General Info

Associated Early Care & Education improves the lives of Greater Boston’s youngest children and their families by dedicating its efforts to Education, Technical Assistance and Training, and Advocacy and Research.

Education:  We deliver a comprehensive range of services that nurtures over 1,000 children every day, supporting their families and their communities (see Program Overview).  These services include six early care and education centers, a family child care program of over 140 educators, mental health and social services to children citywide, and nutritional support and education.  Preparing the young students in our care for success in life by investing in school readiness is central to Associated’s mission.

Technical Assistance and Training:  In Massachusetts, Associated is a leader in assisting early care and education programs and family child care educators achieve accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).  Our quality improvement services help nurture expertise in the community and expand knowledge in the early education field.  Associated’s clinical social work staff provides mental health consultation to early education and child care programs throughout the city of Boston.  Associated’s professional staff is sought out for their expertise in conducting mental health and child assessments.

Advocacy and Research: Our objective is to promote early care and education through local, state, and national efforts, public awareness, research, and practice.  We conduct surveys that profile Boston’s early education community, issue reports on important indicators of current quality in early education, and recommend policies and actions to advance the quality of care and education for our youngest students.

These efforts are coordinated by a Senior Management team with a proven track record and a demonstrated commitment to fulfilling our mission.  Associated is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of corporate executives, lawyers, academics, parents, community leaders and others who have a deep commitment to the early care and education needs of children and their families.