PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: WELCOME BABY

Welcome Baby is a program that celebrates the birth of a baby born to parents residing in Dorchester, Roslindale, and Allston-Brighton. It provides the family of the newborn with a basket full of gifts, including parenting information, safety items for the home, books to promote early literacy, and a community resource directory to link them to a variety of community supports. The program supports parents at a critical time in their family's development, increasing their knowledge about what to expect and where to go for help, linking them to needed neighborhood resources.

Additionally, Welcome Baby revitalizes neighborhoods by involving organizations, businesses, and caring individuals in gathering donated items, assembling gift baskets, and decorating cards to welcome the new baby. This strategy of involving the community-at-large allows seniors, school aged children, and others to be a part of creating the 'village' that will raise healthy children.

Families are eligible for this program if they live in Dorchester, Roslindale, or Allston-Brighton and have a newborn who is under 4 months of age. Contact the Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts for more information at 617-474-1143 or www.familynurturing.org.