The Foundling’s Healthy Families program provides hands-on support to new and expecting parents and helps participants find community.   

Tyesha, Doreece, and Victoria, three women from Staten Island who met through the Healthy Families parent-baby group, became close throughout the course of their time in the program.

Each of the moms had different reasons for being there but were united by a commitment to building a better future for their families. Even though Doreece completed her time with The Foundling in Fall 2025, she plans to remain in touch with her two friends via a group chat they formed. 

In addition to providing a welcoming space for parents to connect with each other, the parent-baby groups give children the opportunity to develop social and relational skills. These opportunities to develop prosocial behaviors – combined with the intentional guidance of dedicated staff – help children build the foundation they need to thrive upon entering school later. 

What is Healthy Families? 

The Healthy Families program pairs Family Support Specialists (FSS) with parents. Specialists utilize the Growing Great Kids (GGK) curriculum to help families cultivate secure attachments with their children, support the growth of their babies and toddlers, and create a healthy environment for the whole family – including siblings.  

In addition to the services provided, FSS are a source of encouragement for the people they work with. Michele Bonici, an FSS who worked with Doreece and Victoria, was someone who the moms grew to trust.  

“When I got this job,” shared Michele, “I was so excited because I got to work with pregnant moms, doing activities and creating my own style with each family. Getting to know all of my families for that long brings me joy!” 

Holistic Support Changes Lives 

For many people in our programs, working with The Foundling ends up opening doors that may have been inaccessible previously. When Healthy Families staff recognized that program participants were seeking opportunities for community, they developed a monthly parent-baby group to address this need, providing connection, parenting instruction, and fun activities for children and parents.   

In Doreece’s case, she first entered Healthy Families while still pregnant with her now three-year-old daughter.

With the encouragement of Michele, Doreece decided to return to school – which will help her create access to even more opportunities as she transitions out of the program. 

Victoria and Tyesha are grateful for the opportunity they’ve had to cultivate a more robust support system. 

“The support helps,” said Victoria, referring to the friendships she formed with the other moms. “Because all of my family lives in Brooklyn or out of town.” 

It takes a village not just to raise a child, but to help entire family units thrive.

Healthy Families is an example of how The Foundling’s work is most successful when this concept – the significance of community – remains at the heart of the programs and services we offer.  

Learn more about Healthy Families here. 

At The Foundling, we’re dedicated to making sure young people in our community do not feel alone.

Our comprehensive services provide doors of opportunity for those in our programs, allowing them to gain access to the tools and resources they need to thrive.

When Rosa*, a young woman in foster care, first joined The Foundling’s Mother Child Program, she was managing a lot – she was in the process of finishing high school while raising her baby girl, Suzy*, with a limited support system. Determined to reach her goals, Rosa came to us in order to find a place that would support her journey to independence. The program has given Rosa a clean, safe living space in a quiet Bronx neighborhood, with opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with others.  

The Foundling’s round-the-clock staff provided childcare, academic support, and supportive guidance – allowing Rosa to achieve her goal of earning her diploma and pursuing a college education. They also connected both mother and daughter with our pediatric clinic – which has helped them coordinate appointments and stay healthy.

Rosa is now 19 and studying social work at Lehman College so she can continue to give back to others. Her daughter Suzy is enjoying her first year in 3K! The ongoing, holistic support from staff in our Mother Child Program gave Rosa the platform to create a better foundation for the future of her family. She credits the program with being a lifeline during a pivotal time, providing motivation and giving her opportunities to grow – both as a student and as a parent.  

“When you’re by yourself, there’s so much pressure on you,” she reflected. “Here, you have the support you need.” 

Recently, our Mother Child program has expanded to a newly-renovated dedicated space, doubling the program’s capacity and increasing our ability to open doors of opportunity for young mothers. The Foundling continues to invest in these facilities, making improvements that not only meet the needs of participants, but help build community and connection – like a background playground that was installed earlier this year.  

Your support makes this transformative work possible, and allows us to help mothers like Rosa reach their full potential through our array of interconnected services.  

This holiday season, help open doors for our neighbors.

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*Names changed to protect anonymity