Village Voices
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community. 
Black Breastfeeding Week 2020
National Breastfeeding Month came to an eventful close with Black Breastfeeding Week. The Black Breastfeeding Week committee went above and beyond to raise awareness and celebrate this year’s theme: “Revive. Restore. Reclaim!” After a week of engaging virtual events, the committee is already thinking ahead to next year’s celebration!
In the Arena with NOW:
Episode 11: Family Engagement Network: Supporting Families is the Key to Successful Workforce Development
What are the critical components of a successful workforce development program? In our newest episode of our
In the Arena with NOW podcast, we discuss the importance of centering families and how they navigate the needs and desires of families as a unit to improve how the network serves its community. 


Our Wellness Ideas Bank was created in response to COVID-19 in March. As the situation evolves, we are updating our Wellness Ideas Bank to match the community’s needs and improve user-friendliness.

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

Join Vital Village Network and Co-Host, Silver Lining Mentoring for our Virtual September Network Connection Meeting, to learn more about:
  • Trauma Informed Practices
  • Importance of Mentorship
  • Ways we can be more connected to help support each other

We Thrive When We Matter!
2020 National Community Leadership Summit
Vital Village Networks proudly presents the 2020 National Community Leadership Summit! This is one of the most important conferences on the topics of child wellbeing and early-life adversity in the Northeast region and beyond.

Join us! Shape the conversation with fellow community leaders, practitioners, change agents, and advocates with over two days of virtual panels, workshops, breakout sessions, and plenaries.
NEW TIME: Thursdays 10:00-10:30 am
From your computer or smartphone!

Families with young children are invited to Children’s Mental Health Virtual Storytimes co-hosted by the Vital Village Network Mental Health Committee and Boston Public Library. We will bring families together for book readings, activities, and resources focused on Social-Emotional Learning inspired by our Children's Mental Health Storytime Toolkit. Sessions are designed for children 3-8 years old, but younger & older siblings are welcome! Register here!
September Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting
Supporting Breastfeeding Equity and Racial Justice
Special guest Representative Kay Kahn
Thursday, September 17th @ 12pm ET || RSVP
The Breastfeeding Coalition will discuss new legislation to achieve maternal and child health equity and collective actions that the coalition can embrace.
CHILD WELLBEING SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
As COVID-19 continues to impact families in unique ways, your voice will help ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community.

For families that are expecting or have children ages 0-11 please share your feedback by completing our survey!
Call or email the Warmline:
857-301-8259
Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.
Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing

September 10th, 17th, & 24th: Can We Talk? Conference Call
6:30 pm - 8:00 PM @ Zoom
Are you experiencing trauma or loss? Come, share your voice, share your story. The Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing, based out of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center, is offering Can We Talk? by phone every Thursday night at 6:30 PM.
To join by video, click this link.
To join by phone:
  1. Dial: 1-929-436-2866
  2. Enter Meeting ID: 887995182#
  3. Press # to join the call. 

September 17th: Men's Trauma Recovery Online Support Group
Join Doug Lomax of BMHC for a time to connect and reflect with men of all ages.Topics include trauma, addiction, loss–whatever is on your mind is welcome here.
To join by video, click this link.
To join by phone:
  1. Dial: 1-312-626-6799
  2. Enter Meeting ID: 83530587549#
  3. Press # to join the call. 

...
September 15th: Ounce of Prevention 2020 Virtual Conference
9:15 am - 4:30 pm @ Zoom - Register here
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is sponsoring the Ounce of Prevention 2020 Virtual Conference. This conference features a variety of experts who will speak on issues related to community health and wellbeing.

September 15th: MGH Recovery Month Kick-off - “Developing an Anti-Racist Recovery Movement: Deconstructing and Challenging Existing Policies and Practices”
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm @ Zoom - Register here
This discussion will critically evaluate how academic medicine, research and policy has systematically excluded Black, Indigenous and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) from the recovery movement. Researcher and Addiction Psychiatrist, Dr. Ayana Jordan will provide examples of how to provide addiction treatment and conduct research in a culturally-affirming manner. While, Vice President of Policy for Legal Action Center, Tracie Gardner, will provide an overview of the challenges of ensuring Black voices in the current recovery “movement” and why BIPOC voices must drive the creation and implementation of good public policy.

September 24th: Caught in the Meso – A Journey in Becoming Culturally Responsive
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm @ Online - RVSP with dthomson@csrox.org
This training will look at how community agencies connect to individuals and families as well as supporting professionals and community agencies with information and strategies for moving towards a more culturally responsive practice.

