Do you have a question about JRI services?
Our mission 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.
Free programs and services include:
Children's Playgroups
New Parent Groups
Post Partum Depression Support
Parent Education Programs
Parent Blog
Childcare & Early Education Information
Resource & Referral Guidance
ParentChild+ Home Visiting
At a Glance
This service is for
Families with children birth to age 6 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 - 6
Gender: all
Let's Connect
Emily Fiorini
Program Director
179 Great Road, Suite 104A
Acton, MA 01720
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 429-8284
efiorini@jri.org
Linda Jensen, LSWA
Office Manager
179 Great Road, Suite 104A
Acton, MA 01720
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 429-8284 x20940
(978) 429-8690
lmatthews@jri.org
New Parent Groups
First Year of Life New Parent Support Group
Our free FYOL Group is facilitated by Emily Fiorini, M.A., who is a mental health counselor specializing in infant and parent mental health. Parents in the postpartum year can join this free weekly group to receive support for their own emotional wellbeing, recovery and transition into parenthood. Baby's development, feeding and sleep, as well as community resources, will also be addressed. This group meets every Thursday, 9:30-11:00 via zoom, with one week per month meeting in person. To be added to the weekly Zoom link reminder, email Emily: efiorini@jri.org. To RSVP to the next in-person group, email Linda: lmatthews@jri.org. Winter 2025 in-person groups: February 6 & March 6 in Acton.
Guest Speakers - March 27, 10-11:00, Dana Williams & Melissa Brandon from the Pelvic Health Team at Emerson Health. Learn more about pelvic floor dysfunction and pain, and how it can be treated. This program is open to regular attendees of the FYOL group and anyone else who would like to hear the discussion. If you're not on the weekly reminder list, email lmatthews@jri.org to be sure to get the link for March 27!
Parent & Family Consultations - by appointment
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 free of charge. Meetings most often take place virtually but can be arranged in our office or outdoors. This service is available to residents of Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Hanscom Air Force Base, Littleton, Lincoln, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford.
First Connections' programs support all new parents. Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, parenting solo, partnered or married, an adoptive or biological parent, have one baby or more, you are welcome here.
Parent and Child Playgroups
For Winter 2025, two of our playgroups have openings:
Tuesday mornings for families with access to Hanscom Air Force Base who have mobile babies thru age five.
Wednesday mornings for families with babies 10 month thru 23 months at Boxborough Library.
Email Linda to join either of these - lmatthews@jri.org
Find Your Local Parent Association
Acton-Boxborough Family Network: www.abfamily.org
Bedford Family Connection: https://bfctoday.org/
Carlisle Family Connection: Carlisle Family Connection - Carlisle PTO (carlislemapto.org)
Concord Family Network: www.concordfamilynetwor
k.org
Harvard Family Association: Home - Harvard Family Association (clubexpress.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/
"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
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.
Additional support for our fiscal year 2025 programs and services comes from:
Nordblom Family Foundation
Sudbury Foundation
Concord Carlisle Foundation
Schrafft Charitable Trust
Acton Congregational Church
Trinitarian Congregational Church
This work is also made possible by donations from local families and individuals.
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
Request More Information
