Affiliated Agencies
New England Farm Workers' Council
(NEFWC) assists migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families, as well as other low-income groups, with fuel assistance, employment, job skills and job search training to end poverty and social dependency.
Corporation for Public Management
seeks solutions to welfare dependency, chronic joblessness and illiteracy. It also focuses on providing services to those with physical and developmental disabilities.
Corporation for Justice Management
is a leader in community-based offender re-entry services to reduce recidivism and address public safety. Its community corrections programs stress respect, motivation and individualized programming for participants.
works to provide sustainable development and capacity- building to small, faith-based organizations.
NEFWC Child Care Resources
Providing access to high quality, affordable child care in Hampden, Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Counties
Need help finding child care?
Safe, affordable child care is what allows many parents to ultimately provide for their children. Without it, education, finding and keeping a job, and ultimate self-sufficiency become not only difficult but sometimes impossible.
New England Farm Workers’ Council runs the largest child care resource and referral/voucher child care program in Western Massachusetts and can give you access to over 1,500 child care providers in the area, many of them bilingual, so you can find the right one for your family. New England Farm Workers' serves families in Hampden, Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Finding a quality child care program for your child takes time and energy, but it is the most important step toward a successful child care experience. Whether you are trying to find child care for your infant, toddler, preschooler, school age child, or child with a disability, the New England Farm Workers' Council Child Care Counselors are ready to help.
NEFWC offers a free customized service for parents using our comprehensive database of licensed group child care centers, family child care and school age programs throughout western Mass including Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties. While responsibility for selection remains with the parents, counselors working together with parents help assess needs, review available options and provide child care referrals based on the families selected criteria.
Options for your child care search:
1. Call 413.272.2207 or toll free at 866.573.4684 to speak with a child care counselor
2. Click here to begin your own customized search for child care. (To log into the child care search engine, you will need to have an email address. If you do not have an email address, there are many free email options for you. For example, Yahoo and Hotmail are popular alternatives.)
3. Click here to download*, print, fill out and mail/fax the form to NEFWC at the address below (in order to download this form, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader - Get Adobe Acrobat Reader)
New England Farm Workers' Council
1628-1640 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
Fax: 413.746.9743
For families interested finding someone to come into your home to care for your children please call our office at 413.272.2207 or toll free at 866.573.4684 to receive our In-Home Packet , a 17 page booklet that will guide you through the process. It covers searching for the care, interviewing, writing a contract, your tax responsibilities, etc.
If you need care in Massachusetts, but outside of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties, visit Mass Department of Early Education and Care for the resource and referral agency in your area.
Others:
New England Farm Workers' Council serves Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties in, Massachusetts. However if you need care outside of Massachusetts, please visit www.childcareaware.org.
Supported voucher application and child care search process
NEFWC provides a personalized touch to voucher childcare. Please visit your local NEFWC office. You can also review the eligibility requirements online to see if you qualify, or can call (413) 272-2207 with any questions.
Applying for Financial Assistance
If you would like to apply to be placed on the Massachusetts State Centralized Waitlist for an income eligible subsidy, please click here to complete and return a waitlist intake form to New England Farm Workers' Council, 1628-1640 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01103 or fax to 413.746.9743.
NEFWC will help eligible parents determine the type of child care most appropriate to their family. This includes finding a program that meets language needs, can accommodate multiple children at the same facility, or has special needs capabilities. NEFWC helps identify the most compatible and convenient licensed family child care program.
Once a provider is selected by parents, New England Farm Workers’ Council will give a written voucher to the family with the daily service rate, the amount of state reimbursement and other contract terms. This voucher can be used to pay for care at the selected provider.
Resources for child care providers
New England Farm Workers’ Council now allows child care providers to submit openings through an online form. If you are a provider and have any questions about the resource and referral voucher program, please feel free to call us at 413-272-2207.
NEFWC Voucher Child Care office location:
1628-1640 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-272-2207
141 North Street, Suite 106- Lower Level
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-236-5890
21 Mohawk Trail Unit #4
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-475-3656
Hampshire/Franklin Employment and Training Consortium (Wednesdays Only)
178 Industrial Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
413-475-3656
In case of inclement weather please check closing and delay notices on Channel 22-WWLP
Additional child care resources and websites:
- EEC - Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
- Child Care Aware of America formerly known as NACCRRA - National Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
- DTA (MASS.gov)
- Springfield Parent Academy
- Waitlist Initial Intake Form
- Strengthening Families Program
- Positive Parenting-Behavior & Discipline