Woburn Council of Social Concern

Children's center - the children's center is a national association for the education of young children (aka naeyc) accredited early childhood education and childcare facility, providing children with full time, year-round care. The children's center is licensed by the Massachusetts department of early education and care (eec) and accepts children from 1 month through 5 years of age. The static operating capacity for fy2023 was 50 children. During fy2023 the children's center provided services to 72 children. Subsidized tuition assistance is available on a sliding scale basis to eligible low and moderate-income families. Social support services are available to parents and children, with a special focus on families identified as high risk.

Food pantry - the food pantry provides food to individuals and families without adequate financial resources to meet basic needs. During fy2023, the food pantry provide food to 1,248 unduplicated individuals. Recipients have reported that the quantity of food they receive generally lasts about 8 to 10 days. Use of the food pantry is limited to one time per month. The food pantry is open to all households, by appointment only, on tuesday and thursdays, 9:45 am to 12 pm and 1:30 pm to 3 pm. The food pantry also offers wednesday evening hours, from 6 pm to 7 pm for individuals who work or attend school during the day. To help clients at thanksgiving and christmas, food pantry staff and volunteers distribute special holiday food baskets. A community resource coordinator is available to food pantry clients, during food pantry program hours, to educate them about community resources that may be able to assist them.

Family child care system - operates a family-based childcare system serving children, 2 months through 5 years of age. Children receive childcare in the homes of Massachusetts department of early education and care (eec) licensed, independent family childcare educators, with whom we contract. The static operating capacity for fy2023 was 40 children. During fy2023, the family childcare system provided services to 68 children. Subsidized tuition assistance is available on a sliding scale basis to eligible low and moderate-income families. Family childcare system staff members visit each family childcare educator home at least two times per month and are available at other times for telephone consultation. Staff members monitor the quality if childcare, assess each child's developmental process, and consult with family childcare educators on any significant issues. Social support services are also available to parents and children, with a special focus of families identified as high risk

Family skill building - parenting education program - the program offers parenting education classes to help parents enhance their parenting skills and deal with significant parenting challenges. The family skill building - parenting education program provided parenting education groups to 5 parent in fy2023, with 6 children benefitting from that service.