The Newport Family & Child Opportunity Zone (NFCOZ) was founded over twenty-nine years ago as part of a Rhode Island statewide initiative to develop Child Opportunity Zones (COZ) across the state to support children's success in school. There are ten COZ Family Centers across the state, each with the same guiding principles, yet flexible to respond to the unique needs of each community.
COZ Family Centers follow the national community schools model, creating partnerships among families, schools, and the community to coordinate comprehensive academic, social, and health services for students, students’ family members, and community members that will result in improved educational outcomes for children. COZs increase parent participation in their child’s school and education. Research shows that increased parental involvement is an indicator of future school success.
The vision of the NFCOZ is that every child and family served shall have seamless and comprehensive supports available to them in order to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Children will be engaged, happy, and secure and will actively contribute to their changing communities in positive and innovate ways. Our mission, in partnership with schools, families, and the community is to support children and their families to thrive through the delivery of comprehensive and integrated education, health, and social services.
Services Offered
Services offered by the NFCOZ are available for all children from birth to grade four and their families residing in Newport, Rhode Island and birth to grade eight in Middletown. Programs focus on children’s learning, physical and mental health, and parent support and education. Experienced youth development staff work with children to develop social and emotional competencies and develop resiliency. This work is important for youth to build protective factors and improve engagement with schools. Engaged youth are more likely to have better attendance at school, engage in healthy behavior, and set goals for the future.
School Age Services in Newport include the 21st Century Community Learning Center which provides comprehensive after school, school vacation week and summer programs, designed to expand learning time throughout the school day/year with intensive academic support, blended with physical activity, cultural, recreational, artistic, and service learning enrichment opportunities; and the Champion Childcare Program at Pell which is a 5 Star licensed before and after school childcare program offered daily during the school year. In Middletown, out of school time programs include after school enrichment at Aquidneck and Forest Avenue Elementary Schools and Gaudet Middle School, school vacation camps, and the summer camp program.
Family Programs including the Family Service Coordination Program, connect families with essential community resources, improve parenting skills, provide educational opportunities, help families to be more involved in their children’s education, encourage daily school attendance, assist children with transitions, and reduce social isolation.
The Backpack Program provides a weekly backpack of food for enrolled children to eat during the weekend when food can be scarce for families.
Across components, we have a strong focus on the promotion of health and wellness and creating healthy lifestyles. The NFCOZ has developed strong partnerships with Newport Public Schools and Middletown Public Schools. We have created seamless relationships with the elementary school and wrap around programs build upon the school day and respond to the needs of the school population as identified by parents, teachers, school administrators, and students.
Funding
The NFCOZ receives funding from federal, state, and private sources. Our current funders are:
United States Department of Education
Rhode Island Department of Education
van Beuren Charitable Foundation
North Family Trust
The Newport Partnership for Families, Reading Reaps Rewards (R3) Initiative
Newport Public Schools, Title I and Title III
McKinney-Vento Homeless Grant (through Newport Public Schools)
John Clarke Trust
Middletown Civic Appropriations
Middletown Public Schools
Donations and fees
Our Core Staff Team
Christine Arouth, NFCOZ Director
Taylor Ardito, Family Services Manager
Mark McKenna, Family Service Coordinator
Erin Hallene, OST Manager
Shaday Viruet, CLC Site Coordinator
Heather Hinckley, Champion Childcare Coordinator
Out of School Time Team
Lead Teachers: Janice Masciarelli, Hope Westman, Gabriella Fagundes
Teacher Assistants: Miriam Tashjian, Cadence Stawiecki, Erin Ok
Front Door Receptionist: Janet Sotelo AM, Julie Suazon PM
