Paula's Barn Child Care

🚨 Registration is Now Open!

Join us for ✨Creating Strong Roots in Early Childhood Education✨ (Creando Raíces Fuertes en la Educación Temprana)a unique conference designed to support, inspire, and empower early childhood educators across Massachusetts.

📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕣 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 HOPE Center for the Arts, 150 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103

Presented by ECCHO-Latino and Neighborhood Villages, with the generous support of The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation.

This event will bring together family child care providers, educators, leaders, and advocates for a day of learning, connection, and professional growth.

Topics include:

🌱 Early Relational Health & Child Development
🌱 Strengthening Educator–Child Interactions
🌱 Family Child Care Leadership & Business Sustainability
🌱 Pathways from Family Child Care to Center-Based Programs
🌱 Educator Well-Being & Resilience
🌱 Equity, Belonging & Latino Leadership in ECE

The conference will be conducted primarily in Spanish, with English interpretation available for select sessions.

As the ECCHO-Latino network grows to more than 400 educators across Massachusetts, this gathering reflects the strength and impact of a community committed to high-quality early education for all children and families.

🎟 Register today:
https://creandoraicesfuertes.rsvpify.com/

We look forward to learning, growing, and celebrating together!

🚨 Ya están abiertas las inscripciones para la Conferencia 2026:

✨ Creando Raíces Fuertes en la Educación Temprana ✨

📅 Sábado, 1 de agosto de 2026
🕣 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 HOPE Center for the Arts,
150 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103

Presentado por ECCHO-Latino y Neighborhood Villages

🤝 Con el generoso apoyo de The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation.

La educación temprana es uno de los pilares más importantes para el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades. Sin embargo, el fortalecimiento de quienes realizan este trabajo esencial cada día continúa siendo una necesidad urgente.

Por ello, nos enorgullece presentar Creando Raíces Fuertes en la Educación Temprana, una conferencia profesional diseñada para reunir a educadores de cuidado infantil familiar, profesionales de educación temprana, líderes comunitarios, organizaciones aliadas y defensores del sector en una jornada de aprendizaje, reflexión, conexión y crecimiento profesional.

Los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de explorar temas fundamentales para el presente y futuro de la educación temprana, incluyendo:

🌱 Salud Relacional Temprana y desarrollo infantil.

🌱 Estrategias prácticas para fortalecer las interacciones entre educadores y niños.

🌱 Liderazgo empresarial y sostenibilidad en programas de Family Child Care.

🌱 Crecimiento organizacional y transición de programas familiares a centros educativos.

🌱 Bienestar, resiliencia y autocuidado de los educadores.

🌱 Equidad, pertenencia y liderazgo latino en la educación temprana.

Esta conferencia representa un hito importante para Massachusetts al crear un espacio de desarrollo profesional realizado completamente en español, con servicios de interpretación al inglés disponibles, fortaleciendo el acceso, la participación y el liderazgo de los educadores latinos en nuestro estado.

Con una red que supera los 400 educadores, ECCHO-Latino continúa demostrando el poder de la colaboración, el liderazgo comunitario y el compromiso con una educación temprana de alta calidad para todas las niñas, los niños y sus familias.

🎟️ Registro abierto:
https://creandoraicesfuertes.rsvpify.com/

Invitamos a educadores, líderes, organizaciones, instituciones académicas, fundaciones y aliados del sector a ser parte de esta experiencia y a seguir construyendo juntos un sistema de educación temprana más fuerte, inclusivo y equitativo.

Today on , EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw will join to provide agency updates and take questions. Live interpretation (English to Spanish and Portuguese) will be provided by Excel Linguistics. How to join these calls? Visit www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, click the orange registration button, and complete the form. You will receive an email with the Zoom link. We use the same Zoom link for all 9:30 calls.

► La comisionada de la EEC, Amy Kershaw, se unirá para proporcionar actualizaciones de la agencia y responder preguntas. La interpretación en vivo (del inglés al español y al portugués) será proporcionada por Excel Linguistics. ¿Cómo unirse a estas llamadas? Visite www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, haga clic en el botón naranja de registro y complete el formulario. Recibirá un correo electrónico con el enlace de Zoom. Usamos el mismo enlace de Zoom para todas las llamadas de las 9:30.

► A Comissária da EEC, Amy Kershaw, irá juntar-se para fornecer atualizações da agência e responder a perguntas. A interpretação em direto (inglês para espanhol e português) será fornecida pela Excel Linguistics. Como participar dessas chamadas? Acesse www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call, clique no botão laranja de inscrição e preencha o formulário. Você receberá um e-mail com o link do Zoom. Usamos o mesmo link do Zoom para todas as chamadas das 9h30.

ICYMI: Governor Maura Healey recently announced new statewide guidance for schools, child care providers, higher education institutions, health care facilities, and places of worship on interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 650, the guidance is designed to help organizations understand their rights and responsibilities, maintain access to essential services, and prepare staff to respond appropriately if federal immigration officers arrive on site.

