The Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care (EEC) recently awarded the contract for Child Care Resources in western Massachusetts to Seven Hills Child Care Resources (CCR), which is operated by its affiliate, Children’s Aid & Family Services (CAFS). As of July 1, Seven Hills CCR has completed their expansion into three new western MA locations, more than doubling its workforce to over 50 staff across the regions.

Child Care Resources has been in the central and metro west areas of Massachusetts for more than 40 years. With this expansion, CCR is now the Commonwealth’s largest resource of childcare provider information and referrals, and single point of access for childcare voucher management services. As a result, CCR has increased its childcare subsidies from $5 million serving 4,200 children to over $9 million serving over 9,000 children.

“We believe that our program has the professional expertise to meet the diverse needs of parents and childcare providers, and we are excited about now serving all of western Massachusetts,” said Kim Dion, assistant vice president & program director. “The community has been very supportive of this expansion.”

Child Care Resources receives funding from the EEC to make it possible for families to access childcare referral services at no cost to them. CCR also offers community resource information, a lending library for childcare providers, provider workshops, and assists qualified families with financial support.

CCR’s parent counselors and billing specialists determine the eligibility for childcare subsidies by reviewing both financial and service needs. They maintain a database of childcare options, available to anyone looking for assistance.

“I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve had with childcare resources. Their willingness and pleasantness have made everything easy and not overwhelming. The ladies I spoke with, focused on making sure my childcare voucher for my child was completed. Instead of putting it off and getting to it next week they made it all happen quickly!! We need more helpful, willing KIND people in this world like the people at childcare resources.”—CCR Client