Parenting Support/Skills Training

The Home for Little Wanderers: Family Resource Center

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Roslindale (main site)
780 American Legion Highway
Roslindale, MA 02131

Dorchester (satellite site)
Up Academy Dorchester
35 Westville Street
Dorchester, MA 02122

Boston (satellite site)
Suffolk County Juvenile Court
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
*check in at Juvenile Clerk’s office, 2nd floor

Phone: 

(617) 469-8501

Email: 

FRC@thehome.org

Website: 

www.thehome.org/frc

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Roslindale

  • Tuesdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Wednesdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Thursdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Fridays 12 noon– 4 p.m.
  • Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dorchester 

  • Mondays 9 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Wednesdays 12 noon – 5 p.m.
  • Fridays 9 a.m. – 12 noon

Boston

  • Mondays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Mission: 

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.

Locations

Up Academy Dorchester
35 Westville Street
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
See map: Google Maps
Roslindale (Main site)
780 American Legion Highway
Roslindale, MA 02131
United States
See map: Google Maps
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

For services or to make a referral, please contact:

Amy McCarthy, Program Director
amccarthy@thehome.org 
FRC@thehome.org
(617) 469-8501

Key Programs Offered: 

How They Can Help
Families come to the FRC for many reasons. The goal of the FRC is to connect those looking for help to the appropriate services, whether they are within the FRC or in the community. Some of the resources the staff at the FRC help families find include:
• Housing support
• Utility assistance
• Legal aid
• Summer camps and sport leagues
• Other family needs

Children who need assistance or are at risk of needing court involvement (Child Requiring Assistance-CRA) can be assessed by an FRC clinician to develop a Family Support Plan to address the child’s and the family’s needs.

Services Offered
The FRC offers an array of services through its experienced staff.
School Liaisons help families with truancy, absenteeism, special education and behavioral issues.

Family Support Workers connect families with resources in the community.
Family Partners help families navigate the child-serving system and use their lived experience as caregivers to partner with other caregivers to help achieve their goals.

Peer Support Workers work with youth to engage them in a process of change by sharing their experiences and struggles
as young adults.

The FRC also facilitates groups and classes for families such as evidence-based parent groups and family enrichment activities.

Greater Boston PFLAG

Phone: 

781-891-5966

Fax: 

781-891-7444

Email: 

info@gbpflag.org

Website: 

gbpflag.org

Mission: 

Greater Boston PFLAG works to create environments of understanding so that all people can live with dignity and respect through:

  • Support: to cope with an adverse society
  • Education: to enlighten the public
  • Advocacy: to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights

Greater Boston PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Location

85 River St.
Waltham, MA 02454
United States
See map: Google Maps
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

There are many ways to get involved in Greater Boston PFLAG!

  • Attend a chapter meeting support group.
  • Join us at Youth Pride on the second Saturday in May. Help us support LGBT youth and their allies by cheering them on or staffing our literature table
  • March with us in the Boston Pride Parade on the second Saturday in June. Or staff our literature table, sell merchandise, or answer questions.
  • Help in our office with mailings for an hour or an afternoon.
  • Volunteer to help at an event.
  • Join one of our committees
Key Programs Offered: 

We help change attitudes and create an environment of understanding so that our gay family members and friends can live in a world that is safe and inclusive. We accomplish this through support, education, and advocacy. We offer:

Created: 
09/11/2012

Boston Healthy Start Initiative

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

35 Northampton Street, Miranda/Creamer Building, 6th Floor, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02118

Phone: 

(617) 534-5395

Fax: 

(617) 534-5358

Email: 

info@bphc.org

Website: 

http://www.bphc.org/Pages/Home.aspx

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month (there are no meetings in July and August) at New Academy Estates Community Center, 2908 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Please call (617) 534 7828 to add your name to the dinner list, or if you need transportation. Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m.

Mission: 

Boston Healthy Start Initiative's mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. BHSI strives to fulfill the mission through a wide range of health initiatives that target preventable disease and injury.

Location

Boston Healthy Start Initiative
35 Northampton Street Miranda/Creamer Building 6th Floor, Suite 604
Boston, MA 02118
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Partners: 

Program of Boston Public Health Commission. Associated with Father Friendly Program.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Community residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, South End, and Jamaica Plain, can attend the meetings. Religious organizations, business owners, and community based agencies are also encouraged to attend.

