Carpinteria Children’s Project connects families to early education, quality care, diverse resources, and support services necessary for their children to thrive, flourish, and succeed.

In 2008, Carpinteria found itself with an asset: a public elementary school had closed because enrollment in the district had declined. Carpinteria Unified School District was also serving a higher percentage of low-income students than it had in the past. Community leaders and neighbors, with substantial support from a number of funders, decided to open a public-private collaborative focused on early education and social services. Before the Carpinteria Children’s Project opened, families had to go to Santa Barbara, California – which can take an hour by bus – to access services.

In January 2009, the Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP) opened its doors. Onsite partners agreed to rental arrangements, moved in, and all remain on site today. In the fall of 2014, the partnership began spreading beyond the walls of our campus and adopted the name, Thrive Carpinteria Partner Network, which we lovingly still call our Partner Network. The Family Resource Center of the Carpinteria Children’s Project is the hub of the network and, in addition to providing direct services, manages families’ requests for service and centers a consistent pathway of care for families.

As of 2016, we decided to become our own 501c3 and operate as a standalone nonprofit. We have continued our strong partnership with the school district and work together to find and address the needs of children and families in the community.