Marie Cassidy began working with the Medford Family Network 10 years ago. She grew up in Medford and has been a Teacher, Social Worker, Director of a Head Start program, Child Protective Social Worker, Child Advocate, and Community Development Specialist. "My years as a social worker honed the importance of parenting education programs." After the MFN began receiving funding through the Education Reform Law, Marie walked around Medford for a year, working to build up a network and break down the misconception that programs like this are for only a specific set of people. ..More

The Medford Family Network program had, and still has, no eligibility requirements - any family can participate and receive services - regardless of economic status. This opens up a host of opportunities for families that were unavailable in the past. Families without a support system of family members nearby; the working poor struggling but not destitute;
more well to do families that don't know enough about child care; mothers with post-partum depression; gay couples; single parents; and grandparent families.

The Family Networks were established as part of the Education Reform Law as a pilot program, the idea being to highly involve families in the growth and development of young children, in order to impact their academic success.

The Medford Family Network stresses Community Support and Strength Based Programming. Create a support network where parents help parents, and work on identifying strengths in yourself and in your children.

"It does take a village to raise a child. Know your community and be an active part of it" - Marie Cassidy