View the guidance "For Entities Providing Education and Child Care Services Related to Interacting with Federal Immigration Officers" here: https://ow.ly/zw4K50Z8SIa

Únete a nosotros la próxima semana para The 9:30 Call en español el miércoles 3 de junio a las 6:30 p.m.
Dra. Viviana M. Abreu-Hernández, Ph.D. Presidenta del Centro de Presupuesto y Política Pública de Massachusetts (Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center): Viviana se unirá al grupo para compartir con la audiencia cómo su vocación de trabajar en asuntos de justicia social han formado y determinado su carrera profesional durante los pasados 20 años - desde ejercer como profesora universitaria hasta dirigir un centro de investigación sobre presupuesto y políticas públicas en Massachusetts. Ella nos hablará sobre el Centro, sus investigaciones y su impacto en el estado.

¿Cómo unirse a estas llamadas? Visite www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, haga clic en el botón naranja de registro y complete el formulario. Recibirá un correo electrónico con el enlace de Zoom. Usamos el mismo enlace de Zoom para todas las llamadas de las 9:30.

Join us next week for The 9:30 Call en español on Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30pm
Viviana M. Abreu-Hernández, Ph.D., President, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center: Viviana will join us to share how a personal call to work on social justice issues has shaped and determined her 20 years career - from college professor in Puerto Rico to leading the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a nonprofit organization that has been doing progressive research, policy analysis, and advocacy in the state for close to 40 years. She will also share highlights of MassBudget's current work and review tools and resources.

How to join these calls? Visit www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, click the orange registration button, and complete the form. You will receive an email with the Zoom link. We use the same Zoom link for all 9:30 calls.

Roundtable Discussion: Supporting the Well-Being of Early Educators

Thursday, June 4 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82639344827?pwd=obNPaCevKhudFmZjQdKWiotaXUgwHa.1

Healthy social-emotional development in early childhood depends on adults who are socially and emotionally well. We know this—and we often say it loudly. Yet many early educators and administrators continue to face significant challenges that impact their well-being.

Join us for an engaging roundtable conversation focused on how systems can better support the social and emotional health of the early childhood workforce. Christy Moulin, IMH-E®, will share practical examples from The Center for Early Childhood’s work supporting educators, along with simple, effective practices that participants can implement in their own settings.

This session is designed to be interactive and collaborative. Bring your experiences, questions, and ideas as we learn from one another and gather wisdom from across the field.

Presenter:
Christy Moulin, IMH-E®
Director, Center for Early Childhood
The Home for Little Wanderers

We look forward to a meaningful discussion about strengthening the well-being of those who care for and educate young children every day.

There was something incredibly powerful about being at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on Friday surrounded by Latino leaders, educators, advocates, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from across Massachusetts.

During the Celebration 2025, I felt the strength, resilience, culture, and dreams of our Latino community in such a profound way.

One phrase shared that night stayed with me deeply:
“Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres” (“Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are”), mentioned by Cristina Silva.

Looking around that room, I understood the meaning completely. Being surrounded by people committed to uplifting our communities and opening doors for future generations was truly inspiring.

Thank you to  and Eneida Román for creating spaces where Latino leadership, representation, and community are celebrated and seen.

Being recognized as one of the honorees was deeply emotional. I thought about my journey, my family, my culture, and the impact I hope to continue building through Paula’s Barn and .latino for children, families, and educators in our communities.

And while this recognition may have my name on it, I know I would not be on this journey alone. Sharing this moment with my friend, colleague, and husband, Harold Antonio Blanco , made it even more special. Thank you for believing in my “crazy ideas” and always encouraging me to dream bigger.

So grateful to celebrate alongside amazing leaders, friends, and fellow honorees.

When Latinos come together with purpose, compassion, and vision, we are not only creating change for today—we are building something meaningful for generations to come.

Today, Governor Maura Healey has officially proclaimed Child Care Provider Day in Massachusetts, recognizing the vital role that child care providers play in the lives of children, families, and communities across the Commonwealth. 💙

Child care providers are essential to our economy and our society. Every day, they create safe, nurturing, and engaging environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive. Their work supports working families, strengthens local communities, and helps ensure that children have strong foundations for lifelong success.

On Child Care Provider Day, we extend our appreciation to all providers for the important work you do year-round to support children and families across the Commonwealth. 🌟

el Miércoles, 6 de Mayo a las 6:30 PM en Zoom
La Línea de Ayuda de Salud Conductual (BHHL) conecta a individuos y familias con toda la gama de servicios de tratamiento para la salud mental y el uso de sustancias que se ofrecen en Massachusetts. La BHHL está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 365 días del año por teléfono, mensaje de texto y chat en línea. Únete a nosotros para aprender más con Elyzabeth Frontaan, Relaciones Comunitarias del Centro de MA, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line.

¿Cómo unirse a estas llamadas? Visite www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, haga clic en el botón naranja de registro y complete el formulario. Recibirá un correo electrónico con el enlace de Zoom. Usamos el mismo enlace de Zoom para todas las llamadas de las 9:30.

on Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 PM on Zoom
The Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) connects individuals and families to the full range of treatment services for mental health and substance use offered in Massachusetts. The BHHL is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone, text, and online chat. Join us to learn more from Elyzabeth Frontaan, Central Massachusetts Community Relations, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line.

How to join these calls? Visit www.strategiesforchildren.org/930call/, click the orange registration button, and complete the form. You will receive an email with the Zoom link. We use the same Zoom link for all 9:30 calls.