Parenting Education and Support Programs (PESPs) bring together parents in structured training programs to increase their skills, offer access to information, and to create support networks in communities. Programs address the needs of diverse groups, including grandparents, fathers, single parents, and parents with disabilities.

Boston Region

City Served: Boston Neighborhoods
Program Name: Making Parenting a Pleasure: Working with Parents of Special Needs Children
Lead Agency: Action for Boston Community Development, Inc
Contact: Carolyn Boehne
Phone: 617-348-6278
Email: boehne@bostonabcd.org
Program Description: “Making Parenting a Pleasure" is a curriculum designed to serve parents with special needs children ages birth through age six years old.

City Served: Chinatown, South End
Program Name: Acorn Center for Early Education and Care and the Family Child Care Program
Lead Agency: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
Contact: Kathy Cheng or Bernadette Davidson
Phone: 617-635-5129
Email: bernadette.davidson@bcnc.org
Program Description: Acorn Center for Early Education and Care will offer a parenting education and support program specifically designed to support Asian American families enrolled in their childcare center with children ages birth through six years old.

City Served: Dorchester and surrounding area
Program Name: Haitian Parenting Education Group
Lead Agency: Haitian Multi-Service Center of the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston
Contact: Guy Apollon
Phone: 617- 506-6613
Email: guy_apollon@ccab.org
Program Description: Catholic Charities Haitian Multi-Service Center will offer two eight-week parenting education and support program for Haitian pregnant and parenting moms with children ages birth through six years old that are enrolled in the Santé Manman Se` Petit Program.

City Served: Quincy
Program Name: Parent to Parent “My Baby & Me”
Lead Agency: City of Quincy/Commission on the Family to Family Program
Contact: Marti O’Keefe McKenna
Phone: 617-689-8352
Email: mokeefemckenna@quincyma.gov
Program Description: The City of Quincy’s Commission on Parent to Parent Program will offer a parenting education and support program for first time parents with children age’s birth through six months.

City Served: Roslindale and Mattapan
Program Name: Nurturing Programs for Families with Young Children
Lead Agency: Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts
Contact: Sandy Sachs
Phone: 617-474-1143
Email: ssachs@familynurturing.org
Program Description: The Family Nurturing Center will conduct a parenting education and support program in Spanish and English offering a 13-week Nurturing Program for expectant parents and parents of young children. Child care, refreshments, and the Nurturing Families of the World Parent Handbooks and transportation will be provided. The targeted population is families who are WIC qualified and may be eligible for Smart from the Start Programs.

City Served: Charlestown
Program Names: Kennedy Center’s Parenting Services Program
Lead Agency: John F. Kennedy Family Service Center, Inc.
Contact: Erica Schwartz
Phone: 781-681-1735
Email: eschwartz@kennedycenter.org
Program Description: The Kennedy Center will offer an eight week parenting education and support program for English speaking parents who have at least one children who is between the ages of three to six years old. The program will be topic oriented and will focus on topics such as Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem, Saying No, Handling parental Stress, etc. Food, Childcare and Transportation is available.

City Served: Roxbury, Dorchester
Program Names: Parenting Education and Support Program
Lead Agency: La Alianza Hispana, Inc.
Contact: Ana Cambonchi
Phone: 617-427-7175
Email: acambonchi@laalianza.org
Program Description: La Alianza Hispanic, Inc., will offer a parenting education and support program utilizing the Nurturing Program titlted “Crianza Con Carino” a family nurturing program for young moms and their young children.

City Served: East Boston
Program Name: Family School at the Otis Spanish Parenting Support Group
Lead Agency: Otis Family School
Contact: Susan Klaw
Phone: 617-635-8372
Email: sklaw@gmail.com
Program Description: The Family School at the James Otis Elementary School will offer a weekly Spanish parenting support group series as part of its Family School for Latino parents to give them an opportunity to explore and discuss parenting concerns in their native language.

