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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

City Connects at the Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children

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Chestnut Hill, MA
City Connects at the Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children

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The Mary E. It's flagship program, City Connects, is an evidence-based approach to addressing the out-of-school factors that can impact student success.

Grounded in developmental science, the City Connects approach recognizes that all children deserve quality supports and are capable of learning and thriving with careful attention to their unique strengths, needs, and interests. Walsh Center for Thriving Children uses research and data to identify and evaluate strategies that successfully transform schools and communities into systems of opportunity for all students.

10/30/2026

How do we move beyond mitigating adverse experiences to truly help children thrive?
Join the Center for Thriving Children for an insightful presentation with Dr. Robert Sege (Tufts University School of Medicine) on the power of Positive Childhood Experiences.
Dr. Sege will share the HOPE framework and explore how educators, schools, and community organizations can activate foundational building blocks for lifelong health and well-being.
📅 Date: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026
⏰ Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Campion Hall, Room 139 OR Online via Zoom
⚠️ Limited Capacity Event! Please fill out the Google Form linked in our bio/below to reserve your spot (whether attending in person or virtually): https://buff.ly/kZmTJoy

10/28/2026

City Connects ensures every child is known and seen. Our approach to integrated student support creates a personalized, tailored plan for each student. We look at strengths, needs, and interests across academics, mental health, physical health, and family. City Connects leverages existing school and community resources—health services, after-school programs, and family supports—to deliver comprehensive support and enrichment. Our evidence-based practice helps children learn and thrive -- now, and for years to come.

Learn more about the City Connects difference at www.cityconnect.org

10/23/2026

With research to guide us, we can build schools and communities where every child’s potential is unlocked and opportunity is within reach.

At the Center for Thriving Children, we believe that opportunity matters for every student. By bringing research to the real world and the real world to research, we test ideas with experience to discover what truly works.

Together, with partners like schools, health centers, and community organizations, we are transforming lives, transforming understanding, and strengthening communities through innovative, evidence-based solutions.

Research that matters. Care that connects. Results that change lives.

Learn more about our work: www.CenterForThrivingChildren.org

10/22/2026

Meet Genesis Peguero, LICSW and City Connects Coordinator and proud parent at Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton.

For Genesis, supporting students is about building community and connection. She understands firsthand that personalized support means every child is known — academically, socially, and emotionally.

“Getting to know families is at the heart of getting to know the students,” says Genesis. “We want families to know our faces and that we're here for them.”

Read more about Genesis’s incredible impact and dedication to whole-child support on our blog: https://buff.ly/bcTTqyy

10/13/2026

Evidence in practice starts with leadership.

Across all City Connects sites, 90% of principals report satisfaction with the model. In addition, 75% of principals reported that having City Connects in their schools provided them more time for their core work.

These qualitative insights drive our ongoing work to strengthen systems of support for every student.

This , we thank the principals who partner with us to turn evidence into action and help every student thrive.

Read more feedback from stakeholders and explore our impacts in the 2026 Progress Report: https://buff.ly/Rjj3Myr

10/06/2026

World Teachers’ Day is a moment to honor the educators who inspire, guide, and shape the future.

At City Connects, we know that teachers thrive when they have the right support. Our model not only addresses barriers to student learning, but it also creates systems that strengthen teachers’ capacity to focus on what they do best: teaching. Providing a system for integrated student support enriches school climate for students, families, and teachers.

By fostering collaborative structures, providing comprehensive supports to students, and listening to teachers, we help schools ensure that educators have the tools, space, and backing they need for their pedagogy, agency, and well-being.

Today, we celebrate teachers everywhere—and recommit ourselves to making sure every student and teacher feels seen and supported.

✨ Happy World Teachers’ Day! ✨

09/23/2026

Big news!

The U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) recently recognized City Connects as having the strongest level of evidence.

A study on City Connects, titled “Estimating the Impact of Integrated Student Support on Elementary School Achievement: A Natural Experiment,” was identified as Tier 1, meaning it featured strong evidence, met Clearinghouse standards without reservations, and reported positive effects on one or more outcome domains. Over the last 50 years, only 199 studies have been granted Tier 1 status. The study is now featured on the federal government’s Institute for Education Sciences website.

The Center for Thriving Children is dedicated to promoting healthy child and youth development, learning, and thriving because we believe all children deserve the opportunity for a brighter future. This achievement affirms the impact of integrated student support approaches like City Connects, and we’re honored to celebrate the hard work of our researchers, practitioners, and school communities who work in partnership with us to better understand the impacts of out-of-school factors and how we can transform students' learning and lifelong outcomes.

Explore the research that’s making a difference: https://buff.ly/NSrkR9G

09/16/2026

September is Attendance Awareness Month!
Being present in school matters! Each day a child misses school is a missed opportunity to learn something new. Some students need extra support or encouragement to show up: help with transportation, connection to a caring adult, an activity like Lego Club, sports, or arts to look forward to. Our research shows that effective integrated student support approaches, like City Connects, can help schools to reduce chronic absenteeism, boost attendance, and increase enrollment numbers. Learn how integrated student support is helping children thrive.

Read the research here!
https://buff.ly/29fyj2p
https://buff.ly/MBkIAfz

09/15/2026

New school year, new opportunities. Improving test scores and closing the achievement gap requires more than academic support. Listen in as our seasoned City Connects Coordinators share how they have witnessed City Connects transform outcomes for students. When schools, communities, and families come together to support the whole child, the opportunities are endless!

09/09/2026

As schools open their doors this fall, it's time to prepare every student for a successful school year! We know that out-of-school factors, such as food insecurity, health, and family resources, can influence a child's academic outcomes. At the Center for Thriving Children, we understand that when we address the complex needs of students, they are ready to engage and learn. Studies show that when schools implement integrated student support systems, more students achieve positive academic outcomes. Explore the research on integrated student support and learn how to give all students a chance to thrive this school year!

www.centerforthrivingchildren.org

Address

Campion Hall
Chestnut Hill, MA
02467

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://cityconnects.org/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-thriving-children

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