Tribe Submits Application for Construction of Childcare Center

The Education Department Child Care Development Fund submitted a formal application, to Health and Human Services/Administration for Children & Families/Child Care Development Fund, on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, for approval to construct a tribal childcare center, at 184 Meetinghouse Road in Mashpee.

A Feasibility Study was completed in May, by RGB Architects, and Education staff met with the Housing Commission to present findings. The proposed site sits on Alice May Lopez Drive, next to the site of the proposed Community Center, in the Mashpee Wampanoag Village Housing Development, located on Old Meetinghouse Road. The childcare center is proposed at 5100 square feet equipped to serve 35 children, 6 weeks to 13 years, to ensure that our youngest and most vulnerable are given opportunity to flourish in positive, sustainable, and culturally appropriate ways.

Early childhood education coursework, leading toward certification and/or undergraduate degrees is available, toward teaching and administrative positions. The Education Department is currently seeking interested individuals to be part of a focus group to advise the tribe/department on the external aspects of the building, to include landscaping and indigenous, medicinal plants. We will have more on this aspect soon.

If interested in any aspect of early childhood education, or if you have questions, please contact the Education Director at extension 149; or the CCDF Program Manager at extension 152, Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 4:30.