Key Programs Offered: 

Boston Healthy Start Initiative has been funded since 1991 to ensure that Black pregnant women receive quality health care by funding case management, health education, interconceptional care, and maternal depression services. If you self identify as a Black pregnant woman you will receive services through a case manager who has experience in maternal and child health issues. Call (617) 534-7828, to ask for a health center near your home.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

New Academy Estates Community Center, 2908 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Created: 
06/27/2011

Child Care Choices of Boston

Phone: 

617-542-5437 (KIDS)

Fax: 

617-292-4629

Email: 

cccb@bostonabcd.org

Website: 

http://childcarechoicesofboston.org

Mission: 

Child Care Choices of Boston (CCCB) serves as the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency for Boston, Brookline, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.

CCCB plays a key role in making child care work for everyone by providing support, resources, technical assistance and training to a diverse community of families, child care providers, employers and businesses in the greater Boston area.

Each year, CCCB provides more than 6,000 low-income families with voucher management services that enable access to much needed child care. The program disburses more than $43 million annually, while working with close to 1,000 child care providers in the region.

Location

Child Care Choices of Boston
105 Chauncy Street 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02111
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Programs Offered: 

Index of child care for parents, special needs support, financial assistance for child care, provider business assistance, English/Spanish professional development, resources for parents and providers.

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

Part of Action for Boston Community Development/ABCD

Created: 
04/26/2011

Smart from the Start

Phone: 

(617) 858-4687

Email: 

rachelle.eddins@smartfromthestartboston.com

Website: 

http://www.smartfromthestartboston.org/

Mission: 

Smart from the Start is a community engagement and family support initiative of the City of Boston. It promotes school readiness by providing early learning opportunities and family support for families with children, ages 0 to 5, living in or around Boston Housing Developments in Dorchester, Roslindale, Mattapan, and Charlestown.

Location

Franklin Field Resource Center
70 Ames Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Partners: 

City of Boston, Thrive in 5

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Call Dorchester Program coordinator at (617)858-4687 with questions or to register for programs. Some events and programs may be drop-in. 

Main office is located at the Thomas Johnson Community Center, 68 Annunciation Road, Boston, MA 02120. Phone: (617) 635-5030. Fax: (617) 635-5704.

Key Programs Offered: 

Parent Power Hour: Are you a Parent or Caregiver?  Empower yourself and socialize with other parents to learn new ideas that lead to a brighter future. Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Program runs all year. 

Nurturing Smart Prenatal Moms: Are you pregnant? Learn about stages of pregnancy, infant massage, nurturing yourself and much more! Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Recurring program. Call to confirm.

Playgroups: Infant: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.;
Toddler Play Groups: Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.;
Preschool Play Group: Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Created: 
04/19/2011

Dorchester FAMILY School Initiative

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Website: 

http://mydorchester.org/about_DFSI

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mission: 

 

The Dorchester FAMILY School Initiative (DFSI) provides academic, enrichment, and wellness services to our partner schools: the Oliver W. Holmes, Lee Academy, and Joseph Lee Elementary Schools. Other DFSI partners include DotWell, SCI, and FAMILY, Inc.

Our mission is to remove barriers to learning; to improve children’s physical, social, and emotional wellness; and to connect students and families to their schools and community.

You can read about DFSI Partners and DFSI Programs and Services, or take a moment to learn about Full Service Community Schools.

Location

1452 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Partners: 

 

The Oliver W. Holmes Elementary School is a K1-5 school of 282 students near Four Corners.

The Lee Academy is a K0-1 pilot school near Franklin Field.

The Joseph Lee Elementary School is a grade 2-6 school of 300 students near Franklin Field.

DotWell is the partnership of Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester House Multi-Service Center. DotWell is DFSI’s lead agency.

FAMILY, Inc. is a non-profit organization that works as a community organizing system. By creating partnerships with individuals and institutions, FAMILY, Inc. connects educational, health care, economic, and other systems to collaboratively create healthy, safe, sustainable communities throughout the world.

Social Capital Inc. strengthens communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

 

For more information, families may contact:

Key Programs Offered: 

Created: 
02/06/2013

Boston Parent Organizing Network (BPON)

Phone: 

617-522-2766

Fax: 

617-522-2799

Email: 

info@bpon.org

Website: 

http://www.bpon.org

Mission: 

Boston Parent Organizing Network organizes, develop and support parentsand families who are marginalized by class, race, language, disability and immigration status to  work with and hold accountable the Boston Public Schools to provide an excellent education for all students.

In all we do we are guided by these principles:

  • Parents and families are the most effective advocates and leaders to bring about lasting improvements in student education.
  • Parents, families and students are the key source to identify the educational needs of children and youth.
  • Networking and collaboration among community based organizations and school based parent groups are necessary to effect system-wide change
  • Both system-wide and community-based issues must be addressed collectively to assure sustained success.

Our Vision

Because of BPON's effectiveness parents and families who are marginalized by class, race, language, disability and immigration status directly influence decision making at all levels of the Boston Public School System.

