The Children's Trust

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The Children's Trust The Children’s Trust (www.childrenstrustma.org) is on a mission to stop child abuse in Massachusetts.

Our programs partner with parentsto help them build the skills and confidence they need to make sure kids have safe and healthy childhoods.

At A View from All Sides, Naeemah Smith, Director of Youth Engagement at School & Main Institute/RogersLeads, and Moniqu...
10/15/2026

At A View from All Sides, Naeemah Smith, Director of Youth Engagement at School & Main Institute/RogersLeads, and Monique Tucker, LICSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker at RogersLeads, will lead an interactive workshop exploring what authentic youth partnership looks like in practice.

Together, participants will examine how power, age, race, role, title, and lived experience can shape whose voices are heard and how decisions are made. The session will also explore the difference between asking young people for input and actually sharing decision-making power with them.

B02 — Empowering Youth Voices & Building Authentic Partnerships for Change
📅 October 21, 2026
⏰ 1:30–3:00 PM ET
🎤 Naeemah Smith & Monique Tucker, LICSW

Join us to explore practical ways to create space for young people to lead, influence decisions, and meaningfully shape the programs, policies, and services that affect them.

Tomorrow is the last day to register: https://childrenstrustma.org/training-resources/a-view-from-all-sides/

A View from All Sides is almost here. Join the Children’s Trust October 21–22 for two days of learning, connection, and ...
10/14/2026

A View from All Sides is almost here. Join the Children’s Trust October 21–22 for two days of learning, connection, and collaboration focused on Centering Families, Building Hope & Creating Change.

This year’s conference brings together home visitors, social workers, educators, mental health professionals, family advocates, caregivers, community members, and others who are committed to strengthening families and communities.

With inspiring keynote speakers, engaging sessions, practical tools, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across the field, there’s plenty to look forward to.

📅 October 21–22, 2026
📍 Day 1: In person at the DoubleTree Boston North Shore
💻 Day 2: Virtual

We’re just one week away! Learn more: https://childrenstrustma.org/training-resources/a-view-from-all-sides/

⏳ Only two days left to register for *A View from All Sides*!Join the Children’s Trust on October 21–22 for New England’...
10/13/2026

⏳ Only two days left to register for *A View from All Sides*!

Join the Children’s Trust on October 21–22 for New England’s premier family support training conference, bringing together professionals, advocates, caregivers, and community members who are committed to helping children and families thrive.

This year’s conference centers on Centering Families, Building Hope & Creating Change, with two days of learning, practical strategies, and opportunities to connect with others working to strengthen families and communities. Hear from keynote speakers Maria Milagros Vazquez and Gaelin Elmore, explore new perspectives, and take ideas back to your work and community.

📅 October 21–22, 2026

📍 Day 1: In person at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore

💻 Day 2: Virtual

Registration closes Friday, October 16. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation!

Register: https://childrenstrustma.org/training-resources/a-view-from-all-sides/

Keeping children safe starts with prepared, confident adults.Keeping Kids Safe: Staff Training is a two-hour training de...
10/12/2026

Keeping children safe starts with prepared, confident adults.

Keeping Kids Safe: Staff Training is a two-hour training designed to give staff the knowledge, practical skills, language, and tools to create safer environments and prevent child sexual abuse.

Participants will explore safe environments, prevention strategies, protective factors, recognizing signs and symptoms of abuse, and responding to disclosures.

📅 October 14
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
💻 Virtual

Build your skills. Strengthen prevention. Help create safer environments for children.

Register: https://childrenstrustma.org/training-resources/all-upcoming-courses/keeping-kids-safe-staff-training-6/

For 30 years, the Children’s Trust’s Fathers & Family Network (FFN) has helped strengthen support for fathers and famili...
10/09/2026

For 30 years, the Children’s Trust’s Fathers & Family Network (FFN) has helped strengthen support for fathers and families across Massachusetts. Established in 1996, FFN is the longest-standing component of our Fatherhood Initiative.

Through regional Communities of Practice and Fatherhood Resource Fairs, FFN connects family-serving professionals, community organizations, and fathers to share effective practices, strengthen partnerships, and connect dads with resources in their communities.

