&Connecting ChildrenFamilies

2010 Annual Repor t

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Parent RepresentativesShirley Robinson

Ben Washington

Danielle Delaney

Agency RepresentativesNancy Giambusso, Even Start Family Literacy Program

Ericka Moore, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI

Lisa Carcifero, Woonsocket Prevention Coalition

Ron Celio, Fairmount Neighborhood Schools

Lt. Todd Boisvert, Woonsocket Police Department

Community RepresentativesNancy Dufresne, BankRI

James Damron, Bryant University

Lisa St. Onge, Amica Insurance

Christopher Bouley, Merrill Lynch

Laura Belisle, Cox Communications

Manilay Khamsyvoravong, Mastermind

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Parent RepresentativesShirley Robinson

Ben Washington

Danielle Delaney

Agency RepresentativesNancy Giambusso, Even Start Family Literacy Program

Ericka Moore, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI

Lisa Carcifero, Woonsocket Prevention Coalition

Ron Celio, Fairmount Neighborhood Schools

Lt. Todd Boisvert, Woonsocket Police Department

Community RepresentativesNancy Dufresne, BankRI

James Damron, Bryant University

Lisa St. Onge, Amica Insurance

Christopher Bouley, Merrill Lynch

Laura Belisle, Cox Communications

Manilay Khamsyvoravong, Mastermind

Lead StaffTerese Curtin, MSW       Executive Director

Kristen Allen Family Support Director     

Deb Tanny Early Care and Education Director   

Charlotte Boudreau Education & School-Linked Services Director    

Karen Ennis Early Reading First Director        

Heidi Collins Center for Financial Success Director           

Zoya Tseytlin Financial Literacy Coordinator       

Ellen Holland Head Teacher, Hope Street Child Care Center

Michael Faiola Site Coordinator, Fairmont Schools 

Sandra Costa Site Coordinator, Woonsocket Middle School

Morgan Penn Site Coordinator, Woonsocket High School

Ken Ruseelta Safe routes to school, Woonsocket Safe communites Coordinatior

 

This year Connecting for Children and Families (CCF) is celebrating its

15th Anniversary!

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From those first community meetings held in 1995 to establish a Children’s Initiative in Woonsocket, to where we are today with more than 45 employees working out of the beautifully renovated Hope Street School, CCF has come a long way to make an important difference in the lives of children and families.

We have worked together—agencies, schools, businesses, and neighbor’s to improve the quality of family and community life in our city. And we have many accomplishments to be proud of, including:

Helping over 1000 children since 1999 to get a good start in life through our Parents As Teachers home visiting program.

Providing afterschool programs since 2000 for over 3200 students from kindergarten through high school, significantly improving their academic and social success.

Assisting our neighbors with basic needs such as food, clothing, utilities, housing, and prescriptions (over 1000 families in 2010).

Supporting working parents with quality center-based childcare at the Hope Street Child Care Center and making referrals to home-based childcare through CCF’s Family Child Care Network.

Recently opening our “Center for Financial Sucess” where families can receive free income tax preparation, financial literacy training, adult education, and help in accessing additional government programs and resources.

What a great journey it has been!

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{ }We truly appreciate your support! For fifteen years, our Woonsocket neighbors have come to rely on the quality programs and services we offer. Let’s make the next fifteen years the best yet!

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1995: The Rhode Island Foundation launches the Woonsocket Children’s Initiative and CCF is born

1997: Terese Curtin, MSW, is hired as CCF’s first Executive Director

1996: Our first session of the Camp Costa summer day camp program

1998: CCF’s Family Child Network is created and trains the first cohort of neighborhood women to run licensed, family child care businesses in their homes

1999: The Parents As Teachers home visiting program provides supports to the first group of families.

