"This was one of the best trainings I have ever been to. It was hands-on, fun, and I learned a lot that will help me at my job and with my family. Thank you!"

             - FNC training participant

An experienced team of multicultural professionals at the Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts provides a wide range of training and educational opportunities for professionals and parents. Trainings and workshops vary in length and are customized for each particular audience. FNC provides training in English, Spanish, and Cape Verdean Creole and will train at your site, ours, or another convenient location.

FNC provides customized training programs and consultation in the following areas:

• Nurturing Program Development Trainings (including cultural adaptations)
  
• Family and Parenting Support (including fathers)
  
• Team Building
  
• Community and Program Development
  
• Early Childhood Development (including Infant Massage)
  
• Parent Leadership

FNC provides evening and daytime workshops for parents and service providers on a range of topics such as nurturing discipline, facilitating parent groups, brain development, promoting early literacy, and building a team that supports families. Professional development certificates and continuing education credits may be arranged.

Nurturing Program Related Trainings

1. Introduction to Basic Skills: Building Nurturing Families and Communities

This fourteen hour interactive workshop provides an opportunity for participants to learn more about the nurturing philosophy and experience elements of a Nurturing Program. Topics include: values and constructs underlying the Nurturing Program, creating a safe and fun environment for learning, communicating love and respect, exploring needs and feelings, promoting positive discipline, and implementing a Nurturing Program. Completion of this training is a prerequisite for becoming part of a team that delivers a Nurturing Program.

2. Nurturing Program Team Orientation

Delivery of a quality Nurturing Program depends on a team of nurturing people who are committed to the philosophy of the program, understand the curriculum concepts and activities, are skilled in working with groups of parents and/or children, and are clear on the role they will play to ensure that the program is successful. The Nurturing Program Team Orientation Training builds this team by preparing individuals who have agreed to deliver a specific Nurturing Program to work together in accomplishing the many tasks involved in program implementation. Scheduled by FNC with the sponsoring organization, this orientation varies in length and content, depending on the size of the group and their previous experience with Nurturing Programs. Generally, the orientation lasts from 6-14 hours and covers topics such as: calendar and logistics planning, enrolling families, establishing a weekly routine, engaging and keeping families involved, leading a parent group, leading children's groups, family nurturing time, curriculum planning and preparation, individual roles and responsibilities, and supporting the team. Persons who have completed the "Introduction to Basic Skills: Developing Nurturing Families and Communities" may join a Nurturing Team, then participate in the Team Orientation before starting delivery of a specific program.

Additional Trainings

FNC designs and offers a variety of workshops to increase knowledge and skills related to human development, family strengthening and support, and group facilitation. The trainings are generally sponsored by community groups or organizations and are customized to meet the needs of a specific neighborhood, school, child care center, or professional group. Trainings vary in length from one 2-3 hour session to a series of three or more weekly or monthly sessions on a given topic. Examples of trainings offered include: Parents and Teens Together; Clapping, Singing and Finger Play; Adult Learners Becoming Leaders; Babies Can't Wait - Working Across Systems to Support Families; Working with Dads - The Right Steps; Parents Are Leaders; and How to Work Successfully in Diverse Environments. All trainings are interactive and involve everyone as teacher and learner through experiential activities and group sharing.

Training Opportunities

Interested in sponsoring a training opportunity for your colleagues, staff, neighborhood, or parent group? Do you think you would like to become part of Nurturing Team? We can help! To develop a training for your group, please contact us at info@familynurturing.org or call (617) 474-1143.

Take a look at our Nurturing Program Training Calendar to learn about current Nurturing Programs, how you can get involved, and how your family, or families you know, can join!

Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts
(617) 474-1143
(617) 474-1261 Fax
200 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester, MA 02122