NEWTON COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS INC dba Family ACCESS of Newton
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Mission Statement
Family ACCESS is a 118-year-old nonprofit serving children and families from the racially, economically, and culturally diverse population of Newton, Waltham, and surrounding communities. Our mission is to strengthen children, families, and the community by providing programs that nurture child development through early education, promote effective parenting skills, and support working parents.
About This Cause
Family ACCESS is an established nonprofit serving low-income children and families from greater Newton and Waltham. 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. Today, Family ACCESS actively engages a racially, economically, and culturally diverse population to positively impact over 7,600 vulnerable young children and parents each year. Within the first five years of a child’s life, 80% of the brain’s “hard wiring” crucial to learning, emotional intelligence, relationships – even physical health – is shaped by the interactions a child has with parents and caregivers. Family ACCESS delivers three integrated and evidence-based programs and multilingual services that improve parenting skills for new and/or young parents, strengthen family attachments, and increase early literacy and language skills essential for a child’s later success: • Early Literacy Services (ELS) engage parents in developing early literacy in their young children; • the Early Learning Center, a preschool and child care center focused on emotional and social development, provides access to quality early education for low and moderate income families; • Counseling and Consultation Services prevent child neglect or abuse and promote healthy parenting among families and teen parents at-risk. These programs are delivered at our center, through home visits, and in partnership with schools, health organizations, and other social service agencies. Volunteers from the community train in literacy education to expand our reach. Our clients: Family ACCESS serves families with children aged 0-5, predominantly underserved families; with poor education backgrounds including limited literacy; single and/or teen parents still completing their own educations; and non-English speaking immigrant families hailing from 18 countries. One in five children served have special needs. The majority of clients live in Newton and Waltham. Despite general affluence in Newton and Waltham, the number of low and very low income households has risen to 7% and 10% respectively; 11% of Newton and 30% of Waltham school children are classified as low or very low income per federal guidelines. We also serve high need families from Framingham, Woburn, Wellesley, Watertown, and Belmont (17% of clients), and transient families living in area shelters (2%). Family ACCESS fills a gap in our community by providing early childhood education and care as well as parenting support services that many of our clients would otherwise not have access to.