FAMILY NURTURING CENTER OF MASSACHUSETTS INC

NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAMS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKNURTURING PARENTING PROGRAMS ARE 15-SESSION, RESEARCH-VALIDATED, INTERACTIVE PARENT SUPPORT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY; NURTURING FATHERS' PROGRAMS ENGAGE FATHERS IN DEPENDENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF 12 SESSIONS. THESE PROGRAMS BUILD NURTURING SKILLS THROUGH GROUP LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES FROM A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CURRICULUM EMPHASIZING EMPATHY, EMPOWERMENT, POSITIVE SELF-WORTH, AND THE USE OF DIGNIFIED DISCIPLINE FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS. WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING, FNC COORDINATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND FATHERS, IN MULTIPLE CONTEXTS AND LANGUAGES, INCLUDING INSIDE HOUSES OF CORRECTION FOR INCARCERATED PARENTS. THE FOLLOWING GOALS GUIDE OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORK, WHICH PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF FREE, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN: 1. BUILD PARENTS' SKILLS AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER AND BEST NURTURER; 2. DEVELOP CHILDREN'S EARLY LITERACY, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, AND OTHER SCHOOL-READINESS SKILLS; AND 3. CONNECT FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EACH OTHER. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, FNC OFFERS A FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES IN DORCHESTER, ALLSTON-BRIGHTON, AND HYDE PARK INCLUDING WELCOME BABY HOME VISITS, PARENT/BABY AND PARENT/CHILD PLAYGROUPS, PARENTCHILD+ PROGRAM, AND BOSTON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NETWORK.

COALITION AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGFNC'S COALITION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN A CHILD ACHIEVING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THROUGH THIS WORK, FNC ENGAGED FAMILIES IN BUILDING THE COMMUNITIES THEY ENVISION FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.FNC HAS TWO UNIQUE DCF-FUNDED INITIATIVES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES - DORCHESTER CARES COMMUNITY COALITION AND PATCH. IN ADDITION TO DCF-FUNDED PROGRAMMING, THE COALITION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TEAM IMPLEMENTS COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES, FOCUSED ON COLLABORATIVE WORK IN DORCHESTER - HEALTHY BOWDOIN GENEVA, BOWDOIN CARES INITIATIVE, AND COMMUNITY HEALING RESPONSE NETWORK."