• 1967 Following UNICEF-sponsored regional conference on the Needs of the Young Child in the Caribbean, a regional centre for research and training in early childhood education and care initiatives was recommended.
  • 1971 A concurrent initiative through UWI interdisciplinary committee (Sally Grantham-McGregor of TMRU and Sybil Francis of SWTC) to develop an outreach facility for August Town/ Hermitage resulted in a proposal to UNICEF.
  • 1972 Proposal for building and five staff positions approved by UNICEF, with the understanding that UWI would eventually assume financial responsibility.
  • 1972- 1976 John Maxwell appointed first coordinator of the Regional Preschool Child Development Centre.
  • 1973/4 First Director, Social Worker and Training Coordinator appointed
  • 1978 First Research Fellow appointed.
  • 1975 - 1982 workshops and conferences held. Residential training activities were held but considered costly. UNICEF recommended more focus on curriculum development.
  • 1983 First UWIDITE course offered through the Centre for early childhood programme supervisors. UWIDITE later used also for training in parent education and teleconferencing to maintain network links.
  • 1985 Centre renamed Caribbean Child Development Centre
  • UNICEF funding phased out, UWI unable to maintain posts except for one Tutor/ Coordinator. Subsequent work largely project based.
  • 1990 CCDC invited to become field representative for the Caribbean region for the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Education, Care and Development. Subsequently to become a member institution of Childwatch International, a network of institutions that focus on research of children’s issues, a Cooperating Centre of UNESCO and a member of CRUN, Child Rights Universities’ Network.
  • Administrative Assistant post allocated from UWI
  • Operating budget allotment from UWI
  • 2004 On retirement of Tutor-Coordinator Janet Brown, Julie Meeks Gardner was appointed to the post, with a mandate to promote the research thrust in keeping with the Strategic Plan of the UWI.