Early Education Early Childcare Programs

Valley Opportunity Council provides Early Childcare services as well as before and after school programs throughout Hampden County and parts of Hampshire County.

In This Section

Our Mission

The Early Education and Care Department will passionately represent the VOC mission by providing high quality early education experiences for children and their families. Through the use of agency and community resources and high quality early educational programming, we will strengthen and empower families and increase positive outcome opportunities for children and their families. The department will have a supportive, effective infrastructure that will be financially viable, strong and effective.

Our Programs

Care programs for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years across Holyoke, Chicopee, and South Hadley to include before and after-school programs for children ages 5 to 12, with eligibility requirements for kindergartners, as well as center-based child care at eight locations to support working parents. Additionally, VOC Home hosts Early Education Summer Programs for children in kindergarten through age 12 at various sites, and facilitate a Family-Based Child Care network, where licensed educators provide early education in a home setting for infants to school-age children.

Before and After School
VOC offers school-age programs in Chicopee and South Hadley, including before-school, after-school, and summer programs with activities for children ages 5 to 12. However, to be eligible for the after-school program, 5-year-olds must be enrolled in Kindergarten.
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Center-Based Child Care
VOC operates eight child care centers in Holyoke, Chicopee, and South Hadley for children ages 6 weeks to -12 years old. Our goal is to assist parents who are working, in training leading to employment, or have other special needs.
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Early Ed Summer Programs
Our Early Education Summer Programs are for children Kindergarten to 12 years old and we offer programs in 3 locations: 35 Mt Carmel Ave and 374 Montgomery Street in Chicopee and 27 Morgan Street in South Hadley.
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Family-Based Child Care
Family-Based Child Care is a community-based network of educators who offer early education and care to children in a home setting. Educators are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, and offer early care and education for children from infancy to school age.
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