2000: We are awarded our first 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, allowing us to offer afterschool and early childhood enrichment programs at the Second Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Coleman Elementary Schools

2002: CCF becomes a member agency of the Fund for Community Progress

2001: CCF initiates the first pilot full-day K classrooms in the Woonsocket Education Department

CCF Through the Years

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2003: The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce names us A “Child Care Champion”

2005: Our Task Force to Eliminate Child Abuse & Neglect is asked to join the Office of the Child Advocate’s Review Panel to make recommendations for changes in DCYF procedures

2004: With support from Malcolm & Elizabeth Chace and the United Way of Rhode Island, we open the doors to the Woonsocket Family Support Network, partnering with Family Resources Community Action to help families meet their long-term self-sufficiency needs

2006: With strong advocacy efforts from CCF and the George Wiley Center, the Woonsocket Education Department launches the universal breakfast program district-wide

2010: We launch the Woonsocket Center for financial Success, providing free tax preparation, adult education, financial literacy programs and workforce development for families. We are selected as a Citizens Bank and NBC 10 “Champions in Action.” CCF receives the Bank of America 2010 Neighborhood builder Award.

2008: Elementary students in our afterschool program are selected to paint Rhode Island’s portion of the “Art Miles” environmental mural that is displayed at the United Nations. The US Centers for Disease Control recognizes our efforts in getting children immunized on schedule during National Infant Immunization Week

2009: We are awarded a US Department of Education Early Reading First grant

2007: We move our headquarters into the Historic Hope Street School

CCF Through the Years

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CONNECTING FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIESWoonsocket’s Child Opportunity Zone (COZ)

Basic Needs Support & Service LinkageEnsuring children & their families can successfully overcome obstacles

Family Support Services—provides basic needs/wraparound support to families for any requests they may have (i.e., emergency food needs, utilities assistance, child passenger safety seats, and social services).

Information & Referral—staff assist families in accessing additional services throughout the community as needed.

Translation Services—bilingual staff & volunteers fluent in Spanish, Russian, and Lao provide translation services for families at the Woonsocket schools as needed.

Parent & Family Support ProgramsEnsuring children & families can lead healthy, self-sufficient lives.

Parents as Teachers Program (PAT)—a nationally recognized home visiting program for families with children birth to age five. Parent Educators provide families with materials, activities, screenings, and other supports to foster positive child development.

Case Management Services offer general support, information and referral, and coordination of services to assist families in meeting personal and self-sufficiency goals.

Parent Workshops/Family Nights offer parenting information on key topics (behavior management, lead poisoning) and provide parent-child activities to strengthen positive family relationships.

Woonsocket Agencies in Action—A seven member coalition of Woonsocket churches and community agencies that run emergency food pantries. Together we share resources, jointly seek funding to purchase protein items, and coordinate the distribution of produce to Woonsocket families during the summer and early fall.

Center for financial Success—providing financial literacy education, financial counseling, job coaching, job training, workforce development and free tax preparation services for low-income families.

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Early Care & Education Ensuring children get a good start in life & start school ready to learn

CCF’s Child Care Network—provides professional development, support group meetings, and funding assistance for individuals running their own family child care business in Woonsocket and neighboring communities.

Hope Street Child Care Center— serves 100 infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and school-age children (up to age 12).

Phenomenal Readers: Northern RI’s Early Reading First project— aimed at creating preschool centers of excellence, ensuring that all Northern Rhode Island’s children enter Kindergarten with the language and literacy skills necessary for continued school success.

21st Century Community Learning Center Initiatives Ensuring children are successful in school

Kids’ Connection—after-school enrichment program that offers homework help, reading and math tutorials, art instruction, cooking classes, music appreciation, and more for children in kindergarten through grade five. This program is offered at Coleman and Fifth Avenue Elementary Schools.

Woonsocket High School Community Learning Center—offered four days a week at Woonsocket High School. A variety of academic and social enrichment opportunities including arts, athletics, and community service, aimed at preventing drop-outs and promoting academic success

Woonsocket Middle School Community Learning Center—offered four days a week at the Woonsocket Middle School from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. A variety of academic and social enrichment opportunities include: academic lab, theatre club; comic illustration, Double Dutch League and more for students.

Summer learning –ten weeks of summer enrichment/childcare for students in grades 1 – 5. Students receive intensive academic assistance, as well as enrichment in the arts, sports, swimming and weekly field trips.