Because supporting families means supporting fathers, too.

As we celebrate 30 years of our Fatherhood Initiative, we’re recognizing the network that started it all and continues to help make father engagement an intentional part of family support across Massachusetts.

Read the story: https://ow.ly/X21j50ZWu7x

Acknowledgment matters. Accountability matters. And prevention must remain a shared responsibility. Children’s Trust sta...
10/05/2026

Acknowledgment matters. Accountability matters. And prevention must remain a shared responsibility.

Children’s Trust stands with survivors and families impacted by clergy sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s report documents profound failures to protect children and underscores the responsibility every youth-serving organization has to make prevention, accountability, and child safety ongoing priorities.

Every organization that serves children has a responsibility to build a culture of prevention. Through Safe Kids Thrive, organizations can access free tools, guidance, and policy templates to strengthen child sexual abuse prevention practices and identify gaps before harm occurs.

Read the full statement here: https://ow.ly/4g6x50ZUHcP

Father engagement may be a growing focus in family support today, but the work has been underway for decades.Long before...
10/05/2026

Father engagement may be a growing focus in family support today, but the work has been underway for decades.

Long before it became a common practice, the Children's Trust was helping shift the conversation by highlighting fathers as caring, engaged, and essential in children's lives. Those early efforts helped lay the foundation for the family-centered approaches we continue to build today.

Learn more: https://childrenstrustma.org/insights/before-father-engagement-was-mainstream/

Prevention has a face. 💛Every day, people across Massachusetts are showing up for children and families, building trust,...
09/30/2026

Prevention has a face. 💛

Every day, people across Massachusetts are showing up for children and families, building trust, connecting families to resources, strengthening communities, and creating the conditions where families can thrive.

Faces of Prevention celebrates the people behind that work: the family support professionals and community members helping address the root causes of child abuse and neglect.

Do you know someone who is making a difference for children and families?

Nominate them for a Faces of Prevention recognition. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.

Learn more and nominate someone: https://childrenstrustma.org/faces-of-prevention/

What does prevention really look like? Let’s rethink a few common myths about family support. 💛MYTH: Asking for help mea...
09/29/2026

What does prevention really look like? Let’s rethink a few common myths about family support. 💛

MYTH: Asking for help means a parent is failing.
REALITY: Connecting to support is a strength.

MYTH: Prevention only happens before a problem starts.
REALITY: Prevention includes strengthening protective factors and addressing conditions that contribute to family stress and harm.

MYTH: Families know where to turn when they need support.
REALITY: Systems can be complex. Trusted connections matter.

Prevention works best when families, professionals, organizations, and communities have the support and resources to play their part.

What does it actually look like when families can access support before they're in crisis?This summer on Martha's Vineya...
09/28/2026

What does it actually look like when families can access support before they're in crisis?

This summer on Martha's Vineyard, the Children's Trust Executive Director, Jennifer Valenzuela, had the opportunity to spend a day with Secretary Stephen Zrike, Commissioner Staverne Miller, Commissioner Amy Kershaw, and community leaders exploring that question together.

At Martha's Vineyard Family Services, we visited the One Stop Shop model and joined families for Lunch with a Librarian. It was a reminder that support doesn't always begin in an office or during a moment of crisis. Sometimes it begins in a library, on a playground, or through a trusted relationship that helps families feel connected long before they need to ask for help.

From there, the conversation continued at the Martha’s Vineyard home of 501(c)(3) Board member Peter DeFeo and Alicia Hesse, who generously hosted a gathering of state and community leaders. Led by Jenn, the discussion focused on why The Children’s Trust has made this work a priority and why reducing unnecessary reports requires us to look beyond any one system and work together to address the challenges families face. Secretary Zrike shared why this work is particularly important in education, while Commissioner Miller spoke about DCF’s role and its efforts to be part of the solution.

We're grateful to Martha's Vineyard Family Services for welcoming us and sharing their work so openly, and to Peter DeFeo and Alicia Hesse for creating space for such a meaningful conversation.

Days like this remind us that some of our best ideas don't come from conference rooms. They come from spending time in communities, listening carefully, and learning from the people who are already doing the work.

Address

155 Federal Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA
02110

Telephone

+16177278957

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