At Family ACCESS, the dedication of our staff is the heart of our mission. Today, we spotlight Jean Marie Landry, the ParentChild+ Coordinator, whose passion for empowering families and fostering community connection exemplifies the spirit of our organization.

Jean Marie’s role is multifaceted, encompassing everything from data management and staff training to family enrollment, community outreach, and developmental coaching. But at its core, her work is driven by a deep commitment to the ParentChild+ program’s mission: to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have equal possibilities.

“The ParentChild+ mission is to ensure that all children regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or zip code, have equal possibilities from the start,” Jean Marie explains. The program works directly with children, families, and caregivers to support early literacy, school readiness, and parent advocacy.

A key element of ParentChild+ is the relationship built between Early Learning Specialists and the families they serve. Jean Marie emphasizes the importance of empowerment in this process: “It’s very important that we’re not going into a caregiver’s home to tell them what to do or to do things for them. Instead we are providing the family with new skills so they can have the confidence to understand their individual child’s development.

The ParentChild+ program creates strong bonds that empower families to be an active participant throughout their child’s educational journey.” The program’s structure, with its focus on home visits and review sessions, creates a supportive environment for growth. Jean Marie describes the beauty of the review visits, where parents can showcase their skills and abilities: “It’s always a beautiful moment because that’s where the relationship begins between the Early Learning Specialist and the parent. So much of the work is about supporting the mom or caregiver.”

Jean Marie’s dedication to families is evident in her daily work. She manages data, community outreach, and enrollments, trains staff, and provides developmental coaching. The most rewarding part of her job? Seeing parents ready to graduate from the program. She shares the story of a mother who expressed her gratitude for the program’s impact: “A recent PC+ graduate didn’t expect that this program would advance her knowledge in early childhood development which helped her engage more with her son… So this mother discovered how to have a strong parent-child connection with her toddler, and now makes time to read to him every day.”

The ParentChild+ program also plays a vital role in connecting families with essential resources. Jean Marie explains the program’s collaborative approach: “We make sure to provide weekly flyers with information about local resources to the Early Learning Specialists to share with their families. So far, we have helped people with issues relating to immigration, food insecurities, diapers, continuing education, MassHealth, Early Intervention, childcare subsidies, counseling, and housing.”

Looking to the future, Jean Marie dreams of expanding the program’s reach: “I hope we can service 50 children every year. That would be my goal to help as many families as possible.”

Jean Marie’s passion for her work and commitment to empowering families shine through in her words. As she aptly puts it, “I really enjoy working in this program because I love serving my community, and helping others come so naturally to me. We are invited into parents’ homes to support and encourage them to achieve their goals.”

We are proud to have Jean Marie Landry as part of the Family ACCESS team, working tirelessly to create a brighter future for children and families.

Gabriela Santiago: From Parent to Early Literacy Champion

Gabriela Santiago’s journey with Family ACCESS began as a participant, seeking support for her young children. As a busy working mother, Gabriela faced the challenges of balancing work and family life while also nurturing her children’s early learning.

Through the ParentChild+ (PC+) program, Gabriela discovered a wealth of resources and a supportive community. “As a mother, it helped me enrich my knowledge,” she shares, “and thanks to PC+ I was able to provide my children with an early learning education.” The program’s home visits, filled with affection and respect, equipped Gabriela with the tools and strategies she needed to become her children’s first and most important teacher.

Witnessing her own children’s growth and development through the PC+ program inspired Gabriela to give back. She joined the Family ACCESS team as a ParentChild+ Specialist, sharing her knowledge and experience with other families. “I was motivated by knowing that I could help other parents in the early learning process,” she explains.

Gabriela’s impact extends far beyond her own family. Last year, a mother in her community was on the verge of losing financial aid for childcare because she couldn’t transport her child to the only available space – at Family ACCESS. Drawing on her own experiences and the knowledge she gained from the program, Gabriela stepped in to help. She guided the mother through the process, advocating for her needs and ultimately securing a spot for her child on the waiting list.

Gabriela’s support didn’t stop there. She went on to help the mother navigate the school system to get her son an evaluation for additional support. “She is super happy with this,” Gabriela shares, “because for her this process was very difficult and overwhelming.”

Today, Gabriela finds deep satisfaction in guiding families on their literacy journeys. “The success story I have is the satisfaction of seeing most of my families graduate from the PC+ program,” she says with pride. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of Family ACCESS, where families not only receive support but also become empowered to support others.

Thank you, Gabriela, for sharing your inspiring journey and for your dedication to helping other families thrive!

Gabriela Santiago: De madre a campeona de la alfabetización temprana

El camino de Gabriela Santiago con Family ACCESS comenzó como participante, buscando apoyo para sus hijos pequeños. Como madre trabajadora ocupada, Gabriela enfrentó el desafío familiar de equilibrar el trabajo y la vida familiar, mientras también nutría el aprendizaje temprano de sus hijos.

A través del programa ParentChild+ (PC+), Gabriela descubrió una gran cantidad de recursos y una comunidad de apoyo. “Como madre, me ayudó a enriquecer mis conocimientos”, comparte, “y gracias a PC+ pude brindarles a mis hijos una educación de aprendizaje temprano”. Las visitas domiciliarias del programa, llenas de afecto y respeto, equiparon a Gabriela con las herramientas y estrategias que necesitaba para convertirse en la primera y más importante maestra de sus hijos.

Ser testigo del crecimiento y desarrollo de sus propios hijos a través del programa PC+ inspiró a Gabriela a retribuir. Se unió al equipo de Family ACCESS como especialista en ParentChild+, compartiendo sus conocimientos y experiencia con otras familias. “Me motivó saber que podía ayudar a otros padres en el proceso de aprendizaje temprano”, explica.

El impacto de Gabriela se extiende mucho más allá de su propia familia. El año pasado, una madre de su comunidad estuvo a punto de perder la ayuda financiera para el cuidado infantil porque no podía transportar a su hijo al único espacio disponible, en Family ACCESS. Basándose en sus propias experiencias y el conocimiento que obtuvo del programa, Gabriela intervino para ayudar. Guio a la madre a través del proceso, abogando por sus necesidades y finalmente asegurando un lugar para su hijo en la lista de espera.

El apoyo de Gabriela no se detuvo ahí. Continuó ayudando a la madre a navegar por el sistema escolar para que su hijo fuera evaluado para obtener apoyo adicional. “Ella está súper feliz con esto”, comparte Gabriela, “porque para ella este proceso fue muy difícil y abrumador”.

Hoy, Gabriela encuentra una profunda satisfacción en guiar a las familias en sus caminos hacia la alfabetización. “La historia de éxito que tengo es la satisfacción de ver a la mayoría de mis familias graduarse del programa PC+”, dice con orgullo. Su historia es un testimonio del poder transformador de Family ACCESS, donde las familias no solo reciben apoyo, sino que también se empoderan para apoyar a otros.

¡Gracias, Gabriela, por compartir tu inspiradora trayectoria y por tu dedicación para ayudar a otras familias a prosperar!