Community partnership group photo Community partnership plays a vital role in supporting parents as they navigate the challenges and joys of raising children. By working together, local organizations, schools, businesses, and neighbors can provide essential resources, guidance, and encouragement to help families thrive. Collaborative efforts create networks of support, offering parents access to childcare, educational programs, and emotional encouragement when they need it most. This collective approach lightens the load, empowering parents to focus on nurturing their children while fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. When communities unite, they create an environment where families are strengthened, and children have the foundation they need to succeed.

Impact of Families First Programs on Partner Organizations

Families First programs benefit not only parents and families but also the organizations that partner with us. Between 2020 and 2024, 70% of organizations that partnered with Families First to offer the Power of Parenting or Ripple Program chose to continue collaborating with us in subsequent years, highlighting the lasting impact and value of our partnerships.

Survey results show that 97% of partner staff found the Ripple Program trainings useful for their role, 96% of partner organizations were extremely or very satisfied with the Power of Parenting workshops, and 94% of partner staff who completed Community Impact Projects reported that their organizations better understood the importance of parent leadership. Based on survey data from FY22 to FY24.

Words from our Power of Parenting Partners

“Families who participate in Power of Parenting demonstrate a sense of community and learn about important smaller ways they can enrich their children’s lives. The program (Power of Parenting) can help break down some of the more overwhelming aspects of parenting, helping parents see what they can incorporate into their daily lives without overextending themselves.” — Katie White, Director of Every Child Shines

“People enjoyed the Power of Parenting program so much that they wanted to sign up for a second time! They said that everything they learned was worth repeating.” — Fernanda Villar, SFLC Early Beginnings Parent Support Programs Director

“The people running the Power of Parenting groups online are really the gold standard for facilitation.” — Ruth Santos, Director, Somerville Family Learning Collaborative

“Through our partnership with Families First, Boston Pre-K has had the privilege of working with hundreds of families. Programs like Power of Parenting (POP) and Ripple have shown us the powerful, positive impact of amplifying parents’ voices in our community. At graduation, many parents and caregivers eagerly ask for a ‘POP 2.0,’ highlighting the lasting value these programs bring.” — Isabella Torres Herrera, Boston Public Schools

“Parents often face many stigmas around what child development and parenting should look like and the program offers space to process what supporting healthy child development looks like, helping parents realize how to tap their strengths to support their children and even themselves.” — Katie White, Director of Every Child Shines

“Strong start epitomizes the phrase it takes a village to support families by fostering leadership skills amongst guardians to support healthy relationships with their children.” and “The Strong Start program has brought the heroes home for Urban Edge, not only are parents building stronger relationships with their children but the leadership exercised by them is saving the day.” — Angel Padilla, Urban Edge

“Nurtury has been partnering with Families First to provide Power of Parenting programs for our families for years and seeing the growth from the participants has been incredible. Seeing the shift week to week in the way families are interacting with their children and the positive responses they are getting back is heartwarming. Families are more confident than ever!” — Taylor Connolly, Family Support Coordinator, Nurtury

“The Program is extremely beneficial for all parents at any stage during their journey. The community built during the program is invaluable.”

“Families First is a very much needed resource in our community, parents love the sessions, and they continue to use the tools in their regular daily lives.”

“Power of Parenting has also been a great way for our families to make connections with each other and to build a community around their shared experiences. Forming relationships and a sense of community among families after COVID has been difficult but Power of Parenting has aided in that growth and given participants to tools and encouragement to do so. Thank you Families First!” — Taylor Connolly, Family Support Coordinator, Nurtury

Words from our Ripple Partners

“The Ripple program was amazing! Our community benefitted greatly from the Ripple program by empowering parents to become leaders within our community and giving them the confidence to voice the needs of the families in our town. Parent Leaders organized and ran a resource fair, created an amazing playground resource guide, complete with free and low-cost activities, and compiled a 28-page resource guide.” — Maura Dankert, Bourne Public Schools

“The Basics Boston has had the privilege of working with 4 CIP fellows during 2024. They have helped reach families through local libraries, their own networks, and community events and registered more than 100 families for our Basics Insights text messaging. At the same, time it has been exciting to see their skills develop. We look forward to remaining engaged with the Families First Ripple program and CIP fellows.” — Ronald F. Ferguson, PhD, Founder and President of The Basics, Inc.

“Every parent who attended the training gained confidence and insight. It was our privilege to hire two program attendees onto our staff. We also encouraged and supported two other attendees in pursuing career goals. Several other parents continued in leadership roles in local parent associations. The program raised awareness of the potential impact of parent leaders and gave them courage, confidence, and vision to pursue their passions and impact their communities.”

“We have truly appreciated the opportunity to participate and it has helped us clarify what some of the challenges are with recruiting family leaders. The parents that have been involved through the ripple year contributed their skills to provide parent to parent support in a way we wouldn’t have been able to offer.”

“I have to tell you that I am so grateful for Families First and the support and training it gave me and my three parent leaders. In a year we accomplished so much as a team. My parent leaders are stronger advocates and community members because of the work we did with Families First. I am so proud of the work we did and I know they are as well. Our project made a huge impact on the community and we hope the work we did and continue to do will impact families in the community for years to come!”

“We have a commitment to working with parent leaders. This program has helped institutionalize parent leadership as part of our program.”

“The Ripple Program enabled us to engage parents in discussion and planning and provided them the stipend they deserve for their contribution. It increased our appreciation as a staff for all that parent leaders have to offer and motivated us to create additional opportunities.”

“I can’t say enough good things about this experience! I think we all felt so empowered when we were done! Not only did the parents work hard to assist with this project, their children were involved too! We were modeling for them community service and making things better, even if we don’t know them. They witnessed how the hard work we put into this project comes back to us when we see families use and have fun with the completed project!”

Do you want to bring foundational parenting support to your organization by becoming a Families First partner?

To discuss partnering with Families First, contact: Maridel Perdomo, Senior Director of Programs, at mperdomo@families-first.org or (617) 868-7687 x12.