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Our mission at First Connections is to equip parents with tools, practical strategies, and connections to other families and their communities to foster healthy parenting and guide them through the first years of the parenting journey.
Services include:
Children's Playgroups
New Parent Groups
Post Partum Depression Support
Parent Education Programs
Quarterly Newsletter
Free/Low Cost Family Program Information
Local Childcare & Early Education Information
Extensive Resource & Referral Guidance
Click here for Current Programs
Click here for Parent Blog
At a Glance
This service is for
Families with children birth to age 8 in the communities of Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Hanscom AFB, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford.
Professionals working with families with young children in those towns.
Age: Birth - 8
Gender: all
Let's Connect
Deborah Werneburg
Program Director
179 Great Road, Suite 104A
Acton, MA 01720
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 429-8284 x201
ddwerneburg@jri.org
Linda Jensen, LSWA
Office Manager
179 Great Road, Suite 104A
Acton, MA 01720
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 429-8284 x202
(978) 429-8690
lmatthews@jri.org
Supporting First Connections
First Connections is a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) program with primary funding from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. With additional support from generous individuals and organizations, First Connections' wide range of family services are offered at no charge. In order to maintain these services, however, we need your support! Please consider First Connections in your charitable giving!
We would like to acknowledge our FY2023 organizational donors (listed alphabetically): Acton Boxborough United Way, Acton Congregational Church, Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Emerson Hospital DoN Community Health Initiative, Eversource Employee Match, Maynard Community Chest, Nordblom Family Foundation, Schrafft Charitable Trust, Trinitarian Congregational Church. This work is also made possible by donations from families, individuals, and other community partners. Thank you for your support!
First Year of Life Programs
New Dads Group - Evening Zoom Group, meets Monthly
Second Tuesday of the month, 7:30-9:00 PM
September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13
Dads who have already attended this group will receive the link automatically.
Our New Dads Group is a peer-led group, facilitated by two experienced dads. This group allows dads to make connections, ask questions, learn about child development, and share their experiences of parenthood. Adjusting to a new identity as a parent along with the changes in relationships with friends, family and partners can sometimes be a challenge. Fathers are welcome to attend with/without babies and continue to attend the group for as long as it is helpful. This group is geared toward fathers with babies 0-12 months. We welcome any person who identifies as a father. Please email hobrien@jri.org before attending to receive the connecting link for this currently-virtual group.
Note: On October 11th, this group will host Mary Beilman as our guest speaker on Healthy Infant Sleep and will be open to all parents who register for the workshop.
New Mothers Group-Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30
This group is currently meeting via Zoom. Email Mary at: mbeilman@jri.org for the link and password if it's your first group, then you will automatically receive it each week.
NEW!! The group will meet in person on the first Wednesday of each month, outdoors if weather permitting. To RSVP for information about the in-person option, email lmatthews@jri.org.
Mary will be available on Wednesdays for phone check-ins before and after Moms group, 978-429-8284, ext. 201.
Any mother with a pre-crawling baby is welcome to attend this weekly support group. Open-discussion format is a forum for you to share experiences and resources, connect with other new mothers, and seek guidance about any concerns you might have. No registration required. Facilitated by a certified lactation counselor or consultant, however parents using bottles for feeding are welcome!
Emotional Well-Being After Baby Group - Every Thursday
EWAB is currently meeting via Zoom every Thursday, 9:30-11AM. Email Heather for the link and password if you're attending for the first time. You will then receive the link automatically each week.
Emotional challenges are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, yet parents often feel isolated and ashamed if they are struggling. Parents experiencing anxiety or depression, or who are feeling overwhelmed in the postpartum year, can come together for this supportive, nonjudgmental, confidential group to share stories, learn from each other, and receive coping skills strategies. This is an ongoing group for parents of babies 0-12 months.
Before attending for the first time, or to obtain more info on connecting to the group please contact the facilitator, Heather O'Brien, LICSW at hobrien@jri.org
Parent & Family Consultations
Service available to residents of Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Hanscom Air Force Base, Littleton, Lincoln, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford
First Connections' professional staff provide one-on-one consultations for parents who have questions or concerns about postpartum adjustment, infant development, breastfeeding, or sibling-adjustment issues. Meetings most often take place virtually but can be arranged in person, in our office or outdoors.
Parent and Child Playgroups
Playgroup Registration is open - check our newsletter for the schedule, then email lmatthews@jri.org to register! If playgroups are full, you may request to be on our waitlist for early access to registration during the next scheduled session.
Find Your Local Parent Association
Acton-Boxborough Family Network: www.abfamily.org
Acton Boxborough Community Resources page
Bedford Family Connection: https://bfctoday.org/
Carlisle Family Connection: https://www.carlislema.gov/683/Carlisle-Family-Connection-CFC
or carlislefamilyconnection@gmail.com
Concord Family Network: www.concordfamilynetwor
k.org
Harvard Family Association: www.harvardfamilyassociation.com
Lincoln Family Association: www.lincfam.org
Littleton Parents Association: www.facebook.com/littletonparents
Maynard Family Network: www.maynardfamilynetwork.org
Sudbury Family Network: https://www.sudburyfamilynetwork.com/
Westford Young Child Network
https://www.facebook.com/groups/westfordyoungchildnetwork/ or kjlutz05@gmail.com
"Thank you so much for keeping the group running online. It was so good to connect with some new people. I was on the verge of tears when people were talking about family not seeing their babies and trying to juggle motherhood at home with partners doing "real work" so close by. I immediately felt better when you said that we're doing the hardest work. It was so validating and such a great reminder of what I knew before I became a parent. For me, being a parent is a huge honor that took us a little extra time to reach. Thank you for holding this space. "See" you soon!"
Katherine
New Moms Group participant, 4/2/20
Program Blog
First Connections Blog
Go! Go! Go! Stop!
Cherise Mericle Harper
Video of Ms. Ellie reading the book.
Vehicle painting: this book is a perfect fit with one of my… read more
Tags:
The Napping House
Audrey Wood, Don Wood
Video of Ms. Ellie reading The Napping House
Pile in the bed: let your child collect a bunch of their… read more
Tags:
What’s This? A Seed’s Story
by Caroline Mockford
Video of Ms. Ellie reading the story.
Sensory play: fill a bin with soil, some bigger seeds… read more
Tags: read aloud, Preschool, Toddlers, Nature
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