Union #28 Family Network for the towns of Erving, Wendell, New Salem, Leverett and Shutesbury

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 School Union #28 Family Network  

The Erving School Union # 28 has received a Family Network Grant funded by the Massachusetts Department of Education. The purpose of this grant is to create programs that address the needs of families with children under 4 years of age living in Erving, Wendell, New Salem, Shutesbury and Leverett and to collaborate with existing human service agencies to further fulfill these needs.

If you live in one of the 5 towns and have a child(ren) under 4 years, then your family can benefit from the School Union # 28 Family Network program.

If you are expecting a baby or have a newborn and live in one of the 5 towns, please call (413)-659-3337 to be put on our mailing list and receive a new baby gift! 

• strengthen families of young children by responding to their expressed needs
• promote opportunities for networking, support and an exchange of ideas among families
• increase the capacity of community support and opportunities for activities within local communities for families with young children
• build on existing strengths in families and in the community
• be racially and culturally inclusive and open to all families with young children
• encourage parents to become leaders and agents of change
• reduce family isolation and increase family involvement
• address barriers to individual family involvement
• increase knowledge of and access to resources for family support develop prevention programs using a community development process based on parent input and involvement
• Share the magic of Story Hours
• Connect with other families with young children under 4 years of age
• Infant and toddler Car Seat Loans
• Socialize at Playgroups
• Parent to parent support
• Borrow Parent Resource books and Children's Activity Kits from your local library
• Developmental screening, information and referral resources available

Topics are generated by the FN families' needs or interests, beg. discipline, stress reduction, health & nutrition, self-esteem, children's play, movement & music, infant massage, baby-sitting training, dads & children.

The Massachusetts Family Network (MFN) was established with the purpose of creating a system of outreach, education and support for families with very young children. MFN operates on the premise that family education and support nurtures children by strengthening the families who are responsible for their care. It can also help families by strengthening the communities in which those families live.

Story Hours are held at:

• Leverett Congregational Church Parish Hall
• Shutesbury Town Public Library
• Erving Center Public Library
• Wendell Town Public Library
• New Salem Town Public Library
• Parent-child Playgroups are held at:
• Erving Elementary School
• New Salem Central Congregational Church
• Leverett Congregational Church Parish Hall
• (Call FN Coordinator for Times and Dates)

• monthly parent/community meetings in each town
• bi-weekly Story and Playgroups run by FN parents
• opportunities for parents to become leaders
• collaboration with other service providers: REACH, Early Childhood School based-programs, Franklin Community Action Commission (FCAC), Community Partnerships for Children (CPC), etc..
• newborn visiting program and Call-in/Drop-in clinics
• involving community centers and senior citizens
• assistance for families in emergency
• parenting workshops and educational services
• encouraging parents to become Parent Liaison or Council members
• bi-monthly newsletters to families
• mailings of informational flyers and posters to families in the communities
• lending libraries of parenting and children's books and activity kits
• informal support groups
• family and community events
• sharing ideas, talents and interests for future events
• taking responsibility for specific tasks

To find out more about the services we offer or how to get involved, please call Naz Mohamed-Ahamed, the Family Network Coordinator at 413-423-3337 or e-mail mohamed@erving.com

Erving School Union #28
18 Pleasant Street, Erving, Ma 01344
Voice - 413.423.3337 | Fax - 413.423.3236
u28supt@erving.com