Lori N Ricker

Cambridge Community Center is a community based organization that grew out of a partnership established in 1978 between the City of Concord, Contra Costa County, our local school district, and concerned neighborhood residents, parents and staff of Cambridge Elementary School. The agency incorporated as a 501 ( 3 ) organization in March of 1979, with the stated mission of providing needed services to low income people of all ages in Concord, particularly in the economically disadvantaged neighborhood of Monument Blvd.The first State Department of Education Child Development General Child Care grant ( for thirteen children ) was received in 1981, beginning our Childcare programs. Since that time the grants have expanded, adding State Preschool ( half-day school readiness program for 3 and 4 year olds ), Latchkey ( before and after school and vacation care for school age children ), and additional state and federal General Child Care funding. All programs are licensed by the State Department of Social Services. In addition, they meet the much higher standards of the California Department of Education in regard to teacher qualifications, staffing ratios, and program content requirements. We formed a partnership in 2002 with our local Head Start Grantee, Contra Costa County, to enhance program and family services to our 80 Head Start eligible children, and we meet their standard for excellence in program also. We are currently seeking bids for an addition to our admin building. Following is a link to: We operate Self-sufficiency through Licensed Family Day Care, an economic development program that assists extremely low income families in moving from welfare to self-sufficiency by establishing their own in-home licensed family day care business. Assistance includes home repair, equipment and supplies, training and technical assistance in both child development and business practices ( including both business and personal budgeting and tax preparation ). This program is funded by grants from various Cities and County CDBG funds. In the six years the program has been in place, we have assisted almost 75 families to become licensed and self-sufficient, and are currently working with 10 families. To apply, low income residents should contact Blanca Campos at ( 925 ) 383-3997. All programs have been developed and continue to evolve in response to community needs. Cambridge Community Center is an essential resource for the low income families of Central Contra Costa County, and in particular the low income target area of the Monument Corridor.