workshops, support in Adult Basic Education to earn high school equivalency, a comprehensive Teacher Training Program for those wanting to start a career in ECE, courses and support to advance in EEC certification (Teacher, Lead Teacher, Director 1 and Director 2), an online, accelerated Emerging Leaders program, courses and support to earn a national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, opportunities for enhanced leadership in the field of ECE and OST and advising and courses to build toward an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree! Courses available for the CDA Plus model include: Two 3-credit courses: Child Growth and Development, Field Placement and Seminar One 6-credit course: Introduction to CDA and Portfolio Development. The Career Pathways grant at North Shore Community College offers targeted academic and career advising for Career Pathways grant participants; as well as an array of additional support services (language, financial, child care, etc.) as needed for participants to be successful in reaching their goals, including EEC certification &/or degree attainment.
https://www.mass.gov/topics/early-childhood-education-care
51 Sleeper Street 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
617-988-6600
Click here to sign up for the Commissioner's Office Mailing List
Friendly Reminder: Please Complete Your EEC Weekly Provider Survey!
EEC needs you to complete the provider survey today to help EEC understand the changing needs of child care as the new school year is now underway. The data that providers share help EEC communicate the ongoing needs of the child care community now and as we move forward. Thank you to those of you who have already taken it! For those who haven’t yet, please do so to ensure that EEC has timely information. The survey is available on your LEAD homepage.
EEC Reopening Information and Resources
Commissioner's Presentation to the Board of Early Education and Care
EEC's Parent Resource About Reopening Child Care
EEC's Parent Resource About Reopening Child Care (Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese)
Continually Updated Reopening Information
Minimum Health and Safety Requirements
COVID-19 Child Care Playbook
COVID-19 Related Social Stories For School
Download our Going Back To School Social Story Template
Sally The Puppet Talks About Going Back To School
EEC Community Resources For Families
https://eeclead.force.com/apex/EEC_FamilyResourcesChildCare
EEC Licensed Child Care Search
https://eeclead.force.com/EEC_ChildCareSearch
Child Care Circuit
Child care resources, referral, and training.
Also provides child care vouchers based on availability of funds and eligibility restrictions.
978-686-4288
info@childcarecircuit.org
https://www.childcarecircuit.org/
Center For The Study of Social Policy
https://cssp.org/
Strengthening Families 101
Strengthening Partnerships Framework
https://online.fliphtml5.com/jdba/gdqt/#p=1
Defending The Early Years
COVID Resources
Teachers COVID Clearinghouse
Edutopia
Promoting SEL in Preschools This Year
Mental Health Resources For Providers
It is both a beautiful and stressful time of year for everyone right now, adults and children included. EEC encourages you to seek out what you need to help navigate emotions and emotional responses.
- The resources provided by The Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health continue to be a good place to start for your own mental health and for the mental health of those you are taking care of.
- EEC and the Pyramid Model Consortium are offering a series of ePyramid online trainings focused on strategies to support educator’s own social and emotional wellness as well as the children and families they serve.
- The Federation for Children with Special Needs has created Mindful Mondays, a weekly opportunity for educators to practice self-care through mindfulness. Come join other educators from across the state for yoga, meditation, journaling, and sharing of challenges and successes. No previous experience is necessary.
Safe Kids Thrive
The Massachusetts Legislative Task Force on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse launched a first-of-its-kind customized website, www.safekidsthrive.org, to give child and youth serving organizations the tools to prevent child sexual abuse. The SafeKidsThrive website, a creation of a 28 office, agency (including EEC), and child and youth serving organization collaboration, enables programs to find guidance and resources to take steps to stop sexual abuse before it happens.
HandHold MA
HandholdMA.org is a new, family friendly website designed to help families navigate the mental health system in Massachusetts. The website was created by a team of mental health and child development experts in partnership with parents who have “been there.” Handhold’s three main sections help parents answer these three big questions: should I worry?, what can I do?, and who can help? Whatever steps a family decides to take, HandholdMA.org offers a variety of tips, tools, and resources to help families take them with confidence.
CAREER PATHWAYS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Career Pathways grant at North Shore Community College offers the following supports and services for educators and those seeking to enter the ECE field: ESL classes and bilingual workshops, support in Adult Basic Education to earn high school equivalency, a comprehensive Teacher Training Program for those wanting to start a career in ECE, courses and support to advance in EEC certification (Teacher, Lead Teacher, Director 1 and Director 2), an online, accelerated Emerging Leaders program, courses and support to earn a national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, opportunities for enhanced leadership in the field of ECE and OST and advising and courses to build toward an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree! Courses available for the CDA Plus model include: Two 3-credit courses: Child Growth and Development, Field Placement and Seminar One 6-credit course: Introduction to CDA and Portfolio Development. The Career Pathways grant at North Shore Community College offers targeted academic and career advising for Career Pathways grant participants; as well as an array of additional support services (language, financial, child care, etc.) as needed for participants to be successful in reaching their goals, including EEC certification &/or degree attainment.

