The Child and Family Network Centers

The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) is the City of Alexandria, Virginia’s only holistic, multilingual preschool for diverse working families with low incomes, including families who have immigrated to the United States and English Language Learners. We provide high-quality, accredited preschool education and family support services, establishing a solid foundation for children to thrive in kindergarten and build brighter futures.

CFNC builds power within our community, the same community that founded our organization. Our model is effective because it was created and is implemented by our families, including former parents and students who are members of our staff. We have a 42-year track record of empowering close to 6,000 families, and achieving the following goals:

• Ensure under-resourced children are prepared with the social, emotional, physical, language, and intellectual skills needed to succeed in an English-speaking kindergarten setting;
• Establish meaningful partnerships with families to grow school readiness and optimal development;
• Empower parents and caregivers with tools and resources to advocate for and support their child’s educational success long-term; and
• Ultimately, see that the three- and four-year-old children we serve today have access to the tools they need to thrive, and thus graduate from high school and become successful, self-sufficient adults who positively contribute to their communities.

Each year, CFNC serves 139 three and four year old children and their families across eight neighborhood based preschool classrooms. Our classrooms are located directly within the communities our families call home.

This past year has been especially challenging. Federal funding was frozen, briefly restored, and then partially reduced, while city funding for our afterschool and summer school programs was completely eliminated with no indication it will return. As a result, we are working to close critical gaps with private support while continuing to provide the full scope of our services. This includes multilingual early education, family support services, health services, and many other essential programs our families rely on every day. And we need your support to keep this work going.

Give to CFNC this Spring2ACTion.

Lift your city. Strengthen your community. Support your neighbors.