The Medford Family Network
These photographs were taken July 2003 in Medford at the "Playgroups in the Park" program. The Medford Family Network is one of several Family Networks funded by the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund. help help help help help
Photos by Jen Bauer. To see more photos by Jen, visit her site: BauerFoto.com
The goal of the Medford Family Network (MFN) is to create a strong web of support for all families of young children. The MFN conducts on-going family groups whose goal is to bring families together to share parenting experiences, study early childhood development, form a support network, develop community leadership capability, and learn about community resources.

"Playgroups in the Park", "Babes in the Woods", and Parenting Education classes like "Love and Logic" educate parents, bring them closer to their children, and create a support network with other parents.

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

"It does take a village to raise a child. Know your community and be an active part of it" - Marie Cassidy
Anne Leetch, affectionately known as "Miss Anne," is the Playgroup Leader for the "Playgroups in the Park" summer program every Monday and Wednesday morning. During the school year she runs 6 playgroups a week, as well as age-specific playgroups. She has been working with the Medford Family Center for 10 years, and came on board with Marie. They have known each other for 20 years, and met while volunteering with a Child Assault Prevention Program...>>More

"The parents come for their children, but they stay for themselves"
- Anne Leetch
 
Medford Family Network Programs & Services:
  • Playgroups
  • Support Groups
  • Leadership Opportunities
  • Targeted Groups (Dads, Grandparents, Parents of Twins
  • Parenting Education
  • Classes Family Events
  • Literacy Programs
  • ESOL Class
  
Parents Talk about the Programs:
Jeanette Passanisi comes with her 3 children, Katherine, 4 1/2, Elizabeth, 2, and Robert, 3 months. She has been part of the Medford Family Network since 1999, and was recently elected to the board of the Medford Family Network. She says the MFN taught her how to be a better parent, cope with being an at-home mom, and create friendships with other parents.

"You need to be part of your own children's lives, but also your community's children." - Jeannette Passanisi

Lee Luongo, who brings her 6 month old grandson Gino, and 7 year old granddaughter Michelle, says the people at the MFN are wonderful. "I heard about the programs at the library, and I've told all my neighbors." One family at Playgroups in the Park has 3 generations. Guiomar De Oliveira comes with her great grandchildren Olivia & Simon, and their grandmother Tina Silva (Guiomar and Olivia are pictured in the bottom photo to the right).

Rob Czwakiel, an at-home Dad, brings his two daughters, Emma and Abby, to Playgroups in the Park. He started coming after his first daughter Emma was born, having heard about the MFN through Tri-City early intervention. Rob took over the Babes in the Woods program from another stay-at-home Dad. Babes in the Woods is a walk through the Fells which happens every Tuesday morning, rain or shine. Rob has taken classes offered through MFN, like "Parenting Styles." This course teaches how personality affects parenting; parents learn if they are introverted or extroverted, if their children are, and how they can adjust their parenting style and interactions with their child based on this.