Family Network

About Union #28

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

School Union# 28 Family Network

Calendar

Meeting Notice April 9

Workshop - Making Sense of the Puzzle

Dancing in April

Family Network Goes Paperless

Family Network e-mail Invitation

FAMILY NETWORK INFO

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!

FAMILY NETWORK GOALS

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 supportdevelop 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

Workshops and events

Topics are generated by the FN families' needs or interests, eg. 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.

All Family Network Meetings and Events are free of charge
with supervised child care!

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)

OTHER THINGS WE DO TOGETHER

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

Union #28 Family Network Program
18 Pleasant Street, Erving MA 01344,
(413) 423-3337 Fax (413)423-0236 mohamed@erving.com

TEMPORARY NEW LOCATION
At the Wendell Highway Department and Fire Station on Deport Road,
North from the Center of Wendell, after the old Senior Center/Town Office

“FAMILIES IN NEED” Food Program
for families with children under 4 years of age, living in the towns of Wendell, New Salem, Erving, Leverett and Shutesbury

Distributed by the “Good Neighbors” program
at the Highway Dept. and Fire Station Building
from 1:30 to 2:30pm
on the fourth Sunday of each month

Please sign up with Rosalie Rosser on that Sunday at the temporary Center or call her at 978-544-6850. You can also call Naz Mohamed, FN Coordinator at 413-423-3337, email at mohamed@erving.com for more information.

The return of this program has been made possible through a private donation from the Kittredge Foundation