The Rainbow Child Development Center, a licensed non-profit child care agency, was founded in 1972 to provide child care services to low income families in the Worcester area and particularly in "Plumley Village," a subsidized housing project where the Center's administrative offices and preschool program are located. The Center's entire client population meets income eligibility guidelines for subsidized childcare services. Approximately 30% of our children are referred to the agency by the Department of Social Services. The ethnic population of children in our system is mixed with 54 percent Hispanic, 26 percent Afro-American and 20 percent white.

The focus of the Center is to provide a learning, supportive and safe environment which will allow children to develop and grow through participation and self expression. In addition to childcare, supportive and therapeutic services are offered to children and their families in collaboration with other community agencies and area colleges and universities. The Center operates 4 programs; a Family Child Care Program for infants and toddlers, a nationally accredited Preschool Program for 3 -5 year olds, a School Age Program for children aged 5 -13 and a Social Services Program that offers supportive services to the children and their families.

The Center provides daily transportation services to over 70 children in all program areas through an outside contractor. Without transportation, most of these children would not be able to attend a childcare program due to the lack of their families' ability to provide this service. All programs supply healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to the children each day as well.

As a United Way agency, Rainbow receives financial support from the United Way of Central Massachusetts to support our preschool speech development therapy program and our school age program.

The Center has a long-standing commitment and working relationship with other local childcare agencies, area colleges, and community service organizations to assist it in meeting the ever changing and challenging issues facing our client population. Rainbow is also a member of the Worcester Community Partnership.

The staff of Rainbow is thoroughly committed to providing quality education and care to meet the many needs of the population it serves. Rainbow is committed to providing professional development opportunities for all staff and encouraging staff to pursue higher education programs and advanced certifications.