City Served: South Boston
Program Name: South Boston Neighborhood House Parents’ Group
Lead Agency: South Boston Neighborhood House
Contact: Sarah Ryan
Phone: 617-268-1619
Email: sryan@sbnh.org
Program Description: South Boston Neighborhood House will offer two separate eight-week series of workshops/meetings for parents of young children, facilitated by a family support specialist, focusing on issues and topics generated by the concerns and questions of the mothers with children ages birth through 6 years old. Meetings will be held in Old Colony Head Start and West Broadway Head Start sites. South Boston parents who do not have a child enrolled at Head Start are also welcome to attend.

Metro

City Served: Concord, Carlisle, Maynard, Acton, Bedford and surrounding communities
Program Name: Raising Your Challenging Child
Lead Agency: Concord Public Schools Center for Parents and Teachers
Contact: Sally Quinn Reed
Phone: 978-202-1145
Email: squinnreed@colonial.net
Program Description: The Center for Parents and Teachers will offer two eight week series titled “Raising Your Challenging Child” for parents with young children. Curricula and materials will be drawn from various sources. Refreshments, transportation and childcare are available.

City Served: Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Brookline and surrounding areas
Program Names: New Babies/New Parents
Lead Agency: Warmlines Parent Resources, Inc.
Contact: Beth Basnight
Phone: 617-332-3666
Email: bbsnight@warmlines.org
Program Description: Warmlines will offer a parenting education and support program titled, "New Babies/New Parents," a group series for first-time parents with babies ages up to six months old to provide a forum for discussion and peer support as they face the challenges of their new roles.

Southeastern Massachusetts

City Served: Attleboro, North Attleborough, Taunton and surrounding areas
Program Name: Education and Support for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities
Lead Agency: Arc of Northern Bristol County, Inc.
Contact: Beth Bogus
Phone: 508-226-1445
Email: bbogus@arcnbc.org
Program Description: The Arc of Northern Bristol County will offer a parenting education and support program for parents with young children who have developmental disabilities.

City Served: Attleboro
Program Name: Project Connect Family Network, Parenting Toolbox
Lead Agency: Attleboro Public Schools
Contact: Kathy Sullivan
Phone: 508-226-2883
Email: ksullivan@attleboroschools.com
Program Description: Project Connect will offer the "Parenting Toolbox " which is a format that blends sessions on specific guidance techniques and parent driven emergent topics for parents with children through six years old.

City Served: Barnstable, Dennis, and Yarmouth
Program Name: Effective Positive Discipline
Lead Agency: Cape Cod Child Development Program, Inc.
Contact: Mary Wilson
Phone: 508-775-6240
Email: mwilson@cccdp.org
Program Description: Cape Cod Child Development will offer a program titled “Effective Positive Discipline” for parents with children ages birth through six years.

City Served: Plymouth
Program Name: Plymouth Community Partnership for Children: Parent Power
Lead Agency: Plymouth Public Schools
Contact: Kristin Wilson
Phone: 508-830-4444
Email: kwilson@plymouth.k12.ma.us
Program Description: Parent Power is a combination of both a parenting education and support program and a parent/child inter-activity program for parents with pre-school age children.

City Served: New Bedford, Fall River areas
Program Names: Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Parent Support Program
Lead Agency: Child and Family Services
Contact: Josephine Cardona for New Bedford program
Phone: 508- 990-0894
Contact: Melissa Newton St. Pierre for Fall River program
Phone: 508- 676-5708
Program Description: Child and Family Services will offer two parenting education and support program group series: one in Spanish and one in Portuguese located in New Bedford and Fall River for parents with children ages birth through six years old.

City Served: Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne and Mashpee
Program Names: Upper Cape Family Network’s Effective Parenting Class
Lead Agency: Coalition for Children
Contact: Tina Toran
Phone: 508-548-0151
Email: ttoran@falmouth.k12.ma.us
Program Description: The Upper Cape Family Network will offer an eight-week Effective Parenting series, alternating curriculum weeks with eight weeks of small group support.This 16-week series is perfect for parents with children from birth to six years of age.

City Served: Abington, Rockland, Bridgewater, Hanover and surrounding areas
Program Names: Family Network Positive Parenting Playgroup
Lead Agency: North River Collaborative
Contact: Rosemary Chretien
Phone: 781-681-9736
Email: rchretien@nrcollab.org
Program Description: North River Collaborative will offer the Positive Parenting Playgroup, a parenting education and support program imbedded in a parent-child playground for parents of children through six years old.

