Upper Cape Family Network

Hello UCFN Friends and Family. Many of you have asked for an Upper Cape Family Network status report, so I will do my best to explain our program challenges and changes.

Due to a 70% budget reduction, we are unable to provide organized, UCFN summer groups.  Since the summer programs have been eliminated, the UCFN time will be used to network and strengthen our collaborations, and to seek out additional funding sources, so we can again offer the high quality programs that you expect from us in the fall.

We are funded by the MA Department of Early Education and Care, and they have strongly suggested that we combine our programs. Their thought is by doing so, we will be able to eliminate waste and duplication, and offer quality, seamless programming to families  with children from birth to school age: no more UCFN “from birth to 48 months” and CPC’s “2.9 to kindergarten,” just one, big, effective early childcare system.

In fiscal year 2009 – 1010, we will be fine tuning this collaboration, working out the bugs as we go. One bug is the program name. Families have been calling the office: “I heard the Upper Cape Family Network is gone,” yelled an overwhelmed mother of twins. Let me assure you, Upper Cape Family Network is still here. We will still offer play and learn and baby groups, as well as parenting classes and workshops, but yes, we will have to change the name. Until we have officially done so (and you will be able to check back here to find on-going information) we will remain the Upper Cape Family Network, so please continue to look for programming under this very recognizable name.

You will see some familiar faces in familiar places this summer. Miss Rosemary will be helping out at the Mashpee Public Library on Tuesday evenings and Miss Martina will be hosting a Tuesday morning (10:00 – 11:00 am) Story and Craft program at the Sandwich Public Library.

If you have any questions, or if you’d like to get involved, please call or write Tina Toran @ 508 548 0151 x 172 or ttoran@falmouth.k12.ma.us.

Enjoy your summer and see you in the fall!