Location

BPON
209 Green Street 3rd Floor
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Partners: 

Current organizational members include ACEDONE, ACORN, Black Ministerial Alliance, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Center for Collaborative Education, City Life/Vida Urbana, Citywide Parents Council, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, East Boston Ecumenical Community Council, East Boston High School Family Center, EDLaw Project, English High School Family Center, Families First Parenting Programs, Hyde Square Task Force, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, JP Unidos, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, MassCOSH, Mass English Plus Coalition, Sociedad Latina, Trotter School Parent Council, and the Young Achievers Pilot School Family Association.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Visit the membership application page, found at http://www.bpon.org/about-us/membership-application. Also check out BPON's job opportunities.

Key Programs Offered: 

Since its formation in 1999, BPON has built on the strengths of its organizational members and thousands of parent volunteers to achieve significant change at both the school and district levels.  BPON is recognized as a powerful and unique force in reform of the BPS, creating consensus among diverse parents, developing their power through leadership training and amplifying their voices, and wielding this power in unified action.

BPON's focus is on engaging families to provide leadership in achieving excellent education for all BPS students.

Created: 
03/08/2011

Boston Parent-Child Home Program

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts
200 Bowdoin St. Boston, MA 02122

Phone: 

617-474-1143 x 229

Email: 

lbrown@familynurturing.org

Website: 

http://www.familynurturing.org

Mission: 

What is the Boston Parent-Child Home Program?

• It is an innovative, home-based literacy program that promotes a “learning through play” experience for parents and their preschool children.
• It develops a child’s language and literacy skills, as well as their social-emotional development through positive parent-child interactions.
• It prepares children for academic success.
• It helps parents to realize their role as their child’s first and most important teacher.

Boston PCHP is free for eligible Boston area families with children between the ages of 18 months to 2-1/2. We provide the family with a trained home visitor who will visit with the parent and child twice a week. Together, the home visitor and parent discover ways to encourage verbal interaction and creative play using books and toys that the family gets to keep. Visits are not only educational, but fun! For more information, call Lydia Brown Boston PCHP Coordinator 617 474-1143 x229 or email lbrown@familynurturing.org. 

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

FLASH Program (managed by Crittenton Women's Union)

Created: 
03/08/2011

Boston Public Schools Adult Education

Phone: 

617-635-9300

Fax: 

617-635-9045

Email: 

lpatrick@boston.k12.ma.us

Website: 

http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/department/adult-education

Location

Madison Park Complex
55 Malcolm X Boulevard
Roxbury 02120
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Programs Offered: 

Boston Central Adult High School:

  • open to adult students who want to complete high school diploma requirements
  • evening program at Madison Park Technical Vocational School
  • ADP/ESOL

Adult Diploma Program

  • open to adult students who demonstrate life-skill competencies
  • students earn a Boston Central Adult High School diploma
  • day and evening hours available at fifteen community sites

Adult Learning Center Family Literacy Program

  • open to adult students who want instruction in basic skills, English as a Second Language, or GED preparation classes
  • Family Literacy Program works to improve Boston Public School parents' academic and parenting skills
  • provides links between parents and schools, and brings parents and children together for common actitivies

GED Testing Information

  • registration materials, test sites and dates, and test preparation programs for the High School Equivalency Examination (G.E.D.)

Culinary Arts

  • Adult Education and Community Services (AECS) Culinary Arts Training Program

Facilities Maintenance

  • Adult Education and Community Services (AECS) Facilities Maintenance Training Program

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

Boston Public Schools Department of Adult Education

Created: 
11/29/2011

Boston Public Schools Family Literacy Program Adult Learning Center

Phone: 

617-635-9300

Email: 

kehresman@boston.k12.ma.us

Website: 

http://www.boston.k12.ma.us/adulted/alc.html

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

This school-year program operates from September to June, 8:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Mission: 

The Family Literacy Program at the Adult Learning Center is committed to strengthening literacy in families and parenting skills of parents of children enrolled in the Boston Public Schools. When parents improve their own academic skills, they are better able to assist their children with school work. These adult students are encouraged to become advocates for their children. All courses are free of charge and include parenting skills and computer lab.

Location

Family Literacy Program at the Adult Learning Center
11A Charles Street
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
See map: Google Maps
Key Partners: 

Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition

Key Programs Offered: 

Together, Now!: Parent and child learning activity program

Adult Basic Education: Classes to improve basic skills in reading, math and writing

English for Speakers of Other Languages: Speak, read and write better English

G.E.D. Exam Preparation: Earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium: Resources for Programs statewide.

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

Adult Learning Center Family Literacy Program; Family Literacy Program

Created: 
01/20/2011
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