We're Celebrating

‘The Cape Codder’ newspaper publishes an article detailing many local parents’ experience with childcare and support. The article demonstrates the need for family support on the Outer Cape and calls for change.

The Cape Codder article ignites a powerful response from parents and the community, who actively advocate for vital childcare and family support services, culminating in the founding of Cape Cod Children’s Place. Groundbreaking takes place in December.

The accompanying article writes;

“More than a dozen preschoolers, using toy shovels and beach scoops, helped break ground for the Children’s Place”

Advocacy of local families’ and action means local children can now have a safe nurturing place to grow.

This significant milestone is reached with the opening of a new 4,200 sq ft building built by Cape Associates, celebrated by approximately 200 attendees. This building, on land owned by the Town of Eastham, allows Cape Cod Children’s Place to serve families across eight Lower Cape towns through Preschool and Toddler programs, alongside crucial childcare subsidies for working parents.

Building on the initial success of the center, Children’s Place expands. It now begins to offer parent education, childbirth classes, and essential support groups to families from Brewster to Provincetown.

To get out to families who might not be able to travel, a red van is used to provide family support and parenting education where they are.

Throughout the center’s almost 10 years of existence, Cape Cod Children’s Place becomes a trusted family resource center within the community.  Their model of listening to the community and responding to its needs has been a great source of help for families. This leads to recognition by Children’s Trust as a vital Family Resource Center.

Cape Cod Children’s Place launches its unique Lunch Box Fundraiser, engaging local artists who donate their time to create artful lunchboxes for auction, benefiting the organization.

As then-Director Kate Macaulay noted, the event aimed to represent children and involve both artists and parents;

‘We wanted to have something that represented children, and something that would engage both artists and parents in a fundraiser’ 

In response to a demonstrated need for early childhood education and care in the community, the Sea Babies Program opens its doors at the Wellfleet Council on Aging. This initiative is in partnership with our long term supporter Seaman’s Bank. It offers essential services for children aged 0-3, and its arrival was joyfully marked with a Baby Shower.

Cindy Horgan, the then Family Support Coodinator, runs the 114th Boston Marathon. Her dedication and determination for her training and running the race, echoes her commitment to Cape Cod families.  

CCCP celebrates its 20th anniversary with a plan to expand and bring further services to local families. The capital campaign to support building improvements and maintenance, plus a building expansion, is achieved with the support of DHCD grant funds from the Town of Eastham. This helps CCCP to provide space for services previously unavailable locally to Eastham and other Lower and Outer Cape residents.

Cape Cod Children’s Place center in Eastham builds a 1,300 sq ft addition to keep up with family resource needs.

A ribbon cutting is held in late June officially opening the 1,300 sq ft addition.  The new space includes a community room, and multiple offices. The expansion enables Outer Cape families to meet with service providers who might normally be located in Hyannis such as the Child Care Network.

Due to demand for high quality family resource services and care, the vital programs the Children’s Place provides, can now be accessed throughout Cape Cod. This is made possible through community partners, family support specialists and grants.

The FIRST Steps Together program at Cape Cod Children’s Place is created from a recognized need within the community to provide specialized support for parents navigating recovery while raising young children. It grew from a program offered by CCCP called ‘Parenting on the Otherside’ which gained popularity.

The Children’s Trust and Cape Cod Children’s Place announce a first-of-its-kind initiative to stop child abuse and neglect on Cape Cod.

Together, with nearly 60 years of combined experience, the two organizations launch the first Children’s Trust SAFE (Stop Abuse for Every) Child Community in Massachusetts, serving Yarmouth, Dennis, Chatham, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown.

SAFE’s mission is to embed the strengths-based framework into communities and agencies. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cape Cod Children’s Place swiftly transitions to online programming, ensuring continuity for families through virtual groups led by dedicated teachers and group leaders. In September 2020, CCCP cautiously reopens for in-person services with reduced hours and social distancing protocols, while Sea Babies finds a new home in our Eastham building. CCCP makes Facebook videos daily to help families at home navigate the new normal.

Recognizing a crucial need identified through early development visits and community listening, Cape Cod Children’s Place creates the Wellspring Project.

This initiative supports early childhood educators and caregivers in nurturing resilience and social-emotional wellness in children ages 0-5. Find out more about the program here.

During Recovery Month, FIRST Steps Together unveils the “Ribbons for Recovery” art installation, a powerful traveling display representing diverse paths to healing from substance use. Through 42 unique ribbon arrangements, each symbolizing a personal journey, the installation aims to deconstruct stigma and illuminate the possibilities of recovery.

2025: Celebrating 30 Years of Growth and Impact! Cape Cod Children’s Place marks three decades of nurturing young minds and strengthening families on Cape Cod. Join us as we celebrate our legacy and look forward to building a brighter future for the next generation