Our Healthy Families Program Changes Lives
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.