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Governor Healy highlights permanent C3 funding, tours Lowell's Community Teamwork center
Summary
At a Community Teamwork facility in Lowell, Governor Healy and state officials praised the C3 (Commonwealth Cares for Children) funding that sustained pandemic-era childcare supports; a parent described how CTI's services and subsidies helped her secure housing and job stability.
Governor Maura Healey visited Community Teamwork in Lowell to highlight the administration's investments in early childhood education and to praise a statewide program that sustained pandemic-era childcare funding.
Healey said the Commonwealth moved to continue pandemic-era aid to childcare providers through the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program, which she said preserved about 20,000 childcare seats and was put on a permanent footing in this year's state budget. "Massachusetts is the only state in the country to make the decision to continue to fund childcare at those levels," Healey said during the event.
The governor also noted an executive order directing state agencies to make childcare more affordable and accessible and highlighted workforce supports: five of 25 newly state-funded registered apprenticeship programs, she said, are for child-care educators.
Secretary Pat Tottweiler said the administration has simplified childcare financial assistance rules, raised reimbursement rates for providers who accept subsidy, and held listening sessions across the state to inform regulatory changes. "This is what it's all about," Tottweiler said, praising CTI's classrooms, food services, and wraparound supports.
Tom Golden, Lowell's city manager, thanked the governor and legislature for prioritizing education and cited partnerships across the city's pre-K through higher-education pipeline. Karen Frederick, retiring CEO of Community Teamwork, described the agency's mix of federal Head Start funding, state and local support, and foundation grants, and said C3 grants helped stabilize staffing and expand programming.
A parent and parent representative on CTI's policy council, introduced as Xiomara Tibercio, described receiving a subsidy in September 2023 while facing homelessness, obtaining emergency shelter and clinical help through CTI, and enrolling in CTI's early learning teacher training program. "My family service worker connected me with the secure job program to find a better job to support my family," she said.
Officials took questions from the audience about the scale and reach of the programs. Secretary Tottweiler said the administration would provide additional numeric details on request; Healey said the programs produce wide benefits for children and families and for economic participation.
The visit concluded with thanks to CTI staff, applause for retiring CEO Karen Frederick, and remarks that the administration will continue to work with providers and the legislature on early education and childcare policy.
