ABOUT CCF
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Established in 1995 as part of The Rhode Island Foundation Children’s Initiative, CCF continues to be a leader in Woonsocket on child and family issues.
Dream it
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Dream it 〰️
Our Mission
CCF offers a wide range of family support initiatives, educational programs, and social services for children and families in Woonsocket and northern Rhode Island communities.
CCF is a membership organization, made up of parents, community leaders, service providers, and business representatives, working together to transform lives.
Our Vision
We envision Woonsocket as a city where every child gets the best start in life and grows into his or her full potential. From birth through high school, children thrive in stable and nurturing families and receive high-quality educational opportunities both in and out of school, preparing them for successful and enriching lives.
Connecting for Children and Families is a caring, well-respected, and trusted provider and champion of high-quality, evidence-based early childhood, out-of-school, and summer experiences for Woonsocket’s children. We also help children by helping their families obtain the skills and training they need to find better jobs, improve their financial stability, and improve their health and wellness. Children who participate in our programs receive the extra support they need to succeed in school and in life. We envision a community where every child and family has what they need to succeed.
Connecting for Children and Families is a valued and trusted community partner. We work closely with government, private, and public organizations, both locally and statewide, to coordinate programs and design new initiatives to realize our shared vision for Woonsocket’s children. We are gifted with a dedicated, innovative professional staff and leadership and a well-respected and engaged board of directors. We are prudent financial managers with a secure and diverse base of revenue, including fee for service, public and private grants, contracts, and growing philanthropic support.
Woonsocket is a Child Opportunity Zone (COZ)
Rhode Island's Full Service Community School Initiative
CCF has been designated by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) as Woonsocket’s Child Opportunity Zone (COZ). This Full-Service Community School initiative has been operating for the past 26 years as a major part of RIDE’s educational strategy to ensure students do well in school.
CCF promotes school readiness and academic success by coordinating educational, health, and social services for students and their families, using the schools as a hub for these services.
Since 1994, COZ sites across ten Rhode Island communities (including the five core urban cities) have been providing integrated social services to students and their families attending high poverty schools with a focus on six key areas: early childhood initiatives, after-school/extended day learning opportunities, adult and family literacy activities, health services, parent and family involvement, and community engagement. Each COZ site is unique and bases its coordinated programs on the needs and resources of its schools and community.
Founded on the same guiding principles, each COZ Site leads the design of services to meet the needs of its school-based community encompassing the following areas: children's learning environments, physical and mental health, economic opportunity, and family support and engagement.
Our statewide Full-Service Community School Initiative has established program performance standards that ensure consistency across all 10 sites. However, at the same time, COZs are community-based, with the flexibility to address local needs that often vary from community to community. Annually the COZ sites serve over 14,000 children and their families.
Learn more about our team, and why they love CCF:
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Meet the Team
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Board of Directors
Lisa Carcifero, Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition, Chairperson
Kathleen Orovitz, Navigant Credit Union, Treasurer
Ericka Moore, Vice-Chairperson
Meka Hamilton Gendron, Secretary
Nancy Giambusso
Sharon Harmon
Ida Jagne
Lynn Kapiskas
Michael Jolin
Christopher Beauchamp
Karen Chiappinelli, Amica Insurance
Nancy Dufresne, BankRI
Cynthia Kelly, Santander Bank
Carolyn Kyle, Landmark Medical Center
Stacey Phommatheth, Federal Hill House Association
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Major Funders
An investment with CCF represents a partnership in creating a more independent, educated, and productive future for residents of Woonsocket. Outcomes continue to demonstrate that CCF programs have a positive impact—whether it is improving a child’s reading proficiency or improving the quality of life for the families we serve, and you can be a part of that positive impact, too! Pictured below are graduates of our NRI Career Academy Workforce Training. Because of your support, families are set up for success!
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