As COVID relief funds wane, Connecticut must invest in fixing child care

CT MIRROR — Beginning this fall, child care providers, early childhood educators, and families across the state will no longer be able to count on the federal COVID-19 relief funds that helped […]

Friends Center for Children to Open Additional Free Teacher Housing as Solution to Increase Educator Compensation Without Burdening Students’ Families with Unaffordable Tuition

As Friends Center for Children prepares for the new school year, two of the school’s teachers are getting ready to move – but they will be living rent-free – in […]

For this CT business, ‘workforce housing’ is actually working

THE CONNECTICUT MIRROR features Friends Center’s Teacher Housing Initiative as a solution to alleviate the high costs associated with Connecticut’s housing shortage and child care provider operations.

A Transformational Investment

@THECHILDCAREBUSINESSCOACH — In a new podcast episode from @thechildcarebusinesscoach, our Executive Director Allyx Schiavone explains why it’s time to make transformational investments in #childcare to secure better resources for our children, parents, and educators, and economy.

A Champion for Children

FOOTE SCHOOL ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT — “Allyx Schiavone ’85 doesn’t take “no” for an answer — not if she knows there is a better answer. She has made it her mission — and profession — to take up the causes that are closest to her heart, and she’s made it clear that she will not back down from a challenge.”

New Haven early child care group details plan to transform Cine-4 site to school

NEW HAVEN REGISTER — Friends Center for Children Inc. plans to turn the former Cine-4 site on Flint Street into an early child care center that would serve about 80 young children, as part of a larger plan to provide affordable services for families and teachers.

Former Cine4 Movie Theater Turning Into Daycare

NBC CONNECTICUT — Friends Center for Children is reconstructing the former Cine4 movie theater into an early childhood daycare center.

How to Meet the President…

On February 7, 2023, Friends Center Executive Director Allyx Schiavone had the opportunity to meet the President and speak on behalf of early childhood education, alongside U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro at a press conference led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

What Shapes Us?

When we think about the essential question, “What Shapes Us?,” some of the most powerful influences come from the systems around us. Unfortunately, when it comes to early childhood education, New Haven’s system is broken. Families pay too much, educators make too little, providers can barely survive and children are caught in the resulting dysfunction.

Early Ed Advocates Call For State $ Bump

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT — A Connecticut-wide coalition of child care providers and advocates has stepped up its call for state government to increase funding for an industry in ​“crisis” because the demand from families far exceeds the supply of educators.

That was the key takeaway from a Zoom-assisted online press conference hosted Tuesday morning by the group Child Care for Connecticut’s Future.

Property Sales Roundup: Early Ed Center Expands

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT — A Fair Haven Heights-based early childhood education nonprofit continued its citywide expansion by purchasing two adjacent commercial buildings in Westville Village for $1.995 million.

That was one of the latest local property transactions, as recorded on New Haven’s online land records database.

Cine-4 Closes, Becoming Early Ed Campus

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT — The lights are off and the popcorn’s all gone from a decades-old independent movie theater on Middletown Avenue — which new nonprofit owners aim to convert to a bustling campus for affordable early childhood education.

“Let’s Talk” series welcomes Senator Chris Murphy as December’s featured speaker

On December 16,  Friends Center continued its Let’s Talk series, welcoming Senator Chris Murphy for an online conversation about the perils and progress of the Early Care and Education industry. […]

Friends Center director featured as Bank Street distinguished alumna

“Our program at Friends Center is child-centered, hands-on, play-based, and family-focused,” Allyx said. “All of this came from Bank Street, and none of that has changed over the course of time. What has changed is the world around us.”

When does it matter?

We believe every child, family and educator, regardless of their background, has innate potential to thrive and is entitled to an educational community that supports their flourishing.

When does it matter? Right now.

“Let’s Talk” series welcomes Connecticut OEC Commissioner Beth Bye as November’s featured speaker

On November 3, Friends Center welcomed 139 guests to our second Let’s Talk conversation with Connecticut’s Commissioner for the Office of Early Childhood, Beth Bye Please click on the link below […]

Virtual Admissions Open House

preschool and infant/toddler spots available for 2022 – 2023

“Let’s Talk” series welcomes Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro as inaugural speaker

On September 15, Friends Center welcomed Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro as the inaugural speaker of our 2021-2022 Let’s Talk! virtual series of discussions about the federal, state and city advocacy and planning around […]

Not (just) a Season of Lovingkindness

Inside our February 2021 e-newsletter: Read about Friends Center’s year-round commitment to lovingkindness and the launch of our new Teacher Housing Plan, providing Free housing for teachers to increase compensation.

Friends Center for Children Launches Free Teacher Housing Initiative

Long before the pandemic struck, Friends Center for Children had been wrestling with the issue of inadequate compensation for infant and preschool teachers. One potential solution, a Friends Center Teacher Housing Initiative, captured the attention of two long-time FCfC supporters…

What is essential?

Inside our January 2021 e-newsletter:
– Examining “What is essential?”
– Advocacy Efforts Secure Continued OEC Funding
– Friends Council on Education Centering Reflection

Where do you stand?

This past year, events in our nation forced us all to examine our stance in new and challenging ways. During these trying times, Friends Center is committed to standing fast to our mission: educate children, empower families, inspire teachers, engage community, embrace diversity.

