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Child Care Resources and Referrals

Preschool Enrichment Team (P.E.T.) child care counselors assist parents as they make informed decisions regarding their children's care. P. E. T. maintains a comprehensive database of licensed child care programs in Hampden and Berkshire county. While responsibility for selection remains with the parents, counselors working together with parents help assess needs, review available options and provide child care referrals based on the families selected criteria.

If you are an employee of Baystate Health Systems please call our office at 413-736-3900 or toll free at 877-478-7727 to receive an enhanced service paid for by your employer.

 

In-Home Referrals
For families interested finding someone to come into your home to care for your children please call our office at 413-736-3900 or toll free at 877-478-7727 to receive our “In-Home Packet”, a 20 page booklet that will guide you through the process. It covers searching for the care, interviewing, writing a contract, your tax responsibilities, etc.
Child Care Search
You may search for child care one of two ways:
1. Click here to begin your own customized search for child care. (To log into the child care search engine, you will need to have an email address. If you do not have an email address, there are many free email options for you. For example, Yahoo and Hotmail are popular alternatives.)

OR

2. Click here to download*, print, fill out and mail/fax the form to P.E.T. at the address below (in order to download this form, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader - Get Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Preschool Enrichment Team, Inc.
293 Bridge Street, Suite 322
Springfield, MA 01103-1435
Fax: (413) 734-6848


For important information that can help you find quality child care, click the links below:


Click the links below for other important information:

Fee Policy
This is a FREE service offered to parents through funding from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
Confidentiality Policy
The information provided to the child care counselors for referral or complaint purposes is kept strictly confidential. It is used only for referral and demographic purposes and will only be shared outside of P.E.T. in statistical form.
Disclaimer
Our agency provides child care referrals, NOT recommendations. We DO NOT license, endorse or recommend any particular provider. Only YOU can determine the best quality setting for your child. Please contact all providers before making a final decision.
Child care provider/program licensing history
The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is the licensing agency for the state of Massachusetts. They guide child care providers through the licensing process. A family child care provider’s license is valid for 3 years and group child care center licenses are valid for 2 years. The license should be clearly posted for parents to see.

Once you’ve narrowed down your provider list and have checked references, we urge you to call EEC at 413-788-8401 and ask for the licensing history. EEC keeps a history of all complaints filed against providers and you can get information from them.
How to report a complaint against a provider/program
Please call the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) directly to report a complaint about a child care provider or program. You can reach them at 413-788-8401 and ask to be connected to the licensing department.
Preschool Enrichment Team Customer Service
Our staff at the Preschool Enrichment Team (P.E.T.) makes every effort to provide quality services to all of our customers. Any person who feels they have received poor services from our staff or from anyone providing services for us is encouraged to report their concerns as timely as possible. Complaints will be accepted in writing, in person, or by telephone. Please do not email complaints. The consumer is advised to file their complaint with the manager from the department the complaint pertains to. If the complaint is about a manager, it should be directed to the Executive Director. To reach us call 413-736-3900 or toll free 877-478-7727 or fax 413-734-6848.
Food Stamps
The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. You apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores. Contact the USDA Food Stamp information line at 1-800-221-5689, or the Food Stamp Hot Line at 1-800-645-8333. You may also visit the Food Stamp web site at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/.
WIC Nutrition Program
WIC offers families personalized nutrition consultations, money to pay for healthy food, tips for eating well to improve health and referrals for other services that can benefit the whole family. For information call 800-WIC-1007 or visit www.mass.gov/wic.
Every Child is Entitled to Health Insurance
MassHealth pays for health care for certain low- and medium-income people living in Massachusetts. MassHealth also manages the Insurance Partnership for small businesses, the Children’s Medical Security Plan, Healthy Start, and the Special Kids/Special Care Pilot Program, co-sponsored with the Department of Social Services. For information on these programs call MassHealth at 1-800-841-2900 or for MassHealth Dental Customer Service Center at 1-800-207-5019. You may also visit the Mass Health web site at www.mass.gov/masshealth.
Lower Your Taxes or Increase Your Refund
Claim the Earned Income Credit, the Child & Dependent Care Credit and the Child Tax Credit. For information, call 1-800-829-1040 toll free for free assistance in your area. You may also visit the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

 

 
Contact P.E.T.
Helpful Links

 

PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT TEAM OFFICE
If you get lost or the doors of the building are locked, call 736-3900 and press ext. 120
Mass Pike Exit 6 - Springfield, at light at end of ramp turn left onto Rt. 291. Follow Rt. 291 to Exit 2B Dwight Street Exit, at end of ramp take left at light (this is Dwight St.). Through 4 sets of lights, turn right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.
From Rt. 91 South Exit 7 Downtown Springfield - stay in left lane and turn left at light, then left again onto E. Columbus. Turn right onto Worthington, through one light (Main St.) turn right onto Stearns and right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.
From Rt. 91 North Exit 4 Broad St., you are on East Columbus. Go through lights, turn right onto Worthington, right onto Stearns, right onto Bridge Street. Our office, at 293 Bridge Street, is on the left next to Cafe Manhattan.