NORWICH – A familiar childcare support agency officially opened its doors at a new location at 21 S. Broad St. earlier this month, with a mission of providing pillar services for childcare providers and organizations in the area, and referrals for families and businesses seeking out quality childcare providers.

The Family Enrichment Network, headquartered in Johnson City, expanded to its Norwich-based branch on Conkey Avenue in April, when the agency merged with the Chenango County Child Care Coordinating Council (the 6 C’s) and took over a new contract. Budget restraints and state funding cuts presented insurmountable challenges to the 6 C’s organization, which previously held its own contract. The decision to move forward with a merger with the Family Enrichment Network was made by the 6 C’s board members last year and since, the 6 C’s has dissolved as an agency with only one board member remaining to serve in the newly-formed FEN board for Chenango County.

“It’s very hard to operate on that little bit of money and I think that the board realized that,” explained FEN Child Care Resource and Referal Director Jennifer Perney. “The board made the decision to move forward with the merger because they wanted to do what was best for the organization.”

The merger expands on services to families and businesses once offered by the 6 C’s, which include free referrals for childcare programs and information on how to search for quality childcare in the area. FEN also recruits, trains and offers additional support services to licensed childcare providers, said Perney. New services include more training opportunities for licensed providers who are state mandated to receive 30 hours of professional development every two years; and on site visits to childcare services in the county.