…what actions will speak louder than words?

Dear members of our Friends Center Community, How do we give a name to this moment that grips our awareness, causes deep pain and stifles our breath? Recent appalling, grievous […]

Week 15: staying connected during social distancing

Dear Families, “Out of clutter, Find simplicity. From discord, Find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, Lies opportunity” Albert Einstein In the attached pdf, please find resources, links, and reflections […]

Week 14: staying connected during social distancing

Dear Families, “Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution […]

Week 13: staying connected during social distancing

Dear Families, We hope that this letter finds you healthy, safe and strong.  We hope that you feel empowered, seen and heard. We hope that when you leave your front […]

Week 12: staying connected during social distancing

Dear Families, “Sometimes our hearts feel heavy and the world feels wrong.  Find the light, even if it is ever so slight.  Hold on, let hope build a trail for […]

Week 11: staying connected during social distance

Dear families, Thank you for being our friends, and continuing to learn and grow with us. We have had so much fun launching and sharing our brand new, pilot I/T […]

Week 10: staying connected during social distance

Dear community, “When I say it’s YOU I like, I’m talking about the part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or […]

Week nine: staying connected during social distance

Dear community, We invite you to enjoy the 9th edition of our weekly blog/letter (nine weeks…wow!). In this blog you will find some fun podcasts and videos that are geared […]

Week eight: staying connected during social distance

Dear Community, We hope that this post finds you healthy, safe and well. We realize the incredible strain that social distancing is putting each of us, individually and collectively. Whether […]

Week seven: staying connected during social distance

Dear Community, We are coming to the end of our seventh week in collective “quarantine”, and find that we are needing one another more than ever. As the ties that […]

Week six: staying connected during social distance

Dear community, We hope that you continue to be healthy, safe and well. As we continue to experience distance, from one another, our routines, our communities, we hope that, more […]

Week five: staying connected during social distance

In our week five blog, please find information and links for resources including: free science experiments, Clifford Beers Clinic COVID Compassion Line, mindfulness activity cards, and information on cultivating the Quaker value of COMMUNITY.

Week four: staying connected during social distance

In our week four blog, please find pdfs with activities for children and adults (including Week of the Young Child Daily Themes), awareness resources, mindfulness moments (such as “going on a mindfulness safari”), and information on emotional wellbeing, specifically on cultivating the Quaker value of EQUALITY.

Week three: staying connected during social distance

In our week three blog, please find activities for children and adults  awareness resources (including Five Steps to Mindfulness), and information on emotional wellbeing, specifically on cultivating the Quaker value of INTEGRITY.

Staying connected during social distance: week two

In this blog, please find activities for children and adults (including Make Your Own Mood Meter Sock Puppet), awareness resources, and information on emotional wellbeing, specifically on cultivating the Quaker value of PEACE.

Staying connected during social distance: week one

As we navigate these unprecedented and unusual set of circumstances, the FCfC Administrative Team would like to remind you that we continue to walk through the world together, as a community.

Happy New Year!

Inside our January 2020 e-newsletter:
– Art exhibit featuring Rhoda Kellogg’s collection of children’s artwork makes ARTNEWS’ top ten.
– Uncrumple that Drawing

Friends Center opens new site in West Rock neighborhood

Friends Center Blake Street serves 36 children and their families in a location near West Rock Park, with nine staff…

Why do we connect?

Explore the importance of connections in early childhood education in Friends Centers’ 2018-2019 Community Report.

Joining forces to make New Haven a model for quality and access in ECE

Friends Center helps launch NH ChILD movement to make Ideal Learning accessible to all children in New Haven.

No “please.”

Friends Center social work intern explores new phrases to gain cooperation.

How to End the Child-Care Crisis

Shael Polakow-Suransky explains how a child’s first 1,000 days are a time to be seized in a New York Time’s op-ed story

Pinwheels Along The Path

Photos and stories from the 9th annual Fair Haven Family Stroll and Festival

Friends Center featured on News 8 for NH ChILD

“It was almost impossible to find anything. We were on six waiting lists at six different daycares and preschools,” says Renuka Gandhi…

“Experts: More Play Needed in New Haven Schools”

Friends Center Executive Director Allyx Schiavone shares the merits of play-based learning in a New Haven Register article.

What helps us grow?

Read about how we’re growing in Friends Center’s 2017 – 2018 Report to the Community

From Piling Scrap to Bridging the Achievement Gap

Photos and story from the 8th annual Fair Haven Family Stroll and Festival

Friends Center hosts meet and greet for Connecticut’s new Commissioner of Early Childhood Beth Bye

On March 15, Friends Center for Children hosted a welcome breakfast for Commissioner Beth Bye and announced the official launch of NH ChILD….

How Can We Support Staff in Addressing Implicit Bias?

How Can We Support Staff in Addressing Implicit Bias? One Program’s Approach Allyx Schiavone, Executive Director of the Friends Center for Children in New Haven, CT, discusses a three-year approach […]

How do you see the world?

Learn more about the lenses with which we see the world in Friends Center’s 2016-2017 community report.

Collective Voices

Hear some of our collective voices in Friends Center’s 2015 – 2016 community report.

What’s in a name?

Read about Friends Center and our mission to educate children, empower families, inspire teachers, engage community and embrace diversity in our 2014-2015 Community Report.