If you are looking for a Family Nurturing Program or Nurturing Fathers' Program for yourself or for a parent you are working with, please visit our Nurturing Program Calendar for start dates and contact information.
For our full list of trainings and workshops this winter/spring (including Nurturing Program Facilitator Trainings), please see our Training Calendar.
Thank you!
Ryan graduated in June, 2020 from our only Nurturing Fathers' Program to start in person and end online. Learn how he and his fellow dads managed Zoom classes and supported each others' growth and parenting in a pandemic. Watch "Ryan's Story".
"Ryan's Story" was filmed and edited by John Badalament, Director of Programs for The Fatherhood Project at Massachusetts General Hospital. John is also a speaker, author, educator, and filmmaker.
For a quick trip to info about programs and resources right in your community, use the following links.
Allston-Brighton Family Support Network page
Dorchester Family Support Network page
Hyde Park/Roslindale Family Support Network page
Boston Family Engagement Network page (for Networks around the city)
Chelsea Community Connections page
To learn more about Family Engagement, click HERE.
Currently, Family Nurturing Center is not coordinating face-to-face programs or meetings. We will continue to monitor the ever-changing situation and adapt accordingly.
Our staff is working from their homes to support families by telephone, Zoom, Facebook, and other social media. We are finding ways to connect regularly, distribute resources safely, and share with parents helpful curriculum content and fun, nurturing activities to do at home. Staff is also working with families to deliver Nurturing Parenting Programs virtually, whenever possible.
We are posting resource information and links below, on our main Family Nurturing Center Facebook page, and on our Dorchester, Allston-Brighton, and Chelsea pages.
Please refer to our Staff Directory to reach individual staff members (email preferable at this time).
Here are some important tips from the Nurturing Program during this challenging time: keep structure and routine in your home, model patience and calm, make time to nurture yourself, maintain appropriate expectations for children of different ages, have empathy for family members' feelings and needs, and be sure to laugh and play whenever you can.
Boston Family Engagement Network links: BFEN Coronavirus response; BFEN Neighborhood Centers Listing and Contacts
For a printable list of emergency resources: https://bit.ly/3bbhdA9
REOPENING
Mass.gov: Reopening Massachusetts
STATE
Department of Early Education and Care:
Emergency Child Care and updated health and safety protocol.
Financial support guidance, more info for small business and unemployed workers
Mass.gov: COVID-19
Attorney General's Office: guidance on private-pay child care, assistance for small businesses
The Employer's Guide to Unemployment insurance
Multilingual resources from MIRA Coalition
3-1-1 City of Boston Non-Emergency Services Line
2-1-1 State of Massachusetts Non-Emergency Services Line
Mayor Marty Walsh's Hotline (617) 534-5050
City of Boston Updates: https://bit.ly/341QaUN
Multi-lingual Resources: Coronavirus/COVID-19: https://bit.ly/2wQUn1B
Boston Area Resources List (State Rep. Liz Miranda): https://bit.ly/3b4RUzc
Massachusetts Coronavirus Resources (Children’s Trust) https://bit.ly/2IU9MRj
Resources for Families with Young Children and Providers (Mass Association for Infant Mental Health) https://bit.ly/3aZACmM
Apply for unemployment benefits here: https://bit.ly/2JRW9ma
Step by step instructions with visuals how to apply for unemployment: https://bit.ly/3bHt7l2
Covid-19 Resource Guide for Boston's Immigrants: https://bit.ly/3axD98f
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition https://miracoalition.org/resources/covid19
Food Resource List & Maps:
The Greater Boston Food Bank: https://bit.ly/2x9Nt7y
Massachusetts WIC Nutrition Program: https://bit.ly/3bHhbQn
Finding formula and WIC foods: https://bit.ly/2UpMwRD
Map of Meal Sites for Children and Youth (City of Boston) https://bit.ly/38X7X0t
Dorchester: https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/d/dorchester_1.pdf
Allston/Brighton: https://bit.ly/38Xp1U4
Hyde/Park: https://bit.ly/3dd5ylF
Charlestown: https://bit.ly/2IXoPJS
Roxbury/Mission Hill: https://bit.ly/2Uj84hG
To apply for Snap Benefits:https://bit.ly/343Slrg
The FoodSource Hotline: 800-654-8333.
Help with SNAP applications over the phone 8am-7pm, Mon-Fri and 10am-2pm on Saturdays throught the crisis.
ABCD Food Pantries: 617-348-6559
Project Bread is providing free meals: https://bit.ly/3e2tCrX
Boston Basics Videos for parents (Basic1, Basic 2, etc): https://bit.ly/2XweQE3
Parents Helping Parents online support groups https://www.parentshelpingparents.org/
Encantos bilingual learning www.encantosbrands.com/learning
Zero to Three at Home Activity Guide: https://bit.ly/2J94WzD
Ages and Stages Activities (2 month to 5 years): https://bit.ly/3bjF3ZY
Education.com is an educational site for PreK-grade: https://bit.ly/2vO2Y4K
Scholastic launched 20 days of free online lessons for PreK9+: https://bit.ly/3biF3JN
Story Line - Read Aloud website www.storylineonline.net
Unite for Literacy - online readings/books in English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic www.uniteforliteracy.com
Steam Learning Activities: shorturl.at/cLVX3
10 Questions Parents May Have About Coronavirus (NY Times) https://nyti.ms/2UfT4kB
How to talk to your child about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - (UNICEF) https://uni.cf/3dbmDMH
Talking to Teens and Tweens about Coronavirus – (NY Times) https://nyti.ms/39XmSZP
Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus (NPR) https://n.pr/2QmBFpd
Family Nurturing Center is thrilled to announce that our Changing Children's Chances capital campaign fundraising is completed! Thanks to many generous individuals and foundations, we achieved our goal to create a Family and Training Center in the heart of Dorchester's Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood. We moved in on January 23rd, 2020.
The new 12,800 square foot building will be a hub for all our family support and engagement programs in this community and around Boston. We will reach even more families to build parents' skills as nurturers and teachers and develop children's school readiness. We invite you to visit us in our new home.
