Help us make Southington a better place!Are you caring for a child under 9 years old and living in Southington? We want to hear from you!
We are looking for parents, guardians, foster parents, and those raising young children in town to take this anonymous, 10-minute survey so we can build a better understanding of the early childhood landscape in our community.
This survey is open until May 25th https://forms.gle/nae5qe6BGkKc1PzA9
 Savings Tools for Your ChildrenFederal 530A Accounts Starting July 4, 2026, a new tax-advantaged investment account, a Section 530A "Trump Account," will be available to any U.S. citizen child under 18. The accounts were created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The child becomes the account owner and can access the funds at age 18. Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, are eligible for a one-time $1,000 deposit from the U.S. Treasury. There are no income requirements. Parents or guardians can elect to open an account by filing IRS Form 4547 with their 2025 tax return or through the online portal at trumpaccounts.gov. Once established, individuals, employers, and charitable organizations can contribute up to $5,000 per year. Children under 10 who were born before 2025 are not eligible for the $1,000 pilot program deposit but may still receive a $250 contribution through private philanthropic pledges. Ray and Barbara Dalio, through Dalio Philanthropies, have pledged approximately $75 million to contribute $250 to Trump Accounts for roughly 300,000 children under 10 in Connecticut. The funds are designated for children in ZIP codes with median incomes below $150,000. All Southington area ZIP codes fall under that threshold. For more information, visit trumpaccounts.gov or irs.gov/trumpaccounts. The Connecticut Higher Education Trust 529 College Savings Program is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan that's helping families and individuals plan for the cost of higher education. Connecticut taxpayers could receive a state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 on contributions made to your CHET account.
The CHET Baby Scholars program provides $100 toward a newborn's future college costs. Just open the CHET account before a baby living in CT turns one year old and $100 will automatically be deposited into the account—with no contribution required from you.
For more info visit aboutchet.com/ or portal.ct.gov/ott/financial-wellness/chet/connecticut-higher-education-trust---chet
CT Baby Bonds
Connecticut also offers the Baby Bond savings program to invest directly in children born into poverty. Eligibility is automatic for children whose birth was covered by Husky Health, Connecticut's Medicaid program, and were born on or after July 1, 2023. Eligible children are automatically enrolled and receive the initial $3,200 deposit. Families with a baby bonds eligible newborn will receive information about the state program in hospital birthing packets. More information is available on The Office of the Treasurer's website.
This is not investment, tax, or legal advice. Please consult your investment, tax, or legal advisor for the latest detailed information. You're Invited to Our Annual Presentation!The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) will host a presentation on “Early Childhood in Southington†on Thursday morning, May 28th, 2026, at the Southington Community Cultural Arts Center(SoCCA). Doors will open for networking at 7:30 am, breakfast will be served by 7:45 am. The program and discussion will run from 8 to 9:30 am. As part of the presentation, we will show the results of the Local Needs Assessment we are conducting and will gather your feedback. All organizations and agencies that support children and families in town, along with parents/guardians, are invited. We hope you can join us and provide your insights into these changes and issues facing young children in town. Register here by Friday, May 22nd, so we can order breakfast. This free event is funded through our work as a Local Governance Partner via a contract from Shine Early Learning and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.  Mental Health Awareness MonthMental health is just as important as physical health. Anyone, even infants, can experience trauma or mental health issues, and it is better to identify and address any issues early. Thankfully, you do not have to go through it alone. There are many resources, including mental health professionals, support groups, and related services can be found in our Resource Directory. The ECCS has held multiple workshops focused on mental health in the past that you can review materials from, even if you were unable to attend: If you or your child are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support 24/7.
Bicycle Safety ClassThe Southington Police Department will be holding a Youth Bicycle Safety Course. This interactive program provides a unique opportunity for parents to partner with our officers, learning alongside their kids to obtain safe bicycle riding information. This FREE class will be held Saturday, June 6th, from 9:30 - 11:30 am at the Southington Police Department on Lazy Lane. Register at https://forms.gle/iWgWPu7mejwbxj1r9 Learn more about bike safety at southingtonearlychildhood.org/health-development/bicycle-safety/  Upcoming EventsMay 28th - State of Early Childhood in Southington Presentation - 7:30 am to 9:30 am at Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA), 93 Main Street. All organizations and agencies that support children and families in town, along with parents/guardians, are invited. Learn more and register here by Friday, May 22nd, so we can order breakfast. May 30th - Car Seat Safety Check - 9 am to 1 pm at the Southington Calendar House, 388 Pleasant Street. Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis at this free event. June 1st - ECCS Office Hours - 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at 35 North Main Street, Suite 3A-8. Stop by to see ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town. June 11th - ECCS at the Library - 9 am to 11:30 am at Southington Public Library in the Children's Department. Stop by to ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town. June 13th - Family Fun Day - 10 am - 3 pm at the Southington Drive-In. Tickets are $5 and proceeds will benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Oncology Department. (Rain Date June 14th) June 26th - Southington Farmers' Market - 3 pm to 5 pm on the Southington Town Green. For more details, visit www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events/ or follow us on our social media. Ways to Support the ECCSDid you know that the ECCS does not receive funding from the Town of Southington or the Board of Education? Our work to support the parents and caregivers of Southington’s youngest citizens is funded primarily through grants we have applied for. Receiving contributions from individuals like you helps support our operations and allows us to show our larger funders that there is strong community backing for this work. There are many ways that you can support our work -
Facebook @ECCSouthington Instagram @ECCSouthington Threads @ECCSouthington X/Twitter @ecc_southington Bluesky @eccsouthington.bsky.social About UsThe Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington is a group of committed educators, parents, grandparents, healthcare and childcare providers, business owners, civic organizations, and members of the community who are deeply invested in the growth, development, and academic success of young children in Southington.
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