September 29th: Early Education & Care: Key to Healthy Children and a Productive Workforce
11 am - 12:30 pm @ Zoom - Register here
Join Children’s HealthWatch and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as they release findings from their two new, complementary reports and propose opportunities and solutions to address barriers to child care access on the state, regional, and national levels. A panel of parents and child care providers will then share their experience with child care prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the shifting child care landscape in light of the crisis.
Check out more community events on our Website and Facebook.
Opportunities

Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
JOBS:
Family Partners / Intensive Care Coordinator – Family Care Partnership
Family Care Partnership is currently hiring for Family Partners and Intensive Care Coordinators. Experience working in the early childhood field is a plus. Family Partner applicants must have lived experience raising and/or navigating systems on behalf of a child experiencing emotional/behavioral challenges. Please send your resume and cover letter or any questions to: marty@familycarepartnership.com.

Assistant Director, Community Partnerships – Project Bread
Project Bread, the leading statewide organization committed to preventing and ending hunger in Massachusetts, is currently hiring for the position of Assistant Director of Community Partnerships. Applicants should be ready to play a vital role in growing the Project Bread network of partners and develop strategic partnerships, map out community needs and gaps, and promote advocacy and action that deepens the impact of Project Bread initiatives in communities throughout the state. Candidates can learn more through this link.

Trust and Invest Collaborative Field and Recruitment Manager –
Family Independence Initiative
The Family Independence Initiative looking for a talented and enthusiastic person to develop, implement, and manage a virtual recruitment plan for the Trust and Invest Collaborative study (that may shift to in person pending COVID-19 social isolation orders) and to assist the Northeast Partnership Director with internal operations, including but not limited to, strategy, marketing, communications, and accurate data tracking for the study. Applicants should submit their LOI and Resume to jtaubner@fii.org with the subject line "Field and Recruitment Manager" by September 16th.

Partnership Manager – Family Independence Initiative
The Family Independence Initiative is looking for an individual to help build philanthropic and government funding partners who want to invest in families through the platform. An ideal candidate is someone who loves writing (grant writing and managing grant deliverables a plus), managing details, and also strategizing. This role is for the entire Northeast, so it is not necessary to live in Boston, and connections to NY, PA, or NJ are a plus. Applicants should submit their LOI and Resume to jtaubner@fii.org with the subject line "Northeast Partnership Manager" by September 8th.


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
LeadBoston
YW Boston is organizing LeadBoston, an 11-month program focused on giving professionals the tools they need to address barriers to inclusion and explore innovative solutions to inequity. Early Decision Application Deadline is September 11th! Learn more here!
Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.
Back to School:

Public computer access begins at the Central Library and free 24-hour outdoor wi-fi access launches at nine branch locations.

Boston Public Schools recently announced that all BPS BPS students will begin the school year learning remotely on Monday, September 21, followed by a phase-in of the hybrid model. Find more details through the link above.

One Tough Job has put together a list of resources for parents to help them prepare for the upcoming school year. Click the link to learn more!
Connections and Healing:

Check out Distant Together's resources for Mental Health during the SARS-COV Pandemic

Resources guide from Massachusetts General Hospital
For Children:

Virtual Babysitting:
Sitters Without Borders is now offering Virtual BabySitting Sessions to parents who are taking on-line classes. The sitting sessions are available to parents while they are taking an on-line class or if they need time to do homework. More information here!
Other Resources for Boston COVID-19 Response:

Meal sites in Boston: Food Access Map: Meal Sites (Recently updated!)

Mayor’s Health Line: 617-534-5050
City of Boston Non-Emergency Line: 3-1-1
MA Non-emergency helpline: 2-1-1 or call 1-877-211-MASS
>> Deaf/Hearing Impaired: 508-370-4890 TTY
>> For more info on Mass211: https://mass211.org/about/

Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to child and family well-being.
Back-to-School Health Tips
Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
The Abundance App is now available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!
CONtexts aims to promote positive outcomes between caregivers and children by sharing weekly resources through a FREE text service and interactive resource sharing map. These resources are ideal for anyone working with or caregivers of children ages 0-5.

To subscribe, text KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8
Once you're subscribed you will receive 3 weekly FREE text messages:
  • Monday: Nearby community resources
  • Wednesday: Wellness tips
  • Friday: Family-fun events
Our Mission

Vital Village is a network of residents and
agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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Stay Connected
Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?

Complete this form!