CHILD CARE WORKS
We help families access high-quality child care services
Give your child nothing less than the best.
PACE Child Care Works has proudly served our community with assistance in accessing child care, early education, and other positive child development options since 1985.
We work with parents, schools, daycare facilities, and local agencies. Each year, we assist thousands of families throughout Southeastern Massachusetts in finding the best child care and early childhood education options for them.
Find out more about each of our programs below or get in touch by calling us at 508-999-9930.
Our Programs
Child Care Resources and Referral
This program provides parents with child care referrals, child care vouchers, information on evaluating quality child care, and resources on various parenting subjects. We also offer child care providers access to valuable training and support services for new or established programs.
We work with parents, schools, daycare facilities, and local agencies. Our job is to assist families in finding the best child care and early childhood education options for them. In addition, we find ways for parents to pay for child care services, including the voucher program.
We provide these services in nearly 40 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford, Brockton, Fall River, Attleboro, Taunton, and surrounding towns.
To confirm we serve your area, please visit the following site to find a Child Care Resource and Referral agency near you.
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) receive funding from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to make it possible for families to have access to high-quality information, resources, and referrals to meet their childcare needs.
PACE Child Care Works
134 South Second Street,
New Bedford, MA 02740
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 508-999-9930
Email: receptionist@paceccw.org
Coordinated Family & Community Engagement
The CFCE Program supports parents as their children's first, best, and most important teachers. The programs we host include weekly play groups, music and movement activities, and early literacy story hours.
Our goal is to support parents as they guide their children to reach their optimum potential. The program includes the communities of New Bedford, Dartmouth, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Berkley, Seekonk, Swansea, Dighton, and Rehoboth. We also provide parent education programs, offer the Ages & Stages Developmental Questionnaire (ASQ), and connect families to resources.
Funding for the Coordinated Family & Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) is provided by the MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
PACE Child Care Works
134 South Second Street,
New Bedford, MA 02740
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 508-999-9930
Email: pacecfce@paceccw.org
ParentChild+
ParentChild+ is a national, evidence-based, home-visiting program offered to parents and families of preschool students between the ages of 16 months and 4-years-old. This program offers free services by trained early learning specialists that support positive parenting practices.
In order to apply for this program or find more information, please contact the ParentChild+ Program team. No referral is necessary and there is currently no waitlist.
PACE Child Care Works
134 South Second Street,
New Bedford, MA 02740
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Phone: 508-999-9930
Email: parentchildplus@paceccw.org
Diapers 'N Things
The Diapers 'N Things program provides diapers, menstrual products, and infant items to over 350 families a month between two diaper distribution sites. Distribution alternates between PACE and The Center for Economic Development (CEDC) in the city’s north end, to ensure that the needs of families are being met in both parts of the city.
According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 47% (almost half) of families reported diaper needs in 2023. The lack of an adequate supply of diapers leads to more health risks and increased barriers to accessing child care and work opportunities for already struggling families. The Diapers 'N Things program started as a grassroots effort led by four individual women in the community who joined forces in 2014 to help serve the community with this unmet need.
This diaper program is supported by PACE Child Care Works, YWCA, Community Economic Development Center (CEDC), and donations from groups and individuals. For information on how to donate diapers or baby supplies or volunteer please contact the Diapers 'N Things team.
Click here to find out where and when distributions are happening this month.
PACE Community Food Center
477 Park Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Community Economic Development Center
235 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02746
Phone: 508-999-9930
Email: diapersnthings@paceccw.org
Take a look at what's happening this month!
Our Family Calendar contains all the fun free and low cost events happening in our community each month.
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Want to get involved?
Help us continue to serve our community with child care resources, support, and services by donating today to PACE Child Care Works. If you are a community organization or child care provider interested in joining our network, please reach out to our team by calling us at 508-999-9930.
Contact Us
Location:
Child Care Works
134 South Second Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Need to get in touch with one of our teams?
Child Care Resources and Referral:
Coordinated Family & Community Engagement:
ParentChild+:
Diapers N' Things:
Additional Resources
We have collected here some useful community resources for your convenience. Additionally, PACE has many other programs and services that can be of assistance to you and your family. You can earn more about these below.
- If you would benefit from food assistance, check out this guide to community food programs maintained by United Way of New Bedford here.
- Looking for further assistance? Get in touch with Project Bread, an organization dedicated to connecting you to the food resources you need. Call them today at 1-800-645-8333.
- Are you shopping at the farmer's market? Take advantage of the Healthy Incentives Program that puts money back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables. Find out more here.
- PACE Health Access provides assistance to those applying for health insurance plans. Find out how we can help here.
- Health Access Kids is a program from the New Bedford Health Department designed to help families enroll in health insurance for free or at a low cost. Get in touch with them by calling 508-991-6199 or emailing them at healthaccesskids@gmail.com.
- Health Imperatives is an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, equitable health care to people of all income levels, races, ethnicities, gender identities, countries of origin, and immigration statuses. Learn more about the Health Imperatives Youth and Young Families Support Program here.
- Do you have an EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card? The Card to Culture program enables you to experience many local arts and culture programs for free or for a low cost with your card, including some shows at the Zeiterion Theater! Find out more about how this program works here and check out the list of participating organizations here.
- Your local library often has free or discounted passes for local cultural institutions available. You can review here which passes are available at your library and reserve them online or in person.
- Ensure your child is meeting their developmental milestones for FREE by completing the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), available for children 1 month to 5 years. Click here to get started.
- ParentChild+ offers free services by trained early learning specialists that support positive parenting practices. Learn more about PC+ here.
- PACE Diapers N' Things is a program that provides diapers and other infant items for families who need them. Find out when and where distributions are taking place here.