Central Massachusetts

City Served: Fitchburg, Leominster and surrounding area
Program Names: Growing Together: My Child, My Self
Lead Agency: LUK Crisis Center, Inc
Contact: Maurie Bergeron
Phone: 978-345-0685
Email: mbergeron@luk.org
Program Description: The Luk Crisis Center will offer a parenting education and support program titled, "Growing Together" for young parents with children ages birth through six years old who are enrolled in the Fitchburg Evening Alternative High School program.

City Served: Auburn, Oxford, Webster and surrounding areas
Program Names: Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program
Lead Agencies : YOU Inc. Pregnant & Parenting Teen Program
Contact: Deborah Dee
Phone: 508-987-6078
Email: djdee@oxps.org
Program Description: Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program will offer parenting education and support groups for teen parents with children through six years old who live in South Worcester County. Groups are intended to support parents in learning about positive discipline techniques, reduce stress, and build support networks.

City Served: Fitchburg and Leominster
Program Names: Familias Unidas
Lead Agency: United Neighbors of Cleghorn
Contact: Glendaly Lopez
Phone: 508-342-2069
Email: glenda_l@cleghorncenter.org
Program Description: United Neighbors of Cleghorn will offer a bilingual parenting education and support and program based on the "Nurturing Program" philosophy for Latino parents with children ages birth through six years old.

Northeastern Massachusetts

City Served: Malden, Melrose, Medford and surrounding areas
Program Names: Time for Mommy & Me
Lead Agency: The Arc of East Middlesex
Contact: Judith Santa Maria
Phone: 781-942-4888
Email: familysupport@theemarc.org
Program Description: "Time for Mommy and Me is an integrated music and movement parenting education program for typical parents and parents with cognitive limitations and their children ages birth through six. Children with developmental disabilities are welcome and encouraged to join. Our goal is to teach play and engagement through music and movement.

City Served: Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, and Salem
Program Names: Fathers Who Care
Lead Agency: Catholic Charities North
Contact: Bennie Ashley
Phone: 781-593-2312
Email: bennieashley@ccab.org
Program Description: Catholic Charities North will offer a parenting education and support program series for fathers who are interested in learning about specific cooperative parenting techniques, setting appropriated limits, financial family planning and becoming a positive role-model for their children. Childcare, transportation, and refreshments are provided.

City Served: Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover
Program Names: Parent Aide Program of Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities
Lead Agency: Catholic Charities/Merrimack Valley
Contact: Viridania Diaz
Phone: 978-685-5930 ext. 238
Email: viridania_diaz@ccab.org
Program Description: The Parent Aide Program will offer a parenting education and support program series with topics ranging from family stress to child behavior management skills for Latino mothers with children ages birth through six years old.

City Served: Lowell, Dracut, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, and Chelmsford
Program Names: Early Learning / Family Strengthening
Lead Agency: Community Teamwork, Inc.
Contact: Kristen Tremblay
Phone: 978- 454-5100 ext. 153
Email: ktremblay@comtean.org
Program Description: Community Teamwork, Inc. will offer a parenting education and support program utilizing the "Family Strengthening Program" for families with children ages birth through six years old.

City Served: Melrose, Malden and other North Suburban communities
Program Names: Creative Coping: New Mothers Group
Lead Agency: Hallmark Health System, Inc.
Contact: Karen Andrews
Phone: 781-338-7607
Email: kandrews@hallmarkhealth.org
Program Description: Hallmark Health will offer two sessions of an eight-week program titled, "Creative Coping: A New Moms Group". The program is for first-time moms with children up to one-year of age. Some of the many topics to be covered include the following: "The Many Challenges of Motherhood”, “Managing Family Relationships”, "Developing a Balanced Life", Infant Development, and Infant Nutrition.

Western Massachusetts

City Served: All Hampshire county cities and towns.
Program Names: Kin Caregivers Support Group
Lead Agency: Berkshire Children & Families
Contact: Gail Fries
Phone: 413-584-5690
Email: gfries@befma.org
Program Description: Berkshire Children and Families will offer a parenting education and support program series for family members who are raising other family members’ children who are ages birth to six years old. Examples of these family members include grandchildren, nieces, cousins, nephews or siblings.

City Served: North Adams, Williamstown, Pittsfield and surrounding communities
Program Names: Parenting Young Children
Lead Agency: Child Care of the Berkshires
Contact: Amy Hall
Phone: 413-664-4821
Email: ahall@ccberkshire.org
Program Description: Child Care of the Berkshires will offer a parenting education and support program using the Early Childhood Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) model for parents with children through age six years old.

City Served: Northern and southern Hilltowns in Hampshire & Hampden counties
Program Names: Nurturing Your Infant and Toddler
Lead Agency: Hilltown Community Health Center
Contact: Lee MacKinnon
Phone: 413-238-5511
Email: lmackinnon@hchcweb.org
Program Description: This program will offer two parenting group series for Hilltown families. One series will serve families with infants less than one year and will include workshops on infant massage, infant development, and stress reduction. The next series will be geared for parents of older infants and toddlers and will include parent/child activities.

City Served: Easthampton, Southampton, Westhampton, and Northampton. Other communities welcomed if space allows.
Program Names: Easthampton Parent-Child Group
Lead Agency: Hampshire Educational Collaborative
Contact: Claire Kurtz
Phone: 413-586-4998
Email: ckurtz@collaborative.org
Program Description: Hampshire Educational Collaborative will offer a parenting education and support group series for families with children ages birth through six years old at the Easthampton Family Center. The group is particularly appropriate for families with at least one child between 18 months and 3 years, but younger and older children are welcome also to attend.

City Served: Holyoke and Surrounding Communities
Program Names: Parenting Works at Square One
Lead Agency: Square One, formerly Springfield Day Nursery, Inc.
Contact: Joni Beck Brewer
Phone: 413-858–3109
Email: jbeckbrewer@startatsquareone.org
Program Description: Square One will offer a parenting education and support program group series for homeless families with young children ages birth through six years old.

City Served: Montague, Greenfield, and the surrounding towns in central Franklin County.
Program Names: Family Game; Promoting Positive Parent-Child Communication
Lead Agency: United Arc of Franklin and Hampshire Counties
Contact: Susan Jones
Phone: 413-774-5558
Email: suejones@unitedarc.org
Program Description: The United ARC will offer a parenting education and support group series utilizing the curriculum titled, " Family Game; Promoting Positive Parent-Child Communication " is designed for parents with developmental disabilities, cognitive limitations or learning disabilities with young children ages birth through six years old. This model consists of both an interactive parent-child activity and parenting only component.

Comprehensive Parenting Education and Support Programs

City Served: Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover
Program Names: Parenting Journey
Lead Agency: Family Services, Inc.
Contact: Elizabeth Sweeny
Phone: 978-327-6637
Email: lsweeny@familiyserviceinc.com
Program Description: Family Services, Inc., will offer three group series utilizing the Parenting Journey curriculum. Two series will be offered in Spanish and one series will be offered in English. The program engages families through a strengths-based approach by building trust and establishing emotional safety in the groups. A major part of the program is focused on reflective listening skills to support parents in strengthening their communication with their children. The program also emphasizes the importance of parents reflecting back on their own childhood experiences and how to best benefit from those experiences as they raise their own children.

City Served: Athol, Orange, Erving, Wendell, Warwick, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston and New Salem
Program Name: Nurturing Program
Lead Agency: Valuing Our Children
Contact: Kathleen Hardie
Phone: 413-584-8467
Email: khardie@charter.net
Program Description: Valuing Our Children will offer two group series utilizing the Nurturing Program curriculum. This program is offered in Athol and Orange utilizing a strength-based approach that supports young families with young children in their crucial time of physical and emotional development. The Nurturing program focuses on increasing and strengthening positive family interactions in an atmosphere of fun and support over a 15-week to 18-week period. The philosophy of the program is that self-nurturance promotes nurturing parent-child relationships. Food, childcare and transportation will be provided free of charge

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