ABCD Head Start and Early Head Start
ABCD operates the citywide Head Start program, currently providing children between 0-5 years of age and their parents comprehensive educational, health and social services in Boston and Malden. ABCD Head Start also serves infants, toddlers and pregnant mothers at Early Head Start center-based programs and parent/child socialization groups
Contact: (p) 617-348-6272, https://bostonabcd.org/service/head-start-resources/
Boston Basics
The Basics are five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that encompass much of what experts find is important for children from birth to age three. Every child from every background can benefit from routinely experiencing the Basics learning experiences. Therefore, the Boston Basics Campaign is working through a broad range of institutions to ensure that every parent and caregiver is fully supported by family and friends to use the Basics practices in everyday life.
Contact: http://boston.thebasics.org
Children’s Trust- Parenting Education and Support Groups
Parenting Education and Support Programs help parents with young children enhance the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to be the best parents they can be. Group-based series are led by trained professionals and provide opportunities for parents to learn new skills, connect with peers, and receive information and resources.
Contact: (p) 617-727-8957, 55 Court Street 4th Floor, Boston MA 02108, https://www.childrenstrustma.org/our- programs/parent-education-and-support-programs
Family Nurturing Center
The mission of Family Nurturing Center is to work with others to build nurturing communities where children are cherished, families are supported, and healthy human development is promoted by all. Family Nurturing Center reaches parents and caregivers through home visits, playgroups, and workshops.
Contact: (p) 617-474-1143, 200 Bowdoin St. Dorchester MA 02122, http://www.familynurturing.org/family-engagement-and-support
Father Friendly Initiative (FFI)
FFI strives to help fathers become more involved with their families–before, during and after the birth of their children. FFI encourages its participants to become emotional, financial and nurturing resources for their children and a major source of strength to their families as well as their communities.
Contact: (p) 617-534-9525, http://www.bphc.org/whatwedo/childrens-health/father-friendly/pages/father- friendly.aspx
Father’s Uplift
Fathers’ Uplift empowers fathers to overcome barriers and become positively engaged in their children’s lives. We uplift fathers and strengthen families.
Contact: (p) 617-708-0870, 12 Southern Avenue, Dorchester Ma 02124, http://fathersuplift.org/
The Fatherhood Project at MGH
The Fatherhood Project is a fatherhood program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of children and families by empowering fathers to be knowledgeable, active, and emotionally engaged with their children.
Contact: (p) 617-724-2044,15 Parkman Street, Boston MA 02114, www.thefatherhoodproject.org
The Home for Little Wanderers: Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Centers (FRCs) of Massachusetts are a statewide network that provides services to strengthen families and keep them connected to resources within their own community. There are FRCs in every county in the Commonwealth. In addition to assisting families, the FRCs support the children of those families that may have behavioral issues and need additional supports.
Contact: (p) (617) 469-8501, 780 American Legion Highway, Roslindale MA 02131, http://mydorchester.org/FRC_HomeOfLittleWanderers
Mattapan Family Engagement Network
Boston is a big city. We want to take the guess work out of finding what you need. Staff is available in your neighborhood to assist you with questions, concerns or needs that might arise related to child care, parenting education, job search, or basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, utility assistance and more.
Contact: (p) 617-298-1785, 535 River Street, Mattapan MA 02126, https://bostonfen.weebly.com/neighborhood-centers.html
Mentoring Moms Services
Parents are matched with a trained, volunteer mentor who provides weekly phone call support through the first 12 weeks post-delivery. Mentors lend valuable support, encouragement and reassurance as well as resource information particularly around breastfeeding, or when to call your pediatrician.
A Mom Is Born- Community Groups
Community Groups are free and open to all; however, a donation of $5 per session is welcome. They are social in nature, with the goal to create friendships and share resources amid a shared experience. Groups include First Time Moms, Breastfeeding Q and A, and Pregnancy.
Contact: Boston Integrate Health 581 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116, https://www.amomisborn.com/groups.html
New Parent Support Groups- Massachusetts General Hospital
Weekly groups for pregnant women, new mothers and their families led by Massachusetts General Hospital nurses and lactation consultants provide a friendly and supportive environment to discuss questions regarding breastfeeding, newborn care, adjusting to parenthood and breast pump use. Groups are free and open to the public.
Contact: 55 Fruit Street, Boston MA 02114, https://www.massgeneral.org/obgyn/patient_education/new_parent_support_groups.aspx
The Nurturing Fathers Program
Brings together men from all family circumstances (custodial, non-custodial, step-fathers, new fathers) who need help with understanding how to be nurturing and supportive, while also maintaining their authority and providing consistent guidance and structure.
Contact: (p) 617-474-1143, 200 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester MA 02122, https://www.familynurturing.org/programs/nurturing-fathers-programs
Parent Mentoring- Children’s Services of Roxbury
The Parent Mentor program trains community members who establish a helping relationship in a household where children are at-risk for, or have suffered from abuse and neglect. Through weekly home visits, the Parent Mentor strives to increase knowledge of parenting skills, helping to strengthen families so they may remain together or reunify.
Contact: (p) 617-989-9442, https://csrox.org/programs/youth-and-family-services/parent-mentor
Parenting Journey
Parenting Journey’s approach is based on the family systems principle – that people do not exist in isolation. They live in families (however defined) and gain important strengths from these relationships. Through recognizing and harnessing families’ strengths, our programs create changes that benefit all members, both individually and as a family.
Contact: (p) 617-628-8815, 366 Somerville Avenue, Somerville MA 02143
Room to Grow
Room to Grow is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families during their first three years of development. Upon their referral, families visit Room to Grow’s inviting space once every three months. During their one-on-one appointments with our staff, parents receive developmental information, customized support, and all of the needed baby items to ensure a healthy and secure start for their child
Contact: (p) 617- 859-4545, 142 Berkeley Street # 22, Boston, MA 02116, http://roomtogrow.org/
Visiting Moms- Jewish Family and Children’s Service
Visiting Moms is a free service that matches volunteers with new moms or dads during the first year of their baby’s life, whether it’s the first baby or a new baby in the household. Volunteers are trained and supervised and support parents who are adjusting to parenthood, isolated, or overwhelmed. Volunteers visit new parents at home and provide a weekly visit for at least two months or up until the baby’s first birthday.
Contact: (p) 781-693-5626, email: dwhitehill@jfcsboston.org, https://www.jfcsboston.org/Our-Services/Center- for-Early-Relationship-Support/Lauren-Mark-Rubin-Visiting-Moms
Stronger Generations Initiative 