Article Title: Childcare and Preschool

There are many benefits to having your child enrolled in a Penquis school classroom or childcare program. We can also work with parents to connect to local resources, help them identify and reach family goals, and help prepare their children for school and future successes.. We offer the following services for enrolled children and families:

Apply Here Today!

If you prefer a paper application, please contact:

Kelley Graffam, at kgraffam@penquis.org or 207-973-3567 or 1-800-215-4942.

Early Head Start is an early childhood education program for infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to 3 years from low-income families. Early Head Start is a year-round program that operates 6 hours/day, 5 days a week. EHS promotes school readiness by supporting children’s growth and development in a positive learning environment, which includes a variety of services, such as education, health and family well-being. Our teachers are highly qualified with at least an Associate’s Degree, most having earned Bachelor’s Degrees. Teachers engage families in their child’s development and learning. All children receive developmental and health screenings and on-going assessment. Staff help to connect families with medical, dental and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need. Families receive support to achieve their own goals, in areas such as housing, education, and financial security.

Service Area: Knox, Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties 

Hours of operation

Year-round services

• • Hours vary each location 
    • Bangor – Davis Road
    • Bangor – EMCC
    • Rockland – High Street
  • 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
    • Bangor – Venture Way
    • Dover – Morton Ave
    • East Millinocket – Dirigo Drive
    • Old Town – Middle St
    • Rockland – High St

For Enrollment Information Contact:

Kelley Graffam,  kgraffam@penquis.org, 207-973-3567 or 207-852-0783

Head Start is an early childhood education program for children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families. This program is in session 5 days a week for 41 weeks/year with summers off. Head Start promotes school readiness by supporting children’s growth and development in a positive learning environment, which includes a variety of services such as education, health and family well-being. Our teachers are highly qualified with at least an Associate’s Degree, most having earned Bachelor’s Degrees. Teachers engage families in their child’s development and learning. All children receive developmental and health screenings and on-going assessment. Larger sites have Family Support Workers that help to connect families with medical, dental and mental health services to ensure that children and families receive the services they need. Families are supported to achieve their own goals, in areas such as housing, education and financial security.

Service Area: Knox, Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties

Hours of operation

Year-round services

• • Hours vary at each location 
    • Bangor – Davis Road
    • Bangor – EMCC
    • Rockland – High Street

School-year services

• • 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
    • Bangor – Davis Road
    • Bangor – Venture Way
    • Dover – Morton Ave
    • East Millinocket – Dirigo Drive
    • Old Town – Middle St
    • Rockland – South School

For Enrollment Information Contact:

Kelley Graffam: kgraffam@penquis.org, 207-973-3567 or 207-852-0783

Child must be 4 by Oct. 15.

School readiness is essential for long term success for all children, so Penquis Child Development has partnered with public schools in many districts to offer our services in Pre-K classrooms. We work together to offer any additional resources and support needed to families and to help children successfully transition between preschool and kindergarten.

Hours of operation

Hours vary by location; all operate on a school-year schedule

• • • Brewer
    • Dexter
    • East Millinocket
    • Rockland

For Enrollment Information Contact:

Kelley Graffam,  kgraffam@penquis.org, 207-973-3567 or 207-852-0783

For parents that are working or going to school and are in need of full-time child care, we offer full day wrap around services at several of our Child Development Center locations. This program enables children to receive the benefits of Early Head Start and Head Start as well as receive a full day of child care.

There is a fee for child care and subsidy may be available, if qualified. For more information, contact Kelley Graffam, Penquis Child Development ERSEA Coordinator at office (207) 973-3567, or cell phone (207) 852-0783 or email kgraffam@penquis.org.

Bangor:

• Davis Road Child Development Center
  • 241 Davis Road
  • (207) 262-6091
• EMCC Child Development Center
  • EMCC Campus, 354 Hogan Rd., 1^st Floor Katahdin Hall
  • (207) 307-3290
• Venture Way Child Development Center
  • 120 Venture Way
  • (207) 307-3250

Brewer:

• Brewer Pre-K
  • Brewer Community School, 94 Pendleton St
  • (207) 404-5700

Dexter:

•  Dexter Pre-K
  • Ridgeview Community School, 175 Fern Rd
  • (207) 924-6000

Dover:

• Morton Ave Child Development Center
  • 48 Morton Ave, Suite G
  • (207) 564-0039

East Millinocket:

•  Katahdin Child Development Center
  • Katahdin Region Higher Education Center, 1 Dirigo Dr Suite 3
  • (207) 746-5289
• Opal Myrick Pre-K
  • 45 North St

Old Town:

• Old Town Child Development Center
  • 90 Middle St
  • (207) 947-1065

Rockland:

• Rockland Child Development Center
  • 7 High St
  • (207) 594-5342
• RSU 13 Pre-K
  • South School Campus, 100 Holmes St
  • (207) 596-2008

Early Head Start (Children 0 – 3) Welcome Letter:

Welcome to Early Head Start for New Children (Children Ages 0 to 3)

Head Start (Children 3 – 5) Welcome Letter:

Welcome to Head Start for New Children (Children Ages 3 to 5)

Returning Head Start (Children 3 – 5) Welcome Letter:

Welcome Back for Repeating Families (Children Ages 3 to 5)

Pre-K Partnerships and Head Start:

Pre-K Partnerships and Head Start – 2022 2023

• Resouces *Under Construction - Check Back Soon*

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The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program designed to help child care facilities provide nutritious meals and snacks as part of their organized child care services. The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides cash reimbursement to child and adult day care providers for serving meals and snacks meeting USDA standards to participants enrolled in care. The program recognizes and supports the important role childcare homes play in developing the healthy eating habits of young children. Penquis’ Child and Adult Care Food Program is available to certified childcare homes throughout Penobscot, Piscataquis, Knox, Somerset, Hancock and Waldo counties, offering monthly reimbursement, nutrition materials, ideas for menu planning and budgeting, an annual workshop, and a nutrition newsletter. For more information, please call the Bangor office at 973-3506 or toll-free 1-800-215-4942.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)        mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2)        fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3)        email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Mandated Reporter Training

Mandated Reporters are a critical part of Maine’s Child Protection System. All Mandated Reporters are now required to complete a training approved by the Department of Health and Human Services once every four years. To register for the next class call Christine McMillen at 207-974-2481 or email at” parentingclass@penquis.org.

Safe Sleep and The Period of Purple Crying

Safe Sleep and The Period of Purple Crying are national initiatives focused on preventing shaken baby syndrome and promoting a safe sleeping environment for infants. During our training you will receive researched information, materials, and learn prevention strategies that address each initiative. To register for the next class call Christine McMillen at 207-974-2481 or email at: parentingclass@penquis.org.

Strengthening Maine Families by Building Protective Factors

Protective factors are conditions in families, communities, and organizations that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. Protective factors include education on child development and ways to support healthy social and emotional development in children, concrete supports for parents such as social connections, and an array of supports during times of need. This training is for those who provide programs that support families and will offer opportunities to increase capacity to build protective factors that promote optimal development and prevent abuse and neglect. To register for the next class call Christine McMillen at 207-974-2481 or email at: parentingclass@penquis.org.