First Connections CFCE and ParentChild+

First Connections CFCE and ParentChild+ First Connections is funded by CFCE and PC+ grants from MA EEC awarded to JRI To view our direct services and programs, please go to: www.firstconnections.org

We provide free support, early childhood and parent education, and resources to all families with children under age 9 living in Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, Westford and Hanscom AFB.

12/15/2025

No, your young child is not being rude! She’s learning what feels safe and comfortable to her and how to set boundaries for herself. And I’m not offended!

Sometimes children who are shyer or slower to warm up are labeled insecure or a problem and parents are told to “make” them talk to people. (How do you *make* someone else speak!??) But these children are actually exercising confidence in themselves and trusting their own experience. So let’s foster that sense of self and trust in oneself, whether it looks/sounds like a child saying, “You stay over there!” or hiding behind your legs. With time and no pressure, they’ll be ready to interact in their own time!

And just a note, this child was totally comfortable by the end of playgroup and gave me a high five. She just needed some time and space.

(This happened last week, but it took me a while to edit the 14 videos I took into one (mostly) coherent reel. 🤷🏼‍♀️)


This Thursday! Join our First Year of Life Support group at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury for an introduction to infan...
12/10/2025

This Thursday! Join our First Year of Life Support group at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury for an introduction to infant massage class with Mary Beilman, CEIM.

Free and open to all caregivers with a baby 0-12 months. Email Linda at lmatthews@jri.org to regsiter.

12/05/2025

Well, we did it friends! 🎉 YOU did it! Thank you! 🙏You donated over $1,000 to First Connections! 👏 Thank you so much!!

And as promised, here is your reward 🌟: a video of Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck 🚒 for your children to watch over and over! 😅 Enjoy!

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded a 2025 Human Service grant from the Community Foundation for Met...
12/05/2025

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded a 2025 Human Service grant from the Community Foundation for MetroWest! This will make a big impact in our program, helping to ensure all our services remain free to all!

Thank you so much!

12/04/2025

Link in bio to donate!

We’re almost there! We just need $150 to get to our first fundraising goal of $1,000! Then you get a reward 🌟 of Ms Ellie singing Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck! Help us reach the goal today! Any donation in ANY amount helps!

Thank you!!

12/02/2025

Re-posting with corrected QR code!
(The donation link is also in our bio.)

And an update: we are still working on our goal of $1,000 to unlock a video of Ms Ellie singing “Hurry, Hurry Drive the Fire Truck”! Any amount you can give will make a difference!

And please share with anyone you know who might be able to help, especially First Connections “graduates” who might not be following us here.

Thank you!

11/25/2025

Have you ever wondered how First Connections is funded? And what does that CFCE in our name mean? And why are we asking you for money?

Emily breaks down where our funding comes from and why we still have a gap in our budget. We know not everyone can donate, and that’s ok. Our programs will always be free and open to all!

But if you have some room in your family’s budget, we would really appreciate a donation in any amount! Click the link in our bio, scan the QR code, or enter this link: https://give.jri.org/give/252505/?_gl=1*1q1y9tc*_gcl_au*MTI5NjYxNTQ1OC4xNzYzNDI2ODA4*_ga*MjA5ODg3Mzk0Ni4xNzYzNDI2ODA4*_ga_9NRYN5RFLL*czE3NjM0MjY4MDckbzEkZzAkdDE3NjM0MjY4MDckajYwJGwwJGgw #!/donation/checkout

Thank you! And keep an eye out for updates on our progress to our fundraising goals and rewards for you!

11/21/2025

We’re kicking off our fundraising campaign for 2025! And Ms Ellie is making an exception to her no rewards for good behavior rule 😂 to see if we can incentivize the adults to help us reach our fundraising goals!

If we reach $1,000 in donations, I’ll record a video of me singing the crowd favorite, “Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck.” 🚒 Link in our bio or on our website to donate.

We’ll keep you updated in stories, and post some more goals and rewards.

P.S.—Ms Jasmine is upping our video production! Pretty slick, right!?

11/20/2025

Coming up on Dec 3: Navigating the 4th Trimester workshop with . 6:30-8:00 at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Concord.

FREE and open to any expectant parents, whether it’s your first baby or your fourth. Join Emily Fiorini, LMHC, and Mary Beilman, lactation counselor and sleep consultant to learn about helpful postpartum resources in the community and to make a plan for all the aspects of your life that will be affected by this big, exciting change.

Email Emily at efiorini@jri.org with questions.
Register here: https://emersonhealth.jotform.com/253204506617048

Please share with any expecting parents you know!

Coming up on Thursday December 11 at Goodnow Library in Sudbury! Mary Beilman, CEIM will be teaching infant massage at o...
11/19/2025

Coming up on Thursday December 11 at Goodnow Library in Sudbury! Mary Beilman, CEIM will be teaching infant massage at our next in-person First Year of Life support group.

Mary was a longtime facilitator of new parents groups at First Connections, and if you speak to anyone who attended a group of hers, they will tell you how wonderful she is! This is a great opportunity to learn some elements of infant massage, which can help soothe a gassy baby, support sleep, enhance your connection with your baby, and help the baby and caregiver with emotion regulation.

This group is FREE and open to anyone in the first year after welcoming a new baby, but we do ask that you register by emailing Linda at lmatthews@jri.org. And you can attend the group all other weeks of the month virtually. Email the facilitator Emily at efiorini@jri.org for the Zoom link.

11/11/2025

Wow, we are blown away by the generosity of our community! We have been walking on air the last week as we have seen all the diaper donations roll in! THANK YOU!! 🙏

And we are so grateful that our great friends at are having a diaper drive for us through the end of the year. That will really set us up for the start of 2026! We are so lucky to be part of such a wonderful community!

And if you want to donate through our Amazon wish list, we welcome it anytime: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3I9EPWNOC4PAD/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

11/04/2025

Your donations through our Amazon wish list keep our diaper pantry up and running, so thank you! But often, especially with the bigger sizes, as soon as the diapers come in, they are out the door to a family in need.

So, if you can afford to and send us a box of diapers every month, it would be so very much appreciated!

And thanks to Ms. Jasmine, here is a quick tutorial on how to do it.

Here’s the Amazon link: https://a.co/8JCxB91

Thank you so much for helping us support families who are struggling to afford the cost of diapers! You’re making a real difference in your community!

Address

179 Great Road, Ste 104A
Acton, MA
01720

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

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