FAMILY BASED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

In addition to our center based care, the Guild of St. Agnes offers family child care. This option allows parents/guardians to place their children in small intimate settings in the homes of Family Child Care Educators. The MA Department of Early Education and Care licenses the Family Child Care homes and the Guild of St. Agnes subcontracts with these Educators to provide quality, affordable, early childhood education programs in safe, nurturing environments for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Each educator is current in CPR and First Aid, participates in the USDA sponsored Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP), and annually attends 20 hours of training offered by the staff of the Guild of St. Agnes and other professionals from the greater Worcester area.

The Guild of St. Agnes has a network of 125+ independent sub-contracted early education and care educators located throughout Worcester County serving hundreds of children. Contact information for the Guild offices connected with Family Child Care Educators in given parts of the County is the following:

Worcester

Family Child Care office currently has family childcare homes located in Worcester, Auburn and West Boylston.

(508) 363-0788

Charlton

Family Child Care office currently has family child care educators located in: Bellingham, Blackstone, Brookfield, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hopedale, Leicester, Milford, Millville, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oxford, Rochdale, Spencer, Sutton, Uxbridge, Webster, West Brookfield, and Whitinsville

(508) 434-2467

Devens

Family Child Care office currently has family childcare educators located in: Ayer, Clinton, Lancaster, Leominster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Sterling.

(978) 772-9130

Whitinsville

Family Child Care office currently has Family Child Care Providers in: Sutton, Douglas, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Hopedale, Milford, Blackstone, Bellingham,

(508) 461-6496

Gardner

Family Child Care office currently has family childcare educators located in: Ashburnham, Baldwinville, Gardner, Hubbardston, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon.

(978) 632-9335 ex 21

Fitchburg

Family Child Care office currently has family child care providers in Fitchburg and Lunenburg

(978) 772-9130 ext.12

Educators care for 6-10 children in their homes, depending on their license. Many have assistants who are with them throughout the day. Flexible hours are offered to parents in Family Child Care programs. Transportation is provided where applicable.

Educators work with families by sharing information on their child’s development with written progress reports and parent conferences. The Guild of St. Agnes has an open-door policy; parents are encouraged to visit their children in the Family Child Care home at any time during child care hours.

The Guild of St. Agnes has Family Child Care Coordinators who visit the Family Child Care homes at least once a month. During these visits Family Child Care Coordinators observe the progress children are making, provide assistance, and help with advice to the Family Child Care educator.

When visiting the Family Child Care educator, Coordinators look to help with various topics, such as: