Families First serves parents from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. 

We recognize that parents raising children in extremely challenging circumstances – teen parents, parents living in shelters, parents with little financial resources, and parents who have newly transitioned into the United States – are particularly at risk for allowing the common frustrations of parenting to escalate into crisis.  Circumstances are even more trying in neighborhoods where gangs, drugs, and violence are prevalent, and where working parents cannot always stand guard.  This is why 66% of our programs are offered for little or no cost to African American, Asian, Haitian, Latino, and Caucasian parents from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.  Many are young single mothers who are among the most highly stressed in our society, with children ranging in age from infancy through the teenage years.

We also recognize the great need for parenting programs that are linguistically diverse and culturally competent.  During the past 15 years, the United States has received the largest numbers of immigrants since the early 1900s.  Greater Boston is home to more than 45,000 Haitians, and over 85,000 Latinos, and more than 75,000 people of Chinese descent. Furthermore, according to the 2000 Census, Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations, currently accounting for more than 14% of Boston’s total population. 

With the successful completion of our training program for a diverse group of parenting educators, we now offer our workshops in Cantonese, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.  Programs are held in more than 60 neighborhoods and communities throughout Greater Boston, Eastern Massachusetts, and additional parts of New England at a range of sites such as childcare centers, daycare facilities, Head Starts, shelters, hospitals, schools, libraries, community centers, housing developments and worksites.