For many families, it's tough to provide their young children with everything they need to feel and perform their best. Access to high quality early education and care is often limited. On top of that, earning a living wage is incredibly difficult.
Together for Kids Coalition (TFKC) is on a mission to address these challenges and many others that Worcester families face. It promotes initiatives to enhance the social-emotional well-being and general health of young children and families throughout Worcester.
Read on to learn about TFKC, what it does, and why it's creating a buzz in Worcester.
Building a Community Where Every Child Thrives
TFKC is a collaborative network of over 200 members, including:
- Parents and guardians
- Early education and care providers
- Healthcare providers
- Human service organizations
- Early childhood behavioral health providers
- Community leaders
- K-12 and higher education personnel
- Local and state government representatives
- Businesses
TFKC's work is based on the following principles:
- Children’s success is everyone's job.
- There is no time to wait.
- Early childhood is critical to health and social equity.
- The return on investment (ROI) is significant.
TFKC has a committed cross-sector planning team that has met every week consistently over the past five years.
"The growth of TFKC’s Planning Team represents the expanding commitment of our community to ensure young children thrive and the recognition of the critical intersections of early learning, maternal health, community and state leadership, and other sectors in developing an early childhood system of support that works for families. We all have a role to play," says Kim Davenport, CEO of Edward Street.
Amplifying the Voices of Worcester Families
This month, TFKC launched its Family Advisory Council that offers an inclusive platform for parents to share their diverse perspectives and experiences, learn from one another, and find ways to improve the well-being of children. "We're formalizing the parent's voice," says Coalition Coordinator Dodi Swope.
The Family Advisory Council fosters collaboration and advocacy among Worcester families, as parents can gain insights into programs, policies, and practices that impact young children and their families. It also amplifies the voices of families in Worcester and leads to a community where families feel they have the power to shape the future of early childhood development.
"Families that have what they need can make sure that other families have what they need to flourish in the community," TFKC consultant Yolanda Ramos says.
The Family Advisory Council hosted its first meeting on June 2. It currently includes nine parents, and recruiting is ongoing. "We will continue to put the voices of Worcester families first," Dodi notes.
Moving forward, the Family Advisory Council will become a self-governing group that advises TFKC. "We're a platform for parents. We already have those connections in the community. Now it's your opportunity to have your voice be heard in the community," Yolanda points out.
Dodi points out that the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) plans to launch a council similar to the Family Advisory Council this fall. The Family Advisory Council will work with EEC's council to advance early education and care in Worcester and across the state.
"This will be a next level up for our members to make the voices of Worcester families heard," Dodi says.
Supporting Children Dealing with Traumatic Experiences
TFKC is helping the City of Worcester implement the Handle with Care program. It is doing so in collaboration with the city and the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative under a Resilient Worcester grant, a Determination of Need (DON) grant from UMass Memorial Health. "This grant underscores the importance of supporting our youngest children and intervening early," Kim says.
The Handle with Care program involves the use of trauma-informed practices if children face stressful circumstances. Handle with Care has been used in communities nationwide. Until now, it has not been used among children under the age of 5.
Handle with Care helps Worcester early education and care providers support children "if something scary happens," Dodi notes.
With Handle with Care, first responders, including police, fire, and emergency medical technicians, inform Worcester Public Schools (WPS) if a child has dealt with an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that could have long-lasting effects on their health and well-being, such as:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Physical or emotional neglect
- Community or domestic violence
- Fire displacement
In the early childhood model, first responders will reach out to Seven Hills Child Care Resource & Referral, who will notify the early childhood provider/program with a simple "Handle with Care" message. No details of the experience are shared. From here, this provider can offer additional support as the child copes with the aftermath of a traumatic event.
"Handle with Care makes all the difference for a child dealing with trauma," Dodi says. "It's something that matters so much for kids in their earliest years."
Giving Families a Seat at the Community Table
Every Tuesday, social workers, police officers, Department of Children and Families staff, and other community members meet for The Hub meeting at Worcester Public Library. During the session, participants work together to discuss and address complex cases.
Until now, The Hub meeting has been focused on youth and adults. With an increase in the number of families with younger children, TFKC and The Hub identified the need for a new support specializing in supporting families with young children.
"We want to focus on the people attached to families with young kids," Dodi says. "There's no one at the table with a family lens or early education and care lens."
Ideally, a community member with a background in social work, aka a "Family Navigator," would represent these families at The Hub meetings, Dodi notes. This individual would account for the needs of young children and family members who may be impacted by the outcome of a case's outcome.
"We will make sure families aren't being ignored and are getting help," Dodi says.
The TFKC initiatives Handle with Care and Family Navigator at The Hub are supported through Resilient Worcester, which is led by Clark University through the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. TFKC is a partner in the grant, which it uses to implement these initiatives.
Support Together for Kids Coalition
Join TFKC's Family Advisory Council if you are a parent living in Worcester with a child under the age of 6 or are pregnant and want to offer ideas and help lead solutions. Contact Dodi at or Yolanda at for more information. "Parents have the opportunity to become advocates in the community," Yolanda notes.
Attend TFKC's monthly meetings on the last Friday of each month via Zoom and in-person meetings twice a year. These gatherings allow Worcester parents, caregivers, and other community members to connect and collaborate with one another.
"We listen and give a platform and provide education on things that parents don't understand," Yolanda says. "We want the community to understand that early childhood is everyone's responsibility."
In addition, TFKC offers monthly newsletters, the Worcester Baby Guide to Resources, and other resources and tools to help young children and families thrive.
Click here to sign up for TFKC's meetings and newsletters. .
Edward Street is a proud partner of TFKC, serving as chair and fiscal agent. Read our blog and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay updated on TFKC and its initiatives.