EARLY EDUCATION & CARE SHOWCASE

Baby Shower & Open House highlight programs serving infant to age 5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2023

CONTACT: Ellen M. Ganley, Director of Policy, Public Affairs & Advancement

EGanley@wcac.net

O: 508-762-9807

Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. (WCAC) will showcase its early education and care programs with two upcoming events open to the public.

WCAC's Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County will host its 16th Annual Community Baby Shower on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 1-4 p.m. at La Salle Hall, 444 Main Street, Southbridge. Free to attend and open to all new or soon-to-be parents, the event will feature a variety of vendors offering community resources and activities of interest to new or soon-to-be parents, along with raffles and door prizes. Not to be missed is the ever-popular Baby Boutique featuring gently used clothing for infants and toddlers! Admission is FREE but if you pre-register you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

WCAC’s Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County program serves first time parents expecting or with a child under the age of 1, residing in seventeen communities throughout southern Worcester County: Brimfield, Brookfield, E. Brookfield, W. Brookfield , N. Brookfield, Charlton, Dudley, Holland, Monson, Oxford, Palmer, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Spencer, Webster, Warren, and Wales. Services are provided free of charge from pregnancy through a child’s third birthday. In partnering with first-time, young moms and dads, Healthy Families staff provide coaching and support navigating the ups and downs of parenting. Home visitors help build parenting skills, answering questions and supporting young parents in setting and achieving personal goals such as staying in school or finding the right job.

WCAC's Head Start & Early Head Start programs will host an Open House from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023, at each of the agency's two centers - at 25 Cole Avenue in Southbridge and 116 School Street, Webster. Both programs are enrolling for fall 2023.

WCAC's Head Start program currently serves over 200 children, ages 3-5, and their families in two centers. Full day, full year; full day, school year; and half day, school-year options are available. The center-based programs provide developmentally appropriate curricula, health and nutrition services, breakfast, lunch and snack, special education opportunities, and family services. All classrooms are nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Services are provided at no charge to families meeting income-eligible guidelines.

WCAC's Early Head Start program operates as a home-based model serving families from pregnancy through infants/toddlers to age three in Southern Worcester County. The focus of the Early Head Start program is to involve the parent or the primary care giver in the education of their child. Weekly home visits provide the opportunity for parenting support, education as well as community referrals. Early Intervention services are provided when needed.

WCAC’s Head Start/Early Head Start program serves families from the communities of Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Leicester, Millbury, Oxford, Spencer, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Warren and Webster.