Community Family Development (CFD) is one of the oldest nonprofit childcare centers in Dutchess County, located in the heart of the City of Poughkeepsie since 1971. With a focus on access and equity, its mission is to provide high-quality care and education in a safe and nurturing environment so children can thrive. CFD helps meet the growing childcare needs of working families – services that are persistently in short supply, particularly for the economically disadvantaged families it serves. CFD is licensed to care for a total of 112 infant, toddler, preschool, and school-aged children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years. For more than 50 years, it has consistently provided accessible childcare to support early childhood development and ensure parents’ ability to participate in the workforce. Several years ago, CFD faced significant operating challenges and the prospect of closure. However, over time, working with key stakeholders and new governance and executive leadership, CFD has been able to reestablish and maintain stable operations, develop key partnerships, and strengthen staff. Today, CFD continues to focus on providing quality childcare, improving salaries and professional development opportunities for care providers, and pursuing opportunities for expanding operations to serve more area families and children.
The majority of the children and families CFD serves are economically disadvantaged. Providing assistance accessing and maintaining critical childcare subsidies through the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services is central to their mission. CFD is also a site partner for Babies Step Forward, a collaboration between Astor Services and Westchester Community Opportunity Program. Babies Step Forward focuses on economically disadvantaged families with children ages 0-3 and is based on the Early Head Start model, providing infant and toddler families with access to monthly developmental screenings, early intervention programs, a family advocate, and diapering items at no cost. CFD delivers curriculum that addresses the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development of children and invites area programs to the center to enrich their art, music, and dance activities, and facilitates experiential field trips during the summer months.
In 2023, Community Family Development received renewed general operating support, renewed designated funding toward summer program scholarships, and a mini-grant toward a strategic planning process.