Family ACCESS received a $5,000 grant from Foundation for MetroWest to support life-changing family counseling programs for low-income families and young pregnant or parenting teens and their children in Waltham. A team of skilled mental health clinicians provides a continuum of care that ranges from individual and family counseling, child therapy, home visiting, crisis intervention, case management, and advocacy. Foundation for MetroWest’s commitment stabilizes vulnerable families, prevents child neglect and abuse, and ensures young parents care for themselves as well as their children to reach their full potential.

 

“We work with parents who are challenged by domestic violence, past trauma and mental illness, all of which effects the development of their young children,” explains Jon Firger, MSW MBA, Executive Director of Family ACCESS. “Our program interventions are designed to specifically address the quality of parent support and early childhood social behavior in order to improve a child’s healthy development, readiness for school and their life chances. We are truly grateful for The Foundation’s life-changing support.”

 

The comprehensive Young Parent Support program for pregnant and parenting teens and young adults (age 13 – 23 years) is the core of Family ACCESS Counseling & Consultation Services. These services are designed to engage otherwise isolated young parents, increase the parents’ capacity to nurture their children and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, as well as to increase the young parents’ financial and emotional self-sufficiency and improve their life-management skills and self-care.

 

Kathy has relied on Family ACCESS counseling to help her achieve her goals. “Since I got pregnant, Family ACCESS has helped me with finishing high school and now I’m in college. They helped me get quality child care and helped me learn to be a good mom.”

 

Bilingual and culturally competent counseling also focuses resources for Waltham’s large immigrant community from Central and South America whose trauma, isolation and mental health concerns make critical the need for parenting counseling and support.

 

About Family ACCESS

Family ACCESS is a community-based non-profit organization that empowers and strengthens families through a set of four integrated programs: The Family ACCESS Early Learning Center, Family ACCESS Early Literacy Services, Family ACCESS Counseling and Consultation Services, and CAP Child Assault Prevention. Our mission is to strengthen children, families, and the community by providing programs that nurture child development, promote effective parenting skills, and support working parents. We actively engage a racially, economically, and culturally diverse population, and partner with area schools, community organizations, and other nonprofit and public social service agencies to reach children in need.  For over 100 years, the organization has served thousands of families, regardless of their economic status, from Newton, Waltham and neighboring towns. To learn more, please visit www.familyaccess.org or call 617-969-5906.

 

About Foundation for MetroWest

Established in 1995, the Foundation for MetroWest is the only community foundation serving the 33 cities and towns in the region. We promote philanthropy in the region, help donors maximize the impact of their local giving, serve as a resource for local nonprofits and enhance the quality of life for all our residents. Since inception, the Foundation has granted $11.6 million to charitable organizations and currently stewards more than $15 million in charitable assets for current needs and future impact. To learn more, please visit www.foundationformetrowest.org or call 508-647-2260.