Community SafetyEnsuring children and their families can live in a safe, nurturing community.

Woonsocket Safe Communities—CCF is the lead agency for this coalition, which provides education and information on injury prevention and traffic safety issues, including child passenger seat and bicycle safety. As part of this initiative, we have certified technicians who provide and install car seats to eligible families in Woonsocket.

Woonsocket Safe Routes to School—a community initiative to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school.

10Thank You

Aaronson, Lavoie, Streitfeld, Diaz Co.AmicaAmerican Legion Post 85BankRIBank of AmericaBJ’s Charitable FoundationBryant UniversityMalcolm & Elizabeth ChaceCitizens Bank FoundationCity of WoonsocketCouncil for Economic EducationCox CommunicationsCox Employee AdvisoryGear for GradesGreenway Alliance of RIGovernor’s Office on Highway SafetyHasbro Children’s FundInstronLandmark Medical CenterLincoln Gardening ClubLISC—Rhode Island Child Care Facilities FundNational AmusementNBC 10NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley

Nellie Mae FoundationOcean State Job LotOld Time Telephone OperatorsQuota International of WoonsocketRalph Lauren OutletRI Community Food BankRI Department of Admin., Div. of PlanningRI Department of Children, Youth, & FamiliesRI Department of EducationRI Department of Human ServicesRI Emergency Food and Shelter BoardRI Parent Information NetworkRI State Council on the ArtsRI State Senate –Legislative Grants ProgramRotary Club of WoonsocketSandra Cooney Public RelationsServe Rhode IslandSimon Chevrolet, LTDSt. Vincent de Paul Society/St. Agatha’ Church

The Fund for Community ProgressThe Rhode Island FoundationThe Tyra ClubThe UPS Store, North SmithfieldThe Valley BreezeUS Department of EducationUS Dept. of Health & Human ServicesUnited States Senator Jack ReedUnited Way of Rhode IslandWakefern Food CorporationWoonsocket Education DepartmentWoonsocket Prevention CoalitionMuseum of Work & Culture

National AmusementNavigant Credit UnionNeighborhood Health Plan of RIOlly’s PizzeriaPapa Gino’s Park Square Florist Paul Jacob Video & SoundSandra Cooney Public RelationsSingles in M’OceanSmart ManagementSouthwick’s Zoo StaplesStop N ShopSweenor’s ChocolatesT J Maxx Trinity Repertory Theatre WalmartWright’s Dairy FarmYe Olde Fish & Chips

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Rick HarrisPam HildmanBob KerrShriram KrishnamurthiJames & Ann LongGerald & Carol LordenGerald & Patricia LussierFrances MahanMichelle MarsdenSuzanne McBrideDonna MilletteCathy MondilloEricka MoorePaula MostPatricia MurrayAndrew NorthcuttDan & Lois PeloquinJoann PouliotElizabeth QuinnJoan RicciShirley RobinsonMartin RosenzweigPam SiattiRuth ServantKathleen ShatrawPat ShatrawLisa St. OngeBrian TannyGary & Linda ThurberMarlene TirrellDavid TolsonNicholas Trott LongCarol TrudelKellie VolpicelliRob & Marie Fournier Jan Fusco

Katherine AdamsVincent AugerBarbara BarbosaLouise BelisleRichard & Suzette BenoitPeg BierdenChristine BilliasBrandon BironConstance & Charles BoisvertCharlotte BoudreauChristopher BouleyManuel & Virginia BrandaoKathy CammansSandra ChapaskoJames & Sandra CooneyLillian D. CurtinStephen Curtin & Mary WilkeJim DamronJim & Ruth DealyAnthony & Denise DennisMark DivollHelen DucharmeMargaret DudleyNancy DufresneElaine & James DuJardinKaren EnnisMargaret & William EnosSue GariepyKomoty GarleyDonna Gauthier Dr. Robert GerardiGisele GolembeskiRobert & Diana GlashowDiane GoyetteJames Hallgring

42 Hope Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895// www.ccfcenter.org/