Village Voices 
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from around our community.   

Network Fellows Visit the MA State House
Students of the Certificate in Leadership and Advocacy for Child-Centered Communities class at Urban College of Boston recently visited the Massachusetts State House to urge our state representatives to fight for our children! Read more about the trip here. If you are interested in advocating for children and families and would like to join the Vital Village advocacy workgroup, please contact erica.pike@bmc.org.


STRIVE: Supportive Trauma  Interventions for Educators
Learn more about STRIVE, a project of Child Witness to Violence with support from Vital Village, which aims to help schools and early childhood educators respond to the needs of young children have been exposed to trauma.

Data Workgroup Increases Accessibility of Abundance App
Thanks to the hard work of network members Suzeth Dunn-Dyer and Patrick Dyer, mem b ers of the Vital Village Data Workgroup,  several community partners,  the Abundance App   is now  available  on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empower residents to easily access affordable , high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!

 

Network Events
Connect with Vital Village Network at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more. 

5:30 to 8:00, Boston Medical Center Evans Building, Room E112
Join the Social Justice Mediation Program for their 2019 Kick-Off Se ssion.  RSVP  here .

5:30 to 8:00 @ FGH Building, 820 Harrison Ave 
NEW! 5:30 to 6:00: Join us beforehand for a Network Meet-Up, an intentional space for relationship building and networking. 
6:00 to 8:00: This month's Network Connection Meeting will feature conversations on parent engagement and school registration. Co-hosts include Boston School Finder and ABCD Youth Services. RSVP here.



February 11th - 15th: Love on Your Baby Week
The breastfeeding support groups of the  Boston Breastfeeding Coalition will be celebrating Valentine's Day by sharing some extra love! Stop by a group for free breastfeeding support and social netwong in a casual environment. Refreshments provided!  Look here  for details. 

12:00 to 2:00 pm @ 85 E. Concord St, Rm, 1130. 
An opportunity to share innovations  in breastfeeding, coordinate resources for new parents, and connect with a larger network of support groups within and beyond the Breastfeeding Coalition . RSVP to  amita.wanar@bmc.org  


Email our Network Coordinator, Yusuf Ali at yusuf.ali@bmc.org!
 
Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.

Join BAYCSEW for their February meeting: an open meeting for all those who care for, serve, and support children ages 0-8. BAYCSEW meets the first Friday of each month to hold space for networking, resource sharing, and work focused around early childhood and families.

February 2nd, 10:00 - 12:00 pm: Father's Uplift Youth Enrichment Program
The Father's Uplift Youth Enrichment Program is an ongoing year-long program for boys ages 5-24 that includes education on personal development, self-esteem, accountability, and bringing positive change to the community. 

February 12th, 2:00 to 4:00 pm: Community Action Network (CAN) Meeting 
CAN is a group of community residents and organizations that are working together to reduce racial inequities in infant moralities and birth outcomes through policy and community level changes. Join CAN for their next meeting at the Whittier Street Health Center. 

This workshop will review how racism and sexism intersect to affect health outcomes for black women and how black women can advocate for themselves and their families in clinical settings. The workshop, which will be held at the Roxbury Innovation Center, features a panel of clinical experts from the Boston area.  Food and resources provided. RSVP encouraged.

The Neighborhood Trauma Teams will be hosting a Dorchester listening  session to gather com munity feedback and share about the their progress. Dinner will be served and $25 gift cards will be given to the first 25 participants. 



Check out  more community events on our Website and Facebook
Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our community.

Jobs
EMPath is currently seeking an experienced coach who is interested in working with families and advancing EMPath's mission of helping people move out of poverty. The Specialist will have an opportunity to shape EMPath's new initiative of intentionally working with whole families for a more cohesive approach to attaining economic stability, mobility, and self-sufficiency. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to sbellemore@empathways.org

The Department of Mental Health is seeking a coordinator responsible for representing the Child, Youth, and Family Division at inter-agency meeting and to support communications, resource sharing, and collaboration among educators, clinicians, coaches, and other stakeholders. The coordinator will also seek opportunities for grants and funding to sustain cross-system work.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Partnership Manager 
MassAIMH is hiring a partnership manager, responsible for developing and supporting new infrastructure for enhancing the early childhood mental health workforce in the state. Position responsibilities include advancing state policies, grant and program administration, and communications and marketing. 

Program Manager
Codman Square Health Center is currently hiring a Program Manager to manage two innovative health programs, DotRx and the Resource Connector Program. Job expectations include program oversight, support of health coaches and community health workers, and increasing staff and patient engagement. Apply here.

City Year Boston is currently accepting applications for year-long mentor positions for those ages 18-25. City Year helps to close gaps in high-need schools by supporting students' academic and social-emotional development while also providing schools with the additional capacity to enhance school culture and climate.

Funding

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is offering a funding-opportunity for strengthening trauma-informed early education and care practices for children 0-5. The grant opportunity is specifically for training and other capacity-building efforts. 
Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.

ABCD Youth Internship Program
ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) Youth Services is seeking partners to host summer youth interns. By acting as a host worksite, your organization can empower and support Boston's youth as they prepare for the world. Find the application here. 

Boston Tax Help Coalition
As tax season approaches, please learn more about the Boston Tax Help Coalition which prepares and files taxes for  eligible families for  free. The Coalition has resources for tax payers as well as volunteer and paid positions. 

Family Nurturing Center is accepting referrals for their Cape Verdean Nurturing Program, which serves as a resource for families to better understand American culture, expectations, and the laws that pertain to them and their children. The program groups are conducted in Cape Verdean and English. Find the referral form here.  

The Girls Who Code Summer Program is a free, 7 week program for 10th-11th grade girls to learn computer science, gain exposure to tech jobs, and join a supportive sisterhood of thousand of girls across the country. The first round of applications are due February, 15th. 

The Right Question Institute offers resources to help individuals learn how to ask better questions, participate more effectively in decisions, and advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

Toolkit for educators, advocates, and parents with 10 evidence-based strategies for planning and promoting classroom physical activity. 

 
Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to child and family well-being.

Educating the Student Body

The February Network Connection Meeting will feature conversations about local education, school registration, and parent engagement. As we dig deep into these important topics related to our schools, we must also acknowledge the role of physical activity in helping schools achieve their goals.  One way to help improve school culture and test scores is to ensure that each recess period is used meaningfully. The team at the Recess Lab has found that a great recess can lead to fewer fights and injuries and increased attention and test scores.  For more information, please see this report brief from the Institute of Medicine. 


 
STRIVE Impact

STRIVE, Supportive Trauma Interventions for Educators, is a project of Child Witness to Violence with support from Vital Village. STRIVE aims to help schools and early education systems of care increase their capacity to respond to and support the needs of young children who have been impacted by trauma exposure. The model emphasizes sustainability by developing leadership and expertise from within schools. The data below demonstrates the impact that STRIVE has had in the Boston community. 

Our Mission
Vital Village is a network of residents and
agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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