Northeast MA: Region 3
Northeast Mass: Region 3 Partnership Members
North Shore Community College
1 Ferncroft Road LE-217
Danvers, MA 01923
Contact: Kathy Gallo
781-593-6722 x6249
kgallo@northshore.edu
Northeast Mass: Region 3 Partnership Members
North Shore Community College
1 Ferncroft Road LE-217
Danvers, MA 01923
Contact: Kathy Gallo
781-593-6722 x6249
kgallo@northshore.edu
MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION SERVICES
MSPCC provides Mental Health Consultation services to educators and families with children in Early Childhood settings. Our goal is to provide support and guidance to understand and appropriately respond to challenging behaviors in a way that supports healthy social emotional development, strengthens home-school partnerships, and reduces child suspensions and expulsions
By working directly with staff at all levels, we strive to build the capacity of early childhood programs and educators alike to provide high-quality, nurturing learning environments that are responsive to children with a range of developmental, social and emotional needs so that children can be successful in their education. The goal of the service is to offer educator support in the context of a child or classroom’s need. MSPCC offers Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation to 63 cities and towns in the Northeast region of Massachusetts. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation is a program of MSPCC, a division of Eliot, and is funded by the Department of Early Education and Care.
What Services Can Be Provided?
MSPCC provides Mental Health Consultation services to educators and families with children in Early Childhood settings. Our goal is to provide support and guidance to understand and appropriately respond to challenging behaviors in a way that supports healthy social emotional development, strengthens home-school partnerships, and reduces child suspensions and expulsions
By working directly with staff at all levels, we strive to build the capacity of early childhood programs and educators alike to provide high-quality, nurturing learning environments that are responsive to children with a range of developmental, social and emotional needs so that children can be successful in their education. The goal of the service is to offer educator support in the context of a child or classroom’s need. MSPCC offers Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation to 63 cities and towns in the Northeast region of Massachusetts. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation is a program of MSPCC, a division of Eliot, and is funded by the Department of Early Education and Care.
What Services Can Be Provided?
- Observation and assessment of classroom strengths and needs using evidenced based social emotional screening tools.
- On site modeling and coaching of effective, trauma informed strategies for teaching social skills and appropriate behavior to reduce the impact of behavioral and emotional distress.
- Training and support for educators in creating, and implementing individualized behavior support plans.
- Program wide professional development trainings designed to strengthen staff to be more effective in their role to identify risks and prevent social-emotional and behavioral problems.
- Referrals to additional community resources, as needed, including outpatient therapy, assessment and evaluation, assistance with school system referrals, and others.
- Children in EEC affiliated child care programs including center based, family childcare, Early Head Start/Head Start, or afterschool programs, between the ages 0 and 14, who exhibit signs of challenging behaviors or who may need further support with social/emotional learning. Children who are at risk for suspension or expulsion.
- Classrooms that would benefit from added structure and routines that would help to promote socio-emotional support for all children.

MSPCC/Eliot Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program
Lawrence Office
439 South Union Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
978-682-9222
Contact: Jayna Doherty, LCSW
Program Director
508-688-5408
jdoherty@eliotchs.org
Lawrence Office
439 South Union Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
978-682-9222
Contact: Jayna Doherty, LCSW
Program Director
508-688-5408
jdoherty@eliotchs.org
STRONG START ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
The Department of Early Education and Care's StrongStart Online Professional Development System (StrongStart Online PDS) is part of Massachusetts' StrongStart Quality Early Education and Care initiative. The StrongStart Online PDS provides resources for educators and administrators to enhance quality in their programs and support individual educator success, such as training and technical assistance. The StrongStart Online Professional Development System (PDS) is a web-based "one stop center" for early educators that provides resources for their career growth. It includes a credentialing system, professional registry, and a Learning Management System (LMS) where educators can take courses on their computer or mobile device.
The Department of Early Education and Care's StrongStart Online Professional Development System (StrongStart Online PDS) is part of Massachusetts' StrongStart Quality Early Education and Care initiative. The StrongStart Online PDS provides resources for educators and administrators to enhance quality in their programs and support individual educator success, such as training and technical assistance. The StrongStart Online Professional Development System (PDS) is a web-based "one stop center" for early educators that provides resources for their career growth. It includes a credentialing system, professional registry, and a Learning Management System (LMS) where educators can take courses on their computer or mobile device.

EEC StrongStart Professional Development System
51 Sleeper St.
Boston, MA 02210
https://strongstart.eoe.mass.gov/ets/home
Contact: Barbara Gallagher
StrongStart Northeast PDC Coordinator
978-722-2505
NortheastMaPDC@EECStrongStart.org
51 Sleeper St.
Boston, MA 02210
https://strongstart.eoe.mass.gov/ets/home
Contact: Barbara Gallagher
StrongStart Northeast PDC Coordinator
978-722-2505
NortheastMaPDC@EECStrongStart.org
Early Childhood Partners programs are funded by the Massachusetts Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) grant awarded to Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) serving Hamilton, Wenham, Manchester, and Essex. All educational and non-academic programs, activities and employment opportunities at Hamilton-Wenham RSD are offered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, age and/or, disability, and any other class or characteristic
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