Posts by Courtney Kramer

Creating “The Parenting Pathway” Video

Collaborating with Hothouse Productions to Create “The Parenting Pathway” Video In recent years, Families First has adapted its programs to better meet parents’ needs. We are a trusted source for parenting education and support, as well as parent leadership and family engagement. We needed our messaging to reflect the entirety of this parenting pathway. Our…

Expanding Programming to Western MA

Expanding Programming to Western MA The true sign of a strong program is the desire of others to bring that program into their own communities. Families First is excited to announce that we will be expanding our reach and launching our programs in the Springfield, MA area in 2022! Where Are We Heading? The Western…

Financial Mentoring with Brookline Bank

Financial Mentoring with Brookline Bank Making informed decisions about your finances is often easier said than done. That’s why we partnered with Brookline Bank this summer to set up a Financial Mentoring program for our Leadership Fellows and Ambassadors. For eight weeks, employees from Brookline Bank paired together with nine parents who’d participated in both…

Families First Launches Family Ambassador Program

Families First launches Family Ambassador Program Families First is thrilled to announce the launch of our new pilot Family Ambassador Program in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). On Monday, August 16, the EEC Family Ambassador Program commenced as representatives from 24 agencies across Massachusetts—along with EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy—convened…

Families First awarded $100,000 Cummings grant

Families First receives 2 years of funding from Cummings Foundation Chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process, Families First will receive a $100,00 grant over the course of two years through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. With over 30 years of experience, Families First is Boston’s leading provider of…

Supporting Children Through Transitions

There has not been one universal way that the pandemic has affected parents. But every single parent has been affected by the pandemic. Over the past year, parents rallied. They were resilient. They were the superheroes that we always knew them to be. But at the same time, the pandemic took an enormous toll on…

Research Analysis Showcases Parenting Transformations

In partnership with Suffolk University’s Applied Developmental Psychology program, Families First launched a research study to more deeply assess the Power of Parenting™ program outcomes. This joint study furthers our goal of becoming an evidence-based model. This in-depth analysis focuses on the Identity Maps that parents draw as a reflection activity toward the end of…

Strengthening Our Data and Evidence Capacity with Project Evident

Four members of Families First’s staff—Ashlan Speck, Karen Osborne, Maureen O’Brien, and Aly Dion—are representing Families First in the program. Staff (middle) are pictured here with Sherra Lawrence, Senior Evidence Analyst (far left), Charles E. Carter, Jr., Senior Evidence Director (far right), and Erika Van Buren, Vice President of Evaluation, Learning and Strategic Impact at…

The Power of Parenting™ Program Launches in Chelsea with Great Success

Many communities outside of Boston are eager to host the Power of Parenting program. We’ve started our regional expansion in the City of Chelsea—and our first program had record-breaking attendance.   Not only did we take an important step into a new community, but it was one of our most successful Power of Parenting programs…

Families First Receives $10,000 Grant for Enriching Early Childhood Development

Families First Receives $10,000 Grant for Enriching Early Childhood Development Grant provided by Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation will help provide Families First’s Power of Parenting program to more than 250 parents with young children in eastern Massachusetts. September 18, 2019 – Families First, Boston’s leading provider of parenting